Everyone needs hope. Being without hope is a sad state of life and perhaps one of the worst effects of the Fall of man and separation from a relationship with God who is the One true source of hope. It has been said that the only thing worse than insanity is hopelessness. We use another word to describe hopelessness or a loss of hope and that is discouragement. Discouragement in reality is a loss of hope. Hope is a confident and favorable expectation, an anticipation of good; and it gives us the feeling of what we desire will happen. We lose this when discouraged. We lose our courage and motivation when we lose hope. We can become lethargic, indifferent, sluggish, and even apathetic which are all signs of hopelessness. Two of the chief dangers of remaining in hopelessness can lead to are:
1. Recklessness – we do crazy and desperate things; things we’d never think of doing or that we ever thought we’d do.
2. Neglect- we do nothing; we give up, we withdraw and isolate ourselves and say “just leave me alone,” or “I’ll figure this out on my own.”
The Good News is that we can get our hope back. Where can we get hope from?
1. GOD
Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
2. THE GOSPEL
Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.
3. CHRIST IN YOU
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
4. THE SCRIPTURES
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5. THE HOLY GHOST
Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
6. OUR COVENANT PROMISES
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
7. FAITH EXPERIENCES PROVED THROUGH ENDURING TRIALS
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope.
Pastor John Rasicci is the founder and Pastor of Word of His Grace Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor John preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor John is married to his wife Candy who with their three children, Krista, Joanna, John Anthony, and two son-in-laws, Matt and Doug, serve together in the ministry. After graduating from Kent State University, Pastor John pursued a career in professional baseball before accepting the call to the ministry. He and his wife, Candy, received their ministry training from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
John Rasicci 
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