The Arvada enterprise., 1922-09-28
naPaovD upaFosl INTERNATIONAL
Si1q9daySef'oel
' Lesson '
tBy REV. p. B. F1TZwATER. D. D..
Teacher Of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chica9o.)
Copyright fs33 Western Nswspapsr untoN
LESSON FOR OCTOBER :,
BIRTH OF JOHN THE sAp1,sr

BIRTH OF JOHN THE sAPTlsr
LESSON TExT-I.uke l:S-.5. VIA
GOLDEN TExT-Hs shall be great In
the sight Of the Lord. and he shall drink
no wine nor strong drink.-Luks l:6.
REFERENCE AATERIAL-Isa. <o:3-s;
NAL %t-S.
PRIMARY ToPIc-An Angel Brings
Good News
JUNIOR roPIC-Ths 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-
tist
We are today entering upon = six
months course Of study In the Gospel
Of Luke, whose general subject ID
Jesus the Worlds Savior" Today'a
lesson concerns the birth Of John tie
Baptist, the fOrerunner Of Christ.
!. The Parents eS Jehn the Daptse
(vv. 80.
l. When They Lived ". 81. "In the
days Of Her0d the King" They lived
In day when ungodlIness was rife.
The priesthood was very corrupt and
the ruling clssses were wicked. Zach
arias and his wife lived In . time
when II was not SO easy to be gOdly.
9. Their Character ". o.. They
were righteous before God. To be
righteous before God is q high tribute.
Many appear to be righteous before
men who are not righteous before God.
Their lives were 20 mated that they
walked In the commandments Of the
Lord blameiess. How beautiful 1t IL
when husband and wife are united IN
the Lord and walk together in fellow
ship with God.
3. They Were Childless ". ~,
Though this godly couple were well
mated and they possessed the JOY Of
the Lord in their souls, there was q
real lack In that home.
u. The Birth o. John Promissd wv.
SID.
1. BY Whom ". II: Ct. v. 1877. 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.
.. When wv. $40. While oficiat.
Ing a. priest this good news came "a
him. Zacharias must have been den.
nitely praying about this very matter
". 13). A. he burned incense. which
typihsd prayer. the multitude without
were praying.
8. Characteristics Of the Child Nv
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
10 Infinitely better than II he had beea
greatly esteemed in the eyes Of msa
or In his own eyes. This 10 the esteem
for which We all should long and pray.
(2) Shall drink neither wine NOT
strong drink ". 16). The child shall
become q Naxarlte. separating him.
self from the sensuous things and ded.
icatins himself to the service Of the
Lord. (S) Re alled with the Holy
Ghost w. 16). The energy Of the d.
vine Spirit would enable him to lead
the people to repentance ". 16).
~ Shall 70 In the spirit and powes
Of Elijah ". l7). In this power hs
was to prepare the people for the
coming Of the Savior and the saliva
tion which He was to bring.
~. Zaeharias Askins ses . Sisu
(vv. 1929.
Although the aged priest waa ear
nestly praying for the salvation Of
lsrael the gracious promise OF the
angel. which was the beginning Of that
salvation. staggered his faith. He wal
unable to believe that that for which
he fondly hoped and prayed would b<
realized. The angel gave Zacharias &
sign. He was smitten with dumbnesi
which was to continue until the full
fillment Of the promise. Because hi
refused to praise God In faith for thli
gracious promise God caused hIs
tongue to be silent until the promise
was fulfilled and his lips could open
In Thanksgiving and praise. Though
he was thus rebuked. at the same time
his faith was strengthened by tht
manifestation Of the supernatural
God wants u to trust Him. to believe
his promises, no matter how contrary
to reason they may aeem.
". The Promise FULFILLED (vv. 81
GI)
When the time came for the birth
Of John. Elizabeth brought forth 4 sor
and the neiEhbors reJoiced with her
On the eighth day they circumcixet
the child nnd gave him name accord
Ing TO the instruction Of the angel
". l3). The name John was contrary
TO the family custom. by means OF
writing ZachRrinS made known ths
name which he would have by divine
Instruction. Al this time God opened
the mouth Of Zacharias and he offered
up praise.