The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-01


shalt be called the prophet Of the
Highest: for thou shalt go before the
! face of the Lord to prepare his ways.
PRIMARY TOPIC - Gratitude Tor
Cody Parents.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Gratitude for Cody
Parents.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Need of Physical and Spiritual
Equipment for the Lords Work.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Value of Training in the Desert.
I. The Parents of John the Baptist
(vv. SD.
1. When they lived ". 81. "In the
days of Herod the King" While both
were of the priestly line, the priest
hood was very corrupt and the ruling
classes most wicked. Zacharias and
his wife lived in time when it was
not easy to be godly.
.. Their character ". 81. "They
were both righteous before God"
Many appear to be righteous before
men who are not righteous before
God. They were so mated that they
walked in the commandments of the
Lord blameless. The highest good in
welded life can be attained only when
both are united in Jesus Christ. John
the Baptist had godly heritage.
3. They were childless w. y.
Though this godly couple possessed
the joy of the Lord there was a real
lack on their home. No home is quite
ideal into which no child has come.
u. The Birth Of John the Baptist
Promised wv. SID.
1. BY whom? ". II CT. v. 19). The
angel Gabriel appeared and made
known the good news to Zacharias.
=. When? wv. S-1N. While offici-
ating as priest this good news came
TO him.
8. characteristics of the child wv.
15-1D.
ID HE shall be great in the sight
of the Lord" ". 49,. He was highly
esteemed by the Lord. This is inf
nitely better than If he had been high
ly esteemed in the eyes of men or in
his own eyes.
(2) "Shall drink neither wine nor
strong drink" ". 15). The child was
to be a Nazarite, separating himself
from sensuous things and dedicating
himself TO the service of God.
(3) "He shall be filled with the
Holy Ghost" ". 15). The energy Of
the Divine Spirit would enable him to
lead people to repentance ". 1857.
(4) "Shall go in the spirit and power
of Elijah" ". 10. In this power he
was to prepare the people for the
coming of the Saviour and the saliva
ton which he was to bring.
~. Zaeharias Asking for a Sign
Wv. 1929.
Although the aged priest was ear
nestly praying for the salvation Of
Israel, the gracious promise OF the
angel, which was the beginning Of
that salvation, staggered his faith.
He was unable to believe that his fond
hope and prayer would be realized.
The angel gave to Zacharias a sign.
He was smitten with dumbness which
was to continue until the fulfillment
of the promise.
w. The Promise Fulfilled wv. 57-G3).
When the time came for the birth
of John, Elisabeth brought forth
son, and the neighbors rejoiced with
her. On the eighth day they circum-
cised the child and gave him a name
according to the instruction of the
angel. The name "John" was con-
trary to family usage. BY means Of
writing Zacharias made known the
name which the child by divine in
struction was to have. At this time
God opened the mouth of Zacharias
and he offered praise.
v. Johns Growth ". S0).
This is fine picture OF boy dedl-
Gated to the Lords service.
1. The grace of God was with and
on him. How beautiful to see chill
dren grow up with the stamp Of heav-
en- upon them.
2. Physical development. "The child
grew" This literally means kept
growing" In this holy environment
his plain fare as a NaZarite and his
temperate habits gave him a robust
constitution, thus fitting him for his
life of toll and hardship.
8. Spiritual development. "Waxed
strong in spirit" His inward man
kept pace with outward growth.
4. Retired to the desert. His heri-
.tage from his parents, the special
grace of the Spirit, needed the silence
and the austerity of the desert for its
completion. There God had an oppor-
tunity to speak to him. He not only
had an opportunity to become &C.
quainted with God, but was forced to
rely upon God.