This was Jesus' appointed mission. He was sent by His Father as the only means by which anyone could be saved from eternal condemnation. The Pharisees and Sanhedrin had nothing to fear from Him. While He preached against their hypocritical religious practices, He did not come to judge them or to condemn them but to give them an opportunity to repent and be saved.
On the other hand, neither did He come to judge and condemn the Gentiles. The Jews thought that the Messiah would destroy the Gentiles when He came, but this was not true. He was their Savior too and would not distinguish between Jew and Gentile.
Therefore, salvation was opened for all people who would believe on the name of Jesus. Once again, it must be emphasized that the word "believe" involves more than a mere intellectual agreement. One must believe strongly enough to submit every aspect of his or her life to Jesus. It is a belief that comes only by the regeneration of the Spirit, a new birth, and a radically changed life.

Throughout our history our nation's leaders have carried their plans and hopes to God in prayer. Today we regard prayer in our national life as a forgotten tradition. We no longer have the sense of coming earnestly to God. We simply pray as a formality.

This nation was born in a meeting based on prayer, some of its most important decisions being made only after careful prayer to God. There needs to be a renewed emphasis on prayer today.

One of the reasons the world community, specifically the United Nations, has become so ineffective in handling global situations is that there is no prayer and no recognition of God. The UN lifts no prayer to God for guidance and blessing because we are so afraid of offending our secular neighbors.

People tend to say prayers only in times of great stress, danger, and uncertainty. After 9-11 the churches were brimming with people in prayer. Where are those people now? Since then we have flown through bad storms, and prayer is nothing more than a trickle. Though it is instinctive for man to pray in a time of trouble, even then people have turned away from prayer.

Christ instructed His followers to pray, both by teaching and example. So fervent and so direct were His prayers that one time when He had finished praying His followers turned to Him and said, "Lord, teach us to pray." (Luke 11:1) They knew that Jesus had been in touch with God, and they wanted to have such an experience.

Now, at this tumultuous time in history we stand in a great need of prayer. Shall we be a people of prayer in such a time as this?

I am praying for all of you. Please, pray with me.

Amen.

Even though a great windstorm had risen, and the waves beat into the boat, Jesus was asleep. His disciples came to Him asking, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"

They had forgotten the promise of Jesus Christ. He had promised that they would get to the other side. He never promised that the journey would be easy, but that as long as He was with them, they would reach the other side.

In fact, being with the Lord, we are more apt to experience storms.

Do you trust Jesus?

When the storms of life come, according to James Merritt of Cross Pointe Church near Atlanta, Georgia, you must remember first the promise of Jesus: He will get you to the other side. Second, to rest in the presence of Jesus. If He is in your boat, you will meet with storms, but you will be safe. When you are where God has placed you, even in the middle of a storm, God is always right there beside you. Safety is not the absence of problems, safety is the presence of Jesus. Third, rely on the power of Jesus. He does not promise smooth sailing, but He does promise safe arrival.

Will you face trial with fear? Or with faith? Fear looks at the storm; Faith looks at the Savior.

Christ may sometimes delay His coming in our time of distress. It is only during those times that our faith may be tried and strengthened, and that our prayers may be more intense, and that our desires for deliverance may be increased, so that when the deliverance does come we will appreciate it more fully.

Jesus said to His disciples in the boat after He rebuked the wind and calmed the sea, ""Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Mark 4:40

It seems much easier to have faith when the sky is blue, than when the storm is raging.

We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm. Strength in the Lord is born in a storm.

Psalm 107:29 says: He calms the storm, So that its waves are still.

Isaiah 43:2 says: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

There is no need to fear the coming storms of your life, whether you are in the midst of one, have just finished with one, or if a storm approaches, when you have placed all of your matters into His hands.

In regards to the fear we experience during our toughest times, I John 4:18-19 says: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

There is always a lesson in a storm, and always a storm in a lesson.

Committing our matters into God's hands frees us from the confusion, conflicts, and cares that fill the world today. All of our trials, or normal goings-ons, ought to be given to Him. Pray about all of it to Him. We need to put the concerns and cares behind us, and who better with than God? Then, after dying of ourselves, we ought to recognize our dependence on Him to carry the matters for us. Commit yourself to Him. This can only be done with faith, for even the slightest doubt in your heart that your way is not a good one, faith will refuse to have anything to do with it. Committing our matters to Him must be continuous. We need to allow Him to pass judgement on our ways. Only when we truly commit our way to the Lord and leave it with Him will we no longer be anxious and fearful. Take it to Him, refraining from walking away with it again. Closely examine your habits. Are they right in the eyes of God? Have you placed it all in His hands?

Isaiah 43:20 NKJV "You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me."

I worship Him, and Him alone. He chose me, and I chose Him. There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God with us, born of a virgin, having a sinless life, performed miracles, and through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal power and glory I am saved, for without Him I would be lost to my sins. Only the regeneration of my spirit by the Holy Spirit through my repentance from sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior allows me to come into a personal relationship with God.

Through fellowship, song, and prayer I worship Him, and through prayer I request from Him the conviction of your heart. Only Christ can change a heart, and only by believing in the shed blood of Christ can one enter the Kingdom of Heaven, not by works, lest any man should boast.

Even if you don't believe in God, remember, He still believes in you.

We must live life, physically die, and face judgment. Birth and death is out of your control.  Life and death (barring the rapture) are a required activities.

However, we are able to avoid judgement. . .

Jesus Christ was slain as a judgement for our sins. God judged His Son for our sins, instead of us. He faced it so that we would not have to. And Jesus did it voluntarily, because He loves us.

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have a fabulous future. When this world has gone away, you will reside in the Kingdom of God and live in the presense of Christ. Of course, if you have become born again, you already live in the presence of Christ, for He resides in the hearts of all true believers. If you have received Christ, then you are prepared for death, and an eternal life without having to face the judgement of God.

For those of you that do not believe in God, just remember that even though you don't believe in Him, He believes in you.

God Bless.