Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

Walking in the way of Jesus is a very difficult thing to do. So many aspects of living a life that is pleasing to Christ involve putting aside your human nature and human reactions, and instead choosing a different path. And Pastor Jeff teaches today that you just don’t have the strength on your own to live that kind of life consistently. Instead, rely on the sources of strength that God has provided for you. Spend time in God’s word, seek the Lord in prayer, and build relationships with other believers.

God allowed the enemy to do a number of terrible things to Job, and yet Job remained faithful to God. Despite losing his entire family, and all of his possessions, Job refused to curse the God that had given him everything in the first place. And Pastor Jeff reminds you today that when Job came through the other side of the storm, God blessed him even more than he had been before. When the Lord allows you to face a storm in life, He will be there waiting to lift you up and make the sun shine on you.

Can you imagine if people weren’t able to change because of their past mistakes? People like the Apostle Paul, who persecuted Christians, or John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace”, made more of an impact after repenting of their sins and following Jesus than they had while following the ways of the world. Just like with the Prodigal Son, God is ready with open arms to welcome you home. All you need to do is repent of your sin, and drink from the living water that Jesus provides.

Something that you learn as you step into adulthood is that life is a lot like juggling. You are constantly having to catch and throw balls up in the air as you keep your different physical needs met. But the juggling doesn’t get easier over time, instead, you usually end up with more balls than before! But Pastor Jeff reminds you today that Jesus offers you a drink of living water, a fountain that won’t necessarily satisfy your physical needs, but it will nourish your soul for the long term, for all eternity!

Does it ever confuse you when you hear people say that God is a jealous God? After all, isn’t jealousy supposed to be a sin? Well, the Bible doesn’t say that God is jealous because He is evil or controlling. Instead, Pastor Jeff teaches you today that God doesn’t easily let go of things that belong to Him, and that includes you and me. God won’t stop us from leaving His presence if that’s what we truly want, but He isn’t going to bend over and allow us to be led astray if we truly belong to Him.

God’s will for your life is like a suspenseful novel. You may have already read the last page to see how the story ends, but the mystery that remains is how the story unfolds to reach that ending. But Pastor Jeff wants you to know today that when you ask God for something in prayer, He will grant it to you as long as it is part of His will for your life. You may not know at the time how He will make it all work out, but you can have faith that He has a plan for you in His Kingdom, even if you can’t see it yet.

When you come to meet Jesus, you begin to change into a new creation from the inside out! No longer are you bound by the curse of sin in your life, that leaves you feeling empty and wanting inside. Instead, the Holy Spirit fills in the cracks in your life that you’ve been trying to repair for so long, and fills you with the hope of eternal life that has been made available to you! Accepting Jesus into your life is just the first step in a lifelong transformation process that makes you more and more like Him.

Many people are tempted to give up on a project after it fails. How many unfinished hot rods are sitting in people’s garages, unfinished after a setback? But the key is to not give up just because of a setback. And God knows better than anyone else that growth is a process. When you buckle under the pressure of your storms, don’t worry that God is going to give up on you. In fact, He will come alongside you and help you rebuild what was broken. Pastor Jeff wants you to know that God is on your side.

When car manufacturers are designing new models, they need to run safety tests to ensure that their vehicles will protect passengers in the event of a crash. And just like those vehicles, your own life will be subject to tests and trials to refine and develop your faith. Pastor Jeff reminds you today of the parable of the house built on the solid rock, and how having that foundation in Christ will keep you from being blown away by the storms of life. Resisting those storms will help you get stronger.

These days, it’s so easy to fake a message from someone! The technology exists to recreate someone’s voice or appearance, and make them say or do whatever you want! It’s more important than ever to be sure that you are receiving information from authentic sources. But Pastor Jeff teaches you that the ultimate seal of approval of the truth comes from the Holy Spirit. He convicts the hearts of those hearing the Gospel, and gives discernment to those who quiet themselves to listen to His voice.