Pastor Mac Hammond | December 5, 2021

Recap:
Mary was the first example of someone receiving the seed of God’s Word in her heart and letting that Word grow on the inside of her until it was ready to be birthed into the world. This past weekend, Pastor Mac reminded us that one of the mysteries of God’s kingdom is the fact that Christ lives inside us and provides us with the hope of glory. As we celebrate the Christmas season, we can become aware of God at work, living on the inside of us to do His will and good pleasure!

Dive Deeper:
The season of Christmas is a wonderful reminder of the redemption that Jesus brought to us. It started with a promise to Mary. She is now an example of the seed of God’s Word being planted on the inside and eventually being brought into the world.

This same process of bringing God’s promise into the world can happen in us. The first step is to follow the willing answer of Mary: “Be it unto me according to your word.” Willingness is the first step to receiving the seed of God’s Word in your life.

You see, when God’s Word is at work on the inside of you, you don’t have to be afraid when adversity comes. You can walk through it peacefully because you are trusting Christ in you to manifest the hope of glory. He can help you walk through whatever you are facing.

This isn’t automatic. Many Christians have accepted Jesus into their lives, but they don’t realize how close God wants to be with them. Given the constant noise of today’s world, it’s good to examine yourself with regularity and be aware of your faith levels. You can walk through each day knowing that God will manifest what you need when you need it!

Read More:
Colossians 1:26-27 KJV
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Colossians 1:26-27 TPT
There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!

2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

2 Corinthians 13:5 Amp.
Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves [not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?

Proverbs 23:18 KJV
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Galatians 5:22 KJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Luke 1:26-38 KJV
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Discussion Questions:
1. How is your faith level today? Do you believe God can do what He says He will do?
2. How aware are you of God’s activity in your life?
3. Do you realize that Christ is in you, providing the hope of glory?
4. When adversity comes, how can God help us walk through adversity well?

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