Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

If you ever feel useless, one of the best things you can do is recognize that God has placed you in your current situation for a reason. He doesn’t make mistakes, and His plans for your life are going to look a lot different than the plans you may have for yourself. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that the world will try to make you feel unimportant and insignificant. But if you quiet your mind and listen to the Holy Spirit’s voice, you will become aware of the peace you feel in the center of God’s will.

Ironically enough, patience is a virtue that you build up over time. Especially in today’s society, it’s too easy to get anything you want exactly when you want it. If you look hard enough, that next thing you want or need is available with free two-day shipping. But Pastor Jeff reminds you that the patience that the Lord gives you is built slowly over time. Learning to follow Jesus is a deliberate process that can’t be rushed. But the good news is that every day you stick with it, that process becomes easier.

Did you know that you have something in your heart that Satan wants? It’s not something that he wants for himself; it’s something that he wants to rip out of you and destroy. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that the moment that God’s Word took root in your heart, you became the enemy’s target. You may face demonic attacks in this life, because the enemy’s goal is for you to allow the blossoming Word of God to die in your heart. It’s something that you need to protect with everything you have.

Living life as a Christian in a world of sin is meant to be difficult. You’re surrounded by people that aren’t held to the same standard that you are, and it would seem so much easier to just give in to sin and follow a looser set of rules. But Pastor Jeff doesn’t want you to trade in short-term relief and lose out on the long-term blessings that come with living a life pleasing to God. When you live a righteous life, God will reward you by inviting you into the eternal Kingdom that He is going to establish on Earth.

It’s an unfortunate reality that evil reigns in the world as we know it. Everywhere we look, we can see how evil people have built empires for themselves, exploiting those beneath them without regard for anyone else’s well-being. It can be discouraging for anyone, even a follower of Jesus, to see this kind of evil reigning unchecked. But Pastor Jeff wants us to realize that evil is only in control for a short time. When Jesus returns, He will cast down every evil ruler and tyrant and establish His Kingdom on Earth.

When the Bible says that God sets a table for us in the presence of our enemies, that means that He has already gone before us to prepare the way for us. Sometimes it can feel like we are walking through this life alone, like no one is watching out for us. But Pastor Jeff reminds us that we have a God who cares about us and is looking out for us. If you're feeling alone as you walk through a difficult season, it may just well be because God is preparing the path ahead of you to give you rest!

What would you do if you got a phone call from an attorney, letting you know that a distant relative left you an inheritance of ten thousand dollars with no strings attached? Even that amount of money can be life-changing in the right circumstances. Well, Pastor Jeff teaches you today that while money is a useful thing to have, it is not the thing that will bring you lasting happiness in this life. There are rich people who never seem to have enough, but the riches found in God’s Word will satisfy your soul.

One of the three essential elements to building a strong spiritual root system is reading God’s Word! The Bible wasn’t just written for people two thousand years ago; it is full of wisdom that is relevant to you and me today! Pastor Jeff teaches us that we can never learn too much from God’s Word. Every day that we open our Bibles, we are opening new opportunities to hear from our Heavenly Father. The Lord has already given us all of the tools we need to succeed in this world, and it starts with His Word.

Trees can grow extremely deep and complex root systems! These roots help anchor trees to the ground, but are also useful to draw moisture from deep underground. These root systems can even stretch down hundreds of feet, depending on the environment! Well, Pastor Jeff wants to teach you in today’s message that your faith in Jesus is a lot like a tree. With weak, shallow roots, your faith can be uprooted in a mild breeze. But with deeper roots, you will be able to withstand strong storms.

As a Christian, it is all too easy to look at the state of this world and be worried about the future of the faith. But Pastor Jeff encourages you to be hopeful today! There is a revival coming, where men and women, young and old, will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel into communities all around the world! While right now it seems like the soil of humanity is hardened to the Good News, there are people whose hearts are ready to receive the message of hope that Jesus provides.