Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-09-21

~
GOLDEN TExT-He shall be great In
the siEht Of the Lord. and he h q drink
no. wine nor strong drink.-Luke I'D.
REFERENCE MATERIAI-Isa. 4o:s-s:
Nal. S:tA.
PRIMARY ToPIc-An Angel Brings
Good News.
JUNIOR roPIc-The Birth of John the
Baptist.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Preparation for the Coming Of Christ
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
The Place and Work Of John the Bap-
list.
We are today entering upon a six
months course of study In the Gospel
Of Luke, whose general subject Is
"Jesus the Worlds Savior" Today's
lesson concerns the birth Of John the
Baptist, the f~orerunner Ct Christ.
1. The Parents Of John the Baptist
wv. SD.
/. When They Lived ". 81. "In the
days OF Herod the King" They lived
In a day when ungodliness was rife.
The priesthood was very corrupt and
the ruling classes were wicked. Zach
arias and his wife lived in a time
when 1t was not SO easy to be cody.
2. Their Character ". 81. They
were righteous before God. To be
righteous before God Is a high tribute.
Many appear to be righteous before
men who are not righteous before God.
Their lives were so mated that they
walked in the commandments Of the
Lord blameless. How beautiful 1t is
when husband and wife r united In
the Lord and walk together in fellow
ship with God.
8. They Were Childless ". -.
Though this cody couple were well
mated and they possessed the JOY of
the Lord in their souls, there was u
real lack in that home.
u. The Birth of John Promised wv.
SID.
1. By Whom ". IL; Ct. v. 19). The
angel Gabriel appeared and made
known the good news to Zacharias.
This exalted being, the special mes
senger of God, was sent to make this
disclosure.
Q. When wv. s-14). While oficiat-
ing as priest this good news came to
him. Zacharias must have been def
nitely praying about this very matter
". 1877. AS he burned incense, which
typifed prayer. the multitude without
were praying.
3. characteristics Of the Child wv
1910. ~ Shall be great in the sight
of the Lord ". 15). Though the
people did not greatly esteem him he
was highly esteemed by the Lord. This
is infinitely better than II he had been
greatly esteemed In the eyes Of men
or in his W eyes. This is the esteem
for which we all should long and pray
(2) Shall drink neither wine mol
strong drink ". 15). The child shall
become a Nazarlte, separating him
self from the sensuous things and ded
icating himself to the service Of thu
Lord. (3) Be filled with the Hol!
Ghost ". 15). The energy Of the di
vine Spirit would enable him to leat
the people to repentance ". 49,.
az Shall go in the spirit and powel
Of Elijah ". 17). In this power HI
was to prepare the people for tn,
coming of the Savior and the saliva
ton which He was to bring.
III. zacharias Asking for a sigl
wv. 1929.
Although the aged priest was ear
nestly praying for the salvation o
Israel the gracious promise of tn
angel, which was the beginning of tina
salvation, staggered his faith. He wa
unable to believe that that for whic
he fondly hoped and prayed would b
realized. The angel gave Zacharias
sign. He was smitten with dumbnes
which was to continue until the fu
fillment of the promise. Because b
refused to praise God in faith for thi
gracious promise God caused hi
tongue to be silent until the promis
wal fulfilled and his lips could ope
in thanksgiving and praise. Thong
he wal thus rebuked, at the same tim
his faith was strengthened by I'll
manifestation of the %supernatura
God wants us to trust Him, to belle,
his promises, no matter how contraI
to reason they may seem. yf-
w. The Promise Fulfilled ivy. s
6S).
When the time came for the Dirt
of John. Elizabeth brought forth a Sc
and the neighbors rejoiced with he
On the eighth day they circumcIzt
the child and gave him a name accor
ting TO the instruction of the ang
". 49,. The name John was contrai
to the family custom. BY means
writing Zacharias made known Il
name which he would have by diYil
instruction. AT this time God opent
the mouth of Zacharias and he offer,
up praise.