This week Bro. Leo starts us on a Christmas study, by looking at the first Christmas message of Christmas.

Bro. Leo starts us off by praying for our Church and community members that have passed away from Covid recently, their families and those who have contracted Covid recently. Please join us in praying for these folks and all the folks around our Country and the World who have been effected by Covid.

In Luke 2:10 the Angels told the shepherds not to be afraid. There are two areas that we can be afraid in, 1) the here and now-present day 2) the hereafter.

1. The hereafter: The Angels were telling the shepherds that the Saviour had come and they would not have to fear about the hereafter.
   Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
   Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
   Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
   1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
   1Ti 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
   
   A) As a born again Christian we have nothing to fear about death, because Jesus has defeated death. Jesus came to earth to be with us so He could make a way for us to be with Him.
   Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
   Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
   Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
   Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
   Joh 17:15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
   Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
   Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
   Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
   Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
   Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
   Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
   Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
   Joh 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
   Joh 17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
2. The here and now. 1)Jesus is always with me, 2)He will never leave me, 3)He will never fail me.
   Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
   Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
   Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
   Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
   Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
   Joh 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
   Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
   1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
   2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

In 2Tim.1:7 the words “sound mind” is translated from the Greek word “sophronos” which means sound mind, sound judgement, self control or sobriety, to conduct oneself in a disciplined moderate way.
We are given a sound mind so that we can judge what we need to do in order to stay safe. We are to be cautious when threatening circumstance present themselves. In the wake of the Corona virus, this means that individually we need to access the level of danger to us and act appropriately. This means that there isn’t a one size fits all response to the Corona virus.

The word “love” in vs. is translated from the Greek word “phileo” which is a love for fellow man. As we proceed through the Corona virus we need to be mindful of the folks around us.

In vs.7 the “power” refers to God’s power. We trust in God’s ability to protect us and heal us of the Corona virus.

As we enter into this Christmas season in the middle of the Corona virus this first message of Christmas should reassure us not to fear the virus. And if you’re like me and haven’t had any fear of the virus, this first message of Christmas should give us the understanding of why we have not had any fear of the virus.