Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

It’s easy to get bored by the details in the Bible. Most of us probably don’t exactly remember the name of David’s great-great-grandfather, or how tall Noah’s Ark was. But Pastor Jeff reminds us today that those details are in Scripture for a reason. In the case of the Tabernacle, God wanted the dimensions and layout of that building to be very specific because it was meant to be a physical representation of Heaven on Earth. There is always a reason behind the small details in God’s Word!

The difference between the Levite priests and our great High Priest is like the difference between a single match and a lighthouse. A match will provide a little light and burn out quickly. But a lighthouse can cut through the darkness and guide ships safely to shore. In today’s message, Pastor Jeff wants you to recognize that the divide between man and God is too great for us to cross on our own, but our High Priest, Jesus, has bridged that gap forever with His gift of grace!  

Every wicked and evil thing in this world has an expiration date! While injustice has reigned in this world for a long time, the Bible also tells us that there is a day coming when Jesus will make everything right. The Kingdom of God is one of justice and peace, and it will never come to an end! Pastor Jeff reminds us today that the image of a King of justice and peace has existed since the book of Genesis, when Abram encountered Melchizedek, who, in his own right, was a king of justice and peace.

When you are buying a house, one of the most important things to do is to have the foundation inspected. A home with a poor foundation is going to have lots of problems over the years, if they aren’t there already! And if you don’t build your life on a good foundation, you will also see problems develop over time. Pastor Jeff reminds you today that God is the best foundation you could ever build your life on! You can trust Him with your entire life, and He will never lie or mislead you.

Have you ever walked out of church, and realized you already forgot what the sermon was about? The fact is that when we’ve been going to church for a long time, it can be easy to just sit in our seat and go through the motions, without taking the effort to grow in our relationship with Jesus. Well, Pastor Jeff encourages us to break out of that cycle! Instead of letting today’s message wash over you, take the time after this program to think about how you can apply what you learn to your daily walk with the Lord.

Even the most talented musicians can play a wrong note every once in a while! But few things in life will ever be truly perfect, and that is especially true for us in our struggle with sin. Pastor Jeff teaches us today that we will slip back into sin every once in a while. But the sign of the Holy Spirit working in us is that even when we sin, we don’t give in to a sinful lifestyle. We make a mistake, we pray to God in repentance, and then we continue following along in the path set before us, one step at a time.

There is a battle raging inside you every single day! Two natures are competing for control over your life: the sinful nature that you were born with, and the new nature that you have been given in Jesus. Pastor Jeff will teach you today that to fully embrace your new nature, you must put the old nature to rest. You have been freed of your slavery to sin, but you still need to immerse yourself in God’s Word to break free of the last remaining shackles on your life and begin your new life in Christ.

It’s a somber thought to think that you could lose out on your salvation. After all, the Bible reminds you time and time again that nothing can separate you from the love of God! Well, Pastor Jeff teaches you today that those who have decided to reject Jesus outright have indeed shut themselves off from His saving power. Jesus isn’t a tyrant, and He won’t force someone who doesn’t want anything to do with Him into a relationship. But once you choose to reject Him, there’s no going back. 

Have you ever been betrayed by your closest friend? It can feel like a dagger to the chest, seeing the person whom you trusted more than anyone turn away from you and treat you like their enemy. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you today that Peter did exactly that when he denied Jesus three times! But yet, the Lord was still ready to forgive His disciple and friend. After Jesus’ resurrection, He restored Peter to be by His side once again, and He will do the same for you, even when you backslide into sin.

When I started seeing a new counselor, one of the first things that stood out to me was the different certificates he had on his wall. Not only did he have his college degrees displayed, but he also had other certifications that demonstrated his experience with various issues. Pastor Jeff wants to teach us today that Jesus has the ultimate certification to be our high priest. He mended the gap between God and man by taking on the sins of the world and dying on the cross. That certificate is written in His own blood!