There is hope in the world. All hope is not lost. According to the Bible, God is the God of hope. The word hope in the Bible is from the Greek word “Elpis.” “It means a desire of some good with an expectation of obtaining it.”

Jeremiah 29:11 from the Bible says, “I know the plans I have for you says the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Romans 15:13 from the Bible says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Dr. Reginald Kliminoch said, “The edge of disaster and the brink of a miracle are the same place.” Over the last 300 years of history, when cities and nations have been on the verge of collapsing morally, God has raised up people who would pray, and God brought spiritual revivals and spiritual awakenings, and brought people back to “a right standing with God.” It’s time to pray to God and turn our hearts back to God and turn away from our rebellion against God and his word, that our children, our families and our nation might have this God kind of hope and be saved.

Several pastors have been meeting together in Weirton and Steubenville for the last four years each week to pray for our churches, families, cities and nation, and I’m sure God is raising up others all over this nation to pray. We appear to be standing on the shore of historic calamity in America. Wave after wave of bad news in destructive tsunami fashion arrives at the speed of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, text or TV, demolishing hopes and dreams and discouraging even the best encouragers.

So many are addicted to feeding at the information trough, waiting for the next download of bloody carnage, like a monstrous sow gorging on the latest slop. This exercise in futility and philosophic brain burn is somehow overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. Meanwhile thousands are dying nationwide from drug overdoses, and suicides, and senseless violence, broken and battered by bad choices and a failure to find hope in America, the quote, “land of opportunity,” while we blindly follow to our spiritual detriment.

In America, children are being told to question their own gender. God made you who you are. God doesn’t make mistakes. Stop the craziness. Stop the political correctness. We can disagree with each other spiritually and morally and not hate one another.

Where has hope gone in the schools and towns and cities of America? Have we lost the hope that once resounded in our schools, when children called out to God in prayer? Hope is not far away. It seems to be hidden in plain site behind church walls and in the Bible, God’s word, in the hearts of followers of Jesus Christ, who have been silenced by fear and intimidation. Arise sons and daughters of the living God, and share this message of hope and the transforming love of God through Jesus Christ, that the world so desperately needs.

Don’t let hope be shrouded by the blabbering brain burning information gate keepers, the sellers of “No hope,” they club the truth to death hoping we will be mesmerized by the special effects and ignorant that our minds are being bludgeoned with hopelessness and we will tune in for more of the same later.

It’s time to throw off hopelessness. It’s time to dream again. It’s time to overflow with hope and joy and peace as you trust in the God of hope.

Jesus’ life was and is a beautiful portrait of a God-centered, kingdom of God and Holy Spirit powered life. (I want it.)

It’s available to those who give him their hearts and follow him. (I want it.)

This Great Spiritual Awakening started for the disciples when they followed Jesus. (I want it.)

I don’t want to just talk about Jesus’ life on Earth.

(I want it.)

I mean choosing to have a relationship like Jesus did with God, the Father. (I want it.)

I mean choosing to have a relationship like Jesus did with the Holy Spirit. (I want it.)

Prayer was important to Jesus. (I want it.)

Jesus fasted and prayed before he started his ministry. (I want it.)

Jesus got up before dawn to go pray. (I want it.)

Jesus spent the night in prayer many times. (I want it.)

Jesus prayed three times in the garden before he went to the cross. (I want it.)

Luke 24:49: Jesus told his disciples they would be clothed with power from on high. (I want it.)

Matthew 3:17: Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit. (I want it.)

Matthew 4:1-4: Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit. (I want it.)

You and I know that we really go after the things that we really want. If you want the hope that comes through knowing Jesus Christ, and you want to have this beautiful God-centered, kingdom of God, and Holy Spirit filled life of hope, go after a relationship with Jesus like you really want it.

Pray this prayer with me and ask the Lord to give you hope through his Holy Spirit. “Lord, forgive my sins and come into my life, give me your Holy Spirit, and make me a child of God. Change my heart and make me brand new, in Jesus’ name! I thank you for renewed hope, a desire of some good with an expectation of obtaining it. I thank you for the promises in your word that give me hope in Jesus’ name. 2 Corinthians 5:17 in the Bible says, “Anyone who is in Christ, is a new creation.” The Greek word for new is Kheeanos, it means, unused; unworn, new, fresh, uncommon, unheard of; unprecedented. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that’s what you’re missing out on.

Find a life-giving church to attend, one that believes that Jesus is the only way to God, the Father, as the Bible says, and that the Bible is the final authority on truth. Enjoy your new found hope. God bless you.

(“From the Pulpit” is a weekly sermon provided by the clergy members of The Weirton Ministerial Association)