Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year!  Because of JESUS‘ birth, we are able to be restored back to a relationship with the Father.  God’s eternal plan to restore us back to the glory that Adam and Eve walked in is now ours because of JESUS!

From the very beginning of time, it was God’s strategy to undo the effects of Adam and Eve’s sin by redeeming us back to Himself through the LORD JESUS CHRIST and from the curse that came on man in the garden of Eden.  Through JESUS‘ ministry, He revealed a new covenant in which God wanted to relate to mankind as a loving Father ~ the same kind of relationship He had enjoyed with Adam and Eve in the garden.

I love walking in the JOY of the Lord because it’s my strength and I can only imagine the excitement in heaven when God’s plan was being sent forth on the earth.  When the angel of the Lord announced the good news of JESUS‘ birth, it was GREAT JOY TO ALL PEOPLE!

Because to the birth of our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST, everything has changed.  JESUS demonstrated the love of our Heavenly Father when He came to the earth by healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers and casting our demons.

JESUS is A GOD OF FREEDOM!  Romans 8:1-2 says,

• There is therefore NOW no condemnation to those who are in CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of Life in CHRIST JESUS has made us free from the law of sin and death.

The Father’s plan of redemption brings us hope, restoration, and reconciliation with Himself.

When we accepted JESUS CHRIST as our Lord and Savior, we were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light.  Now, we can live free from torment, distress, depression, sickness, and lack.  Our past has been forgiven.  We have become brand new creations in CHRIST JESUS, old things have been passed away and all things have become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17-19 from the Amplified Bible says it this way,

• Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].  But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him]…

The Father’s love is so great towards us that the Apostle Paul prayed that we would be able to comprehend it.  This is what he prayed from Ephesians 3:17-19,

• That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Wow!  TO BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD?!?  What would this look like?  We would be people filled with hope, joy unspeakable and be filled with His glory.  This is God’s plan of redemption towards us ~ to be saved, healed, delivered, preserved, protected, made whole, kept safe and sound, made righteous and prosperous.  We can now be one with Him, hallelujah!

Randy and I are so grateful for His redemption and His restoration back to the glory Adam and Eve had when they walked with God in the cool of the day.  A beautiful fellowship restored!

As Christmas is right around the corner, my heart’s desire is for you to walk in a much higher degree of God’s love and glory.  I pray that you be filled with His peace and great joy!

“Father, I ask in the Name of Jesus that You fill our hearts with joy throughout this Christmas season!  Thank You for sending us JESUS, Your most prized possession to the earth, so we can have eternal life and know what it’s like to have true, unbroken fellowship with the Father. Thank You for Your plan of redemption and reconciliation.  We love You so much, LORD, and we celebrate the gift of love You gave us in CHRIST JESUS.  GLORY TO YOU, MOST HIGH GOD!

I encourage you to make sharing God’s love with others your primary goal as you spend time with your families and friends, revealing the LOVE and GOODNESS of God to them.  God loves you more than you know!  Be blessed and have a very Merry Christmas!

Walking in His freedom,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church