Angel Tea - Mary - Pastor James Hooper

Devotional

Day 1: Endued With Grace: Accepted and Empowered in Christ

You are not just noticed by God; you are endued with grace. Before any assignment, before any risk, He clothes you with favor that both accepts you and empowers you. This grace is not a pat on the head; it is strength for what’s ahead. In Christ, you are “accepted in the Beloved,” not barely tolerated but welcomed, resourced, and commissioned. Rest in that identity today and let His favor steady your heart and your steps. You are graced for what God has placed before you [05:04].

Ephesians 1:3–6: Praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has poured out every spiritual blessing on us in Christ. Before the world was made, He chose us to be holy and blameless in His love. He planned in advance to adopt us through Jesus, because it delighted Him to do so. All of this puts the spotlight on the splendor of His grace, by which He made us welcomed and at home in His Son.

Reflection: Where do you most feel “on the outside,” and how would embracing being “accepted in the Beloved” practically change how you face that one situation this week?

Day 2: When the Spirit Comes Upon You, Power

Mary heard, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” and a miracle began; the same Spirit empowers you to live and witness. Power is not about flash; it is courage, clarity, and endurance to reflect Jesus in real time. You don’t muscle your way into obedience—He overshadows you so you can walk it out. Ask for that fresh overshadowing in the ordinary places you will go today. Power to be His witness is promised, present, and personal for you now [10:23].

Acts 1:8: The Holy Spirit will rest upon you, clothing you with strength. Then you will tell the truth about me—starting in Jerusalem, reaching through Judea and Samaria, and continuing all the way to the farthest places on earth.

Reflection: What specific conversation or challenge this week needs Spirit-given courage, and what is one practical step you can take today to rely on His power rather than your own?

Day 3: Nothing Is Impossible: Testimony Becomes Prophecy

God gave Mary a sign: Elizabeth, once called barren, was already six months in. Testimonies are not competition; they are invitations. When God does something for someone else, it is a whisper to your heart: “I’m still doing this.” Refuse to reduce your hope to the size of your understanding—your Father is not limited by your calculations. Let another’s story stir your faith for your own need today [18:41].

Luke 1:36–37: Your relative Elizabeth—who was said to be unable to have children—is already six months pregnant. Every word God speaks stands firm; with God, nothing is impossible.

Reflection: Whose recent testimony has sparked hope in you, and what one concrete faith action will you take this week in light of what God did for them?

Day 4: Let It Be to Me: Costly Yes

Mary counted the cost—reputation, relationships, unknowns—and still said, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Obedience may not be comfortable, but grace empowers the yes. You may be quietly doing your job when God invites you into something that stretches you. Trust Him with what you can’t control, and offer Him what you can: a yielded heart. Your surrendered yes opens space for God’s promise to take shape in you [25:25].

Luke 1:38: Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let what you have spoken take root and come to be in me.”

Reflection: Where does fear of others’ opinions hold you back right now, and what is one small, concrete act of obedience you can take this week to say, “Let it be to me”?

Day 5: Align Priorities to Receive and Release Blessing

There is no sacred-versus-secular for a disciple; in Christ, all of life is holy ground. As your priorities align—God first, then family, then the work He’s given you—grace flows through you instead of pooling up and growing stale. Sometimes the door you walk through isn’t glamorous; it’s training for the next door. Be patient—if it isn’t good yet, He’s still working. Get in the right seat on the right bus, and let God weave it all for good [47:04].

Romans 8:28: We are confident of this: in everything, God is at work, weaving all the pieces together for the good of those who love Him, those He has called according to His purpose.

Reflection: Looking at your calendar and commitments, what specific adjustment will you make this week to align your priorities so God’s blessing can flow through you to others?

Sermon Summary

Sharon and I started with a little joy from CeCe Winans and “Goodness of God,” and then I invited you to keep chewing on the Word all week with our devotions. We’re in Angel Tea, walking through the moments angels “spilled the tea” in Luke 1–2. Today I sat with Mary’s encounter with Gabriel. She isn’t in a prayer meeting; she’s in an ordinary day when the extraordinary breaks in. Gabriel’s greeting isn’t flattery—it’s theology: “Highly favored” means endued with grace. Before the assignment, God gives grace. Paul uses that same word for us in Christ—we’re accepted in the Beloved. That grace isn’t just forgiveness; it’s empowerment.

Gabriel’s appearance overwhelms—Daniel’s picture helps us feel why Mary was “shook.” But God’s first word is still, “Don’t be afraid.” He speaks plainly: you will conceive, name Him Jesus, He will reign. We looked at adoption—how Joseph’s lineage becomes Jesus’ legal line—and how our adoption into God’s family changes our story, even what we think is “in our blood.” Then the key phrase: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” It’s the same language as Acts 1:8. Power isn’t for theatrics; it equips ordinary people to live visibly faithful lives in hard places. Testimony matters too—Elizabeth’s pregnancy becomes prophecy: nothing is impossible with God.

Mary had to count the cost: reputation, relationships, risk. She could have said no. Instead, “I am the Lord’s servant.” That “yes” wasn’t naïve—33 years later she would stand at the cross. I shared how God pulled me from the soundboard to the front, not because it was comfortable, but because obedience often precedes passion. Be willing. Say “whatever You want, Lord,” and watch Him align your life.

There is no sacred/secular divide anymore; everything is sacred. Your family is your first ministry, then your work and church. When priorities align, blessing flows. God is getting us in the right seats on the right bus so He can entrust more through us. Some of you are facing decisions that “don’t make sense.” Good. Say yes. Grace will meet you. Let the Holy Spirit overshadow you, empower you, and make your life a visible witness to Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace precedes every true calling [06:36] God endues us with grace before He assigns us a task. “Highly favored” isn’t a mood; it’s empowerment to do what we cannot do on our own. If you’re facing something beyond you, remember: acceptance in the Beloved comes before accomplishment for the Beloved. Lean into the grace that arrived ahead of the assignment. [06:36]
2. Adoption rewrites lineage and identity [14:21] Joseph’s legal line gave Jesus David’s throne, and our adoption in Christ gives us a new family story. We don’t live under the inevitability of our past, our family patterns, or our “forms.” In Christ, what runs “in the family” becomes righteousness, mercy, and hope. Start filling out your life with your Father’s history, not your former one. [14:21]
3. The Spirit overshadows to empower witness [15:23] “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” and “you will receive power” share the same heartbeat. Power isn’t just for moments; it’s capacity to live faithfully when faithful living costs you something. Witness is not mere talk—it’s a life that can be examined up close and still ring true. Ask for overshadowing, then live what you proclaim. [15:23]
4. Testimony turns impossibility into invitation [18:41] Elizabeth’s pregnancy was God saying, “Watch Me,” before Mary had to say, “Yes, Lord.” The testimony of another becomes a personal prophecy that God is still at work, here and now. Don’t resent others’ breakthroughs; receive them as proof that your situation isn’t the ceiling, just the setup. Let gratitude fuel your faith for your turn. [18:41]
5. Say yes, reorder priorities, receive alignment [25:25] Mary’s yes cost her reputation, comfort, and control—but it opened salvation’s door to the world. Obedience often asks us to reorder our lives—God first, then family, then everything else. Alignment isn’t legalism; it’s the channel blessing flows through. If you’ll give God your “whatever,” He’ll give you His order—and with it, His increase. [25:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - Daily devotions invitation
[01:08] - Angel Tea series setup
[02:00] - Zechariah’s encounter recap
[03:05] - Mary’s betrothal and setting
[05:04] - “Highly favored” and grace
[07:06] - Mary troubled, not terrified
[08:20] - Gabriel’s awe in Daniel’s vision
[10:42] - “Do not be afraid, Mary”
[11:44] - Name and purpose: Jesus
[13:13] - Adoption and royal lineage
[15:23] - Overshadowing and Acts 1:8 power
[18:41] - Elizabeth’s testimony, nothing impossible
[25:25] - Mary’s courageous yes
[33:58] - From soundboard to calling
[41:42] - Willingness over comfort
[44:27] - Family first, sacred everyday
[47:04] - Alignment God can bless
[50:28] - Respond: “Whatever You want, Lord”
[53:28] - Prayer, invitation, and blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 1:26–38

Observation questions

Read Luke 1:26–38. Which phrase or detail in the passage surprises you most, and why?
The angel greeted Mary as “highly favored,” explained in the message as “endued with grace.” What does that phrase imply about Mary’s state before the assignment arrived? (Quote: “endued with grace” [05:04])
Luke says Mary was “greatly troubled” when Gabriel spoke. What does the picture of Gabriel (the Daniel passage description) add to your understanding of why Mary reacted that way? (Quote: description of Gabriel’s overwhelming appearance [08:20])
Gabriel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” How does that language connect Mary’s calling to the promise of power for witness in Acts? (Quote: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” / Acts connection [15:23])

Interpretation questions (third-person/objective)

How does the claim that “grace precedes every true calling” change the way a person should prepare mentally and spiritually for an assignment that feels beyond them? (Quote: “You are endued with grace” [05:04])
If adoption “rewrites lineage and identity,” in what concrete ways would being adopted into God’s family alter how someone interprets recurring family patterns or “what runs in the family”? (Quote: adoption and taking on God’s lineage illustration [14:21])
What is the practical relationship between the Holy Spirit’s “overshadowing” and receiving power to be an effective witness in costly or risky settings? (Quote: “you will receive power…you shall be my witnesses” [15:23])
When Mary counted the cost—reputation, relationships, risk—what does that teach about deciding to obey a calling that will likely bring hardship? (Quote: Mary’s immediate “yes” — “I am the Lord’s servant” [25:25])

Application questions (personal, specific)

An assignment or decision may feel too big. Which current choice in your life feels beyond your ability, and how would it change your thinking to name that situation and pray, “I receive the grace that precedes this task”? (Key idea: grace precedes assignment) [06:36]
Identify one family story, pattern, or “in the blood” expectation that you assume defines you. What is one concrete step you can take this week to begin telling a new story shaped by being a child of God? (Key idea: adoption rewrites lineage) [14:21]
Name a context where faithful living would cost you reputation or comfort (work, neighborhood, family circle). What specific, visible action could you take this week to live as a witness there and ask the Holy Spirit for power to sustain you? (Key idea: overshadowing empowers witness) [15:23]
Think of a recent testimony from someone who experienced something you thought impossible. How can you receive that testimony as a prophetic encouragement for your own situation rather than a source of envy? What will you do differently in your faith because of it? (Key idea: testimony turns impossibility into invitation) [18:41]
Evaluate your current priorities honestly: does God → family → work reflect your daily choices? Name one tangible rearrangement (a habit to start or stop) you will adopt this month to align that order. (Key idea: say yes, reorder priorities) [44:27]
Where is comfort keeping you from saying “whatever You want, Lord”? Pick one small, tangible “yes” to give this week (an act of service, a difficult conversation, an opportunity you would normally decline). Who will you tell about this commitment so someone can pray and check in with you? (Key idea: willingness over comfort) [50:28]

(End of guide)

Sermon Clips

This is what Mary was experiencing in that room when she was by herself. This is why she was shook a little bit. Gabriel is there. This image, this person appears before her and he is overwhelming. His just appearance is overwhelming. Why? Because he has the power of God just emanating from him. He is a celestial being and he has this power emanating from him and he says you are endued with grace and you are highly favored. [00:09:43] (36 seconds) #EnduedWithGrace

He said don't, do not be afraid Mary. You have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you are to call Him Jesus. Notice He did not beat around the bush there either. When God communicates to us sometimes He just communicates really succinctly and really clearly. We have this problem of well but does He mean this? Does He mean that? What does He mean? Does He mean? No, no, no. He says what He means. [00:10:44] (31 seconds) #GodSpeaksClearly

but when when we started the church in Princeton and I started leading worship because mama didn't want to lead worship and Sharon didn't want to lead worship so I led worship because I was musical and I sing and I loved it and then the Holy Spirit began revealing things to me showing me things then I began to discover who I was he opened it up I mean this took a long time I was 40 years old before I ever found out who I really was and I became comfortable with who I am [00:30:19] (37 seconds) #FoundSelfInService

but see when God first when when I first got up on the stage I didn't really care to do it but I did it because I needed to do it so what I'm getting back back to is when God calls you to do something it's not necessarily gonna be comfortable all the time even if it's a vocation sometimes you have you God provides something for you that's a either a step to something else or it's a door into a different future [00:33:25] (30 seconds) #ObedienceOpensDoors

``there is no difference there is no sacred and secular in your life now that you are a Christian everything is sacred in your life in fact your family is the most sacred thing in your life before the church your family I know not many preachers gonna say that but your family so that's your main priority when you when you have kids that your family is the biggest priority men your number one ministry is to your family before your job before church before anything else [00:43:07] (40 seconds) #FamilyFirstMinistry

I've seen too many ministers families fried and messed up and kids messed up because they put the church and put the ministry before their family that's why I will be gone some Sundays because my family's doing something my great-nephew had his birthday party on a Sunday why in God's name did they do it on Sunday I don't know that's their prerogative so y'all know I wasn't here because that's my family we we don't have a a a candlelight service on Christmas Eve because that's when my family gets together it's on Christmas Eve I want to do those things but my family is the main priority now [00:44:12] (48 seconds) #FamilyBeforeMinistry

if we can get our priorities right if we can say God I'm willing to do whatever you have me to do even if it means changing your priorities for right now our priorities should be in order Mary had to decide am I going to make God's will priority in my life or am I going to make my own reputation my priority am I going to let my standing in the community how people look at me am I going to make that my priority she had to decide [00:45:06] (49 seconds) #GodOverReputation

he's only going to pour through a funnel that flows not a funnel that captures if you stop up the funnel it's just going to rise and that's there all it's going to be and then it's going to get stale and it's going to get your life's going to get but if you let that flow through the right channels then everything around you will flourish and you will flourish [00:46:07] (26 seconds) #LetGraceFlow

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