Christ In Me- I Am A Christmas Tree Pt 2

Devotional

Day 1: Cut from the forest, rooted in Christ

When you said yes to Jesus, you were cut from the old forest and set apart, no longer drawing identity from the world’s soil. Like a Christmas tree standing tall in a city square, your life is upheld not by hidden roots but by a firm foundation—Christ Himself. What once defined you is gone; who holds you now is everything. You live in this world, but you are not of it, and the light within you proves you are alive. Let every glance at a tree remind you that your strength comes from the base that never tips, never cracks, never fails. You are held, and you will stand. [41:08]

2 Corinthians 3:2–3: Your life is like a letter everyone can read; not written with ink but formed by God’s living Spirit, etched not on stone but into a transformed heart, showing plainly that Jesus is at work in you.

Reflection: What is one old “root” still trying to define you, and what simple daily practice this week will help you stand on Christ as your true base?

Day 2: Receive freely, then give freely

A Christmas tree receives gifts—and then it gives them away. In the same way, you receive love, peace, and joy so you can pass them on in real time to real people. The Spirit has already placed His fruit within you; it’s not waiting to be installed later. As you give what you’ve received, others will recognize Christ in you by what hangs from your life. Don’t wait to feel ready; open your hands and let it flow. What you have from God is meant to move through you. [36:52]

Galatians 5:22–23: God’s Spirit grows a different kind of harvest in us—love that endures, joy that brightens, peace that steadies, patience that stays, kindness that acts, goodness that’s genuine, faithfulness that keeps showing up, gentleness that heals, and self-control that holds the line.

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit is God inviting you to give to one specific person this week, and what concrete act will you do to give it?

Day 3: Joy that overflows beyond feelings

The joy Jesus gives is not fragile or moody; it doesn’t rise and fall with the temperature. He pours His joy into you until it becomes your joy, and your joy spills over where you live, work, and worship. This joy is visible and contagious—it preaches without a microphone and strengthens you when feelings can’t. When the morning is cold or the day is heavy, joy remains your steady strength because its source is Him. Choose to carry what He already filled you with. Let your joy glow. [51:24]

John 15:11: I’ve told you these things so that my own joy will fill you up, and then your joy will run over into the world around you.

Reflection: In what one setting this week could your visible joy “preach,” and what specific action there will you take to express it?

Day 4: Wake up, stand up, speak up in love

Each morning is an invitation to listen and then to speak life. God awakens your ear to learn His heart so your mouth can carry His hope to the weary. Believe, and therefore speak—yet speak in the right spirit, because how you say it matters as much as what you say. You are His mouthpiece, formed and fitted to usher in peace, joy, and hope. Ask Him for a word in season, and let your tone match His compassion. Rise to listen; then stand and speak. [56:30]

Isaiah 50:4: The Lord has trained my tongue so I know how to say the right word at the right moment to the tired; morning by morning He wakes my ears to learn like a willing student.

Reflection: Tomorrow morning, ask God for one sentence to encourage a weary person—who comes to mind, and how will you share that word with them?

Day 5: Qualified, commissioned, and unstoppable in Christ

You are not waiting for permission to shine; in Jesus you are already qualified and sent. Faith is your title deed—what He purchased, He placed in your hands, and He won’t take it back. As you go and do His works, ask in His name and watch the Father be glorified. The all-consuming fire of God outburns every fiery dart, and no one can pluck you from His hand. Step into the assignment: preach good news, bind up broken hearts, declare freedom, and watch recovery begin. You are called to go, and He delights to do as you go. [58:24]

Colossians 1:12–13: Give thanks to the Father—He’s the One who made you fit to share in the inheritance with His people, rescuing you from the dark rule and moving you into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

Reflection: What single “greater works” step will you take this week—praying for a sick friend, sharing the gospel, or speaking freedom to someone bound—and when exactly will you do it?

Sermon Summary

I invited us to see every Christmas tree as a living parable of Christ in us. A tree only becomes a Christmas tree when it’s cut from the forest, lifted from its old roots, and set upon a firm base. In the same way, we live in this world but are no longer of it—our identity, supply, and strength come from Jesus. The fruit and lights on a tree mirror the Spirit’s fruit and fire in us: love that keeps no record of wrong, joy that overflows, peace that steadies, patience that outlasts, kindness that disarms, self-control that holds the line. When people gather around us, they should encounter provision, deliverance, identity, and hope—the kinds of encounters Moses had at the burning bush.

I pressed on the rhythm of the kingdom: receive, then give. Trees receive gifts; trees give gifts. We receive love, joy, and peace; then we give them away. Jesus said His joy fills us—then it becomes our joy to steward and share. Joy is not a mood; it is strength. It preaches without a microphone and is meant to be seen. Faith is the title deed God places in our hands—He doesn’t take it back. He has already qualified us in Christ and commissioned us to speak, act, and shine. So stop waiting for permission; do the works of Jesus and expect greater works because His Spirit rests upon you.

Our mouths matter. We are God’s mouthpiece. Like a musician who learns the mouthpiece before the instrument, we learn to speak with the Spirit’s tone—right words in the right spirit—so our sound carries life. Each morning, wake with Isaiah’s posture: “He awakens my ear to hear,” and then speak a word in season to the weary. Darkness cannot overcome what God has illuminated; fiery darts cannot consume what the All-Consuming Fire has already ignited. No one can pluck you from His hand. So stand tall. Shine bright. Let the fruit inside be evident outside. Christ in me, I shine. Christ in me, I stand. Christ in me, I bring joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Cut to be set apart Being “cut down” is surrender—leaving old roots and identities to stand on Christ alone. A tree in the forest can’t be a Christmas tree; it needs a new base, a new source. The Christian life begins where self-reliance ends, and steadiness begins at the foundation of Jesus. What’s cut is not your life, but your bondage; what remains is your true identity. [40:45]
2. Receive freely, then give freely Grace makes us generous because we only give what we’ve first received. The tree that receives gifts naturally becomes the place of giving and celebration. When you receive God’s love, joy, and peace, you become a conduit, not a cul-de-sac. Giving stops feeling like performance and starts looking like overflow. [42:36]
3. Joy given becomes your joy Jesus fills you with His joy until it becomes your joy to steward. That means joy isn’t borrowed emotion; it’s a spiritual possession that outlasts weather, mood, and circumstance. Use it—speak it, sing it, share it—because what you deploy multiplies. Your joy is meant to be visible, strong, and contagious. [52:20]
4. Qualified and commissioned to shine In Christ, you’re already qualified—no more waiting rooms, just obedience. Faith is a title deed placed in your hands; authority resides with the one holding it. Step into the works of Jesus: preach good news, heal, set captives free, and expect God to act as you act. You’re not asking for permission; you’re answering a commission. [72:02]
5. Wake up to hear and speak Mornings are invitations to listen—God awakens your ear so you can carry a timely word to the weary. How you say it matters as much as what you say; tone carries the cargo of truth. Train your mouth like a musician trains embouchure—so your speech releases presence, not just information. Believe, then speak; the Word works when it’s voiced. [63:15]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:03] - Prayer: Fruit of the Spirit
[37:26] - Childlike faith receives blessing
[40:03] - Christ in me: Christmas tree
[40:45] - Cut down, set apart life
[41:52] - Firm foundation for standing
[42:36] - Receive and give like Jesus
[45:12] - Your life is a letter
[49:12] - Burning bush: deliverance and purpose
[50:06] - Joy that overflows visibly
[55:59] - Wake up, stand up, speak up
[57:02] - Works and greater works
[60:54] - Learning to be God’s mouthpiece
[65:54] - Qualified and not waiting
[74:32] - The Spirit is upon me

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
- Luke 4:18–19
- John 15:11
- Hebrews 11:1

Observation questions (what does the text/speech say?)

Read Luke 4:18–19. Which actions does this passage list as the public work of God’s anointing (for example: heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty, etc.)? How do those actions shape the picture of what people should encounter around a Christian?
The fruit of the Spirit was named in the talk. Which specific items were listed as fruit, and which one stood out as the signal that the tree is “on fire but not burning up”? [36:03]
The Christmas-tree image was described: cut from the forest, lifted from old roots, set on a firm base. What changes in a tree’s situation were named as essential for it to function as a Christmas tree? [40:45]
The rhythm “receive, then give” was illustrated by how a decorated tree receives gifts and gives joy. Which specific things did the talk say we first receive and then give away? [42:36]

Interpretation questions (what does it mean?)

What does being “cut down” and “set apart” mean for a believer’s identity and daily loyalties (for example: what is given up, and what replaces it)? [40:45]
How does the pattern “receive freely, then give freely” reshape the group’s understanding of generosity and spiritual service (is giving framed as duty, overflow, stewardship, or something else)? [42:36]
Hebrews 11:1 was used to say faith is a title deed. What are the practical implications if faith is treated as a legal claim (a possession) rather than only an inner feeling? [53:09]
Being “God’s mouthpiece” and waking with Isaiah’s posture were linked. How should the daily practice of “God awakens my ear to hear” change how a believer prepares to speak to others? [01:03:15]

Application questions (how will we live it out?)

Identify one concrete “root” (habit, identity, fear, relationship, or resource) you need to be willing to be “cut” from so Christ can be your firm base. What is one practical step you will take this week to begin that surrender? [40:45]
Name one specific way you will practice the rhythm “receive, then give” in the next seven days (for example: receive prayer or encouragement, then offer it to someone else; receive a meal, then bring a meal to another). How will you know whether you are giving from overflow or performance? [42:36]
The joy of the Lord is our strength and is meant to overflow. What is a short phrase, song line, or truth you will speak or sing aloud this week to steward the joy you have been given? When will you make that your habit? [52:20]
If faith is a title deed already placed in your hand, what one action (a phone call, a prayer you will voice, a visit, a step of service) will you do this week that demonstrates you are acting on that authority? [53:09]
Think of one person in your life who needs deliverance, identity, or hope. What is one specific, simple word or invitation you can speak to that person—asking the Lord to equip you—by tomorrow morning? [49:12]
When doubt or condemnation comes, what short reminder will you use to stand firm (“No one can pluck me from God’s hand,” or similar)? Where will you put that reminder so you actually see and say it when you need it? [01:11:13]

Notes for the group leader
- Start the session by reading the three Bible passages aloud (Luke 4:18–19; John 15:11; Hebrews 11:1).
- Keep conversations practical and brief when people share application steps—encourage specific “who/when/what” commitments rather than general intentions.
- Close the discussion by asking two people to briefly state one personal action they will do this week and one person they will pray for.

Sermon Clips

Now, I think about that. Jesus, my goodness, that guy is patient and long-suffering with this guy. You think about it. The things that I have put God through, my goodness, he's a good God. He is a good God. See, thank God, thank you, Lord, really, that we don't get on his last nerve. His mercy and his grace is new every morning. So, yeah, you might get on the last nerve yesterday, but now today, all your nerves are good to go again. Because that's the Christ in me. It's that hope. [00:42:42] (44 seconds) #MercyNewEveryMorning

Did y'all know those existed? They're really cool. They look good. And it's just like, boom. It already has the balls, the lights, everything on it. You know, that pop-up Christmas tree really reflects how we are. It's like, it's not that you become in Christ, and then you got to get wrapped with lights, and you got to get the balls, No, it's an instant thing that happens. That, right there. Boom. You have it. It's already working. It's already gathering. It's already, people are seeing it. [00:43:56] (32 seconds) #AlreadyLitInChrist

But you know, I learned how to use that mouthpiece. And I continued how to use that mouthpiece. Without that mouthpiece, that horn was useless. It was useless. We are his mouthpiece. We are his mouthpiece. We get to usher in the glory, the presence, the joy, the peace, life, hope. That mouthpiece is so important that we get to speak it. [01:02:05] (32 seconds) #BeHisMouthpiece

How you say something is as important as what you say. How you say it is as important. My dad always said, you can say the right thing in the wrong spirit and be 100% wrong. At the same way, you can say the wrong thing in the right spirit and be right. He looks at what? Your heart. It's the spirit of it. [01:05:02] (30 seconds) #HeartOverWords

The last point is I want you all to understand that you are qualified. You are qualified and commissioned. So I haven't done this. I haven't done that. But you accept Christ, you're qualified. You are qualified. You are not waiting for permission to shine. Can I turn it on? No, no. You don't have to wait for permission. You just shine. [01:05:49] (25 seconds) #ShineWithoutPermission

Now faith is. What is faith? Faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed of the things we hope for. Faith is the title deed of the things that we hope for, being the proof of the things that we don't see, and the conviction of their reality. I like that conviction. Faith perceived as real fact. What is not revealed to the senses? I'm saying every single one of you, how many of you believe that Christ died? How many of you believe Christ rose again? You got faith. You have a title deed. [01:06:17] (50 seconds) #FaithIsYourTitleDeed

You are fit. Man, watch this. The devil can't extinguish the Christ in you. He can't extinguish you. Here's what's so fun about it. And I said this the other day. Never really saw this. Man, this is like, oh, good Lord. Thank you. Just by listening to the Scriptures and reading the Word. God is an all-consuming what? Fire. He's an all-consuming fire. Satan tries to take you out with what type of darts? Fiery darts. [01:12:28] (40 seconds) #ChristCantBeExtinguished

``You have to let your joy glow. You got to let your hope shine. Let your faith stand tall. Let your voice be heard. Let your love be visible. All because the light of God lives inside of you. And he's ready to be seen. He's ready to be felt. And he's ready to change lives. All in his name, which is Jesus. [01:15:49] (38 seconds) #LetYourLightShine

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