This is Part 2 of Pastor Chuck Bernal's 2015 Christmas message series titled, "The GHOSTs Of Christmas Past". "GHOSTs" is an acronym for: GUILT, HOPELESSNESS, OFFENSE, SORROWS, THREATS. This message deals exposes the "darkness" of hopelessness that can often pervade our lives and how Christmas changes everything because the "Light of the World" Jesus Christ has come. And His coming dispels the darkness of hopelessness and fills our lives with HOPE - because He Offers Powerful Encouragement. This message was delivered on Sunday, December 6, 2015.

1. Series – The GHOSTs of Christmas Past – Pastor Chuck Bernal
Ghost 2: HOPELESSNESS - Sunday, December 6, 2015
LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF HOPELESSNESS
They don’t know, they don’t understand, they wander about in darkness . . .
(Psalm 82:5 – CJB)
We expectantly hope for light, but only see darkness; We hope for gleam of light, but we walk
in darkness and gloom. (Isaiah 59:9 – Amp)
The darkness of ________________________________________ - A loss of joy
The darkness of ______________________________________ - A loss ofpeace
The darkness of _______________________________________ - A loss ofhope
When you lose joy, peace and hope you feel sad, lost and abandoned –
this was the historical context in which Jesus was born
400 SILENT YEARS
ISRAEL LIVED 166,400 DAYS WITHOUT HEARING A WORD FROM GOD
BUT CHRISTMAS CHANGES EVERYTHING
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in
the land of darkest shadows . . . A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who
will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and
Prince of Peace. Hispower will never end; peace will last forever. (Isaiah 9:2. 6 – CEV)
I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten
the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these
things; I will not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16 – NLT)
All this will be because the mercy of our God is very tender, and heaven’s dawn is about to
break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, and to guide us
to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 – LB)
Before anything else existed there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is
himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is
in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the
darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it . . . Later on, the one who is the true Light

2. arrived to shine on everyone coming into the world . . . Christ became a human being and lived
here on earth among us and was full of loving forgiveness and truth. And some of us have seen
his glory—the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father! (John 1:1-5, 9, 14, – LB)
To regain hope, you must focus on who God is — his unchanging nature. Regardless of
circumstances and how you feel, you must hang on to God's unchanging character. Remind
yourself what you know to be eternally true about God: He is good, he loves me, he is with
me, he knows what I'm going through, he cares, and he has a good plan for my life.
Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light. (Raymond Edman)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.
(Romans 15:13 - NIV)
H ___________________________________
O ___________________________________
P ___________________________________
E ___________________________________
Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still
continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put
my hope. (Lamentations 3:21-24 - GNB)
Stop your crying and wipe away your tears . . . there is hope for your future. (Jeremiah 31:16-17
- GNB)
When you’re at a dead-end, Jesus can take that
hopeless end and turn it into an endless hope.
You’ll never know that God is all you need until he’s all you have.
Thedarknessof discouragement -Alossof joy
Thedarknessof depression -A lossof peace
Thedarknessof despair-A lossof hope
He

3. Offers
Powerful
Encouragement