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We hear a lot about hope — from politicians, from numerous books, from tapes and other media. But what is offered in each of these messages doesn’t seem to last.

We may get fired up and encouraged by what we hear in such messages. Indeed, we may find ourselves refreshed and hopeful for a season. But what is offered isn’t a fixed, experienced hope, and soon it fades away.

The whole world yearns for a steadfast hope. The inner cry of multitudes around the globe right now is, “Somebody, somewhere, please, give me some hope, something that will last.”

Every Christian claims to trust the Lord. Yet in reality, many of God’s children aren’t ready to face the black storm coming upon the world. Unless we lay hold of a special, unshakable trust in our Lord, we won’t be ready for the hard times, now or in the future.

I want to take you back to one of the darkest days in Israel’s history. On this particular day, a widow stood before three caskets, surrounded by wailing crowds. In that mourning crowd were hundreds of other weeping widows, as well as scores of wounded soldiers, some with their wounds still bleeding.

In Isaiah 51, the Lord delivers a powerful message to all who pursue righteousness. He declares, “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord” (Isaiah 51:1). A few verses later, he again calls to those “that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law” (51:7).

I want to make three statements to you about the touch of God. These three points are the heart of my message:

One question has been at the forefront of my mind in recent weeks. I believe it's a question every sincere believer must ask himself continually: Am I growing in grace?

To me, grace is Holy Ghost empowerment to become more like Jesus. Therefore, to grow in grace means to increase in Christ-likeness through the unmerited power of God's Spirit. Now let's rephrase my question in these terms: "Am I relying on the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus - in my home, my ministry, my relationships?"

Multitudes of Christians get up each morning only to face indescribable problems - physical pain, emotional suffering, financial struggles. Many are so barraged by trouble after trouble, they worry, "This is all too much for me to handle. My problems are about to defeat me! I don't have the strength to fight these things anymore. How will I ever make it?"

Our ministry has received many letters from saints who endure extremely difficult circumstances daily. Recently, my wife and I spent a day reading through some of these letters:

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven" (Luke 6:35-37).

NOT everyone who's in what is known as the ecclesiastical church is going to be in the bride of Jesus Christ. Not all who say, "Lord, Lord," will enter in. We know that from the Scriptures.

However, existing within ecclesiastical churches all over the world is a called-out body - a holy remnant - that will comprise the bride of Christ. Right now, God is preparing that bride for marriage to His Son. And He will introduce this bride to her Bridegroom at the marriage supper of the Lamb!

Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, "Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" (Matthew 16:3). Christ was saying these religious leaders could predict the weather — but they couldn't recognize the signs God sent to them!

The same is true of many believers today. All around us, the Lord is pouring out His judgments on the land and yet most Christians do not discern them!