Three Christmas characters are three lessons of expectation:

1. Zechariah

Luke 1:13; 18-20 NLT - 13 But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ...18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years." 19 Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time."

• Being a person of great character doesn't always make you a person of great faith.
• Hope is not the same thing as faith.
• It displeases God when we don't believe His Word.

2. Mary

Luke 1:30-31, 38 NLT - 30 "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus." ...38 Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her.

• Agreeing with God is faith.
• Finding another believer who has a promise will strengthen your expectation.
• Praise comes before the promise is seen.

Luke 1:46-49 NLT - 46 Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. 47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me."

3. Simeon

Luke 2:25-28 NLT - 25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there.

• When we believe the promise, we will look for it.
  • Elijah sent his servant to look. He knew it was coming; he just did not know the timing.
• When we believe the promise, we will prepare for it.
  • Noah believed in the flood and prepared by building a boat.
  • Abraham believed in the promise and prepared the sacrifice.

How to engage your expectations:

1. RECEIVE a word from God.
2. AGREE with God.
3. Agree with SOMEONE.
4. PRAISE as if it's already happened.
5. LOOK daily as if it's on its way.
6. MAKE preparations in expectation.