Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

When you get the keys to a car, you’re not being given the keys so that you can show off your influence and authority to others! You’re given those keys so that you can put the vehicle to use to transport people or things where they need to go! Pastor Jeff teaches the importance in understanding that while Peter was given the “keys to the Kingdom” by Jesus, he wasn’t being given a role of a authority. Peter was being empowered to serve others, to meet them on their level, and share the Gospel with them.

When Jesus encourages you to have endurance, He isn’t trying to say that salvation is something you can just lose! Rather, the endurance that Jesus is talking about is the ability to withstand the world’s trials. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that the world will try all kinds of deception and trickery to distract you from the path of righteousness. But as long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, and on following the path He has set for your life, you’ll be able to withstand the storms the world is throwing at you. 

Do you consider yourself to be someone who is easily offended? Well, being a Christian is going to be a difficult challenge if that is the case. Pastor Jeff shows you today how Jesus wants you to not be easily offended, and to instead react with grace and love towards those who persecute you. Don’t allow yourself to be steamrolled by someone making credible threats against you, but when you show that you aren’t afraid to be called names because of your faith, those insults will just slide off your back.

Are you ever worried about blaspheming the Holy Spirit? About committing the unforgivable sin? Well, Pastor Jeff encourages you that by listening to this program today, you are in fact innocent of blasphemy! The Pharisees were guilty of blasphemy because they knew that Jesus fulfilled all of the signs of the Messiah, and yet they chose to accuse him of working under the power of Satan. They were looking the Son of God right in the face and called him a demon. Blasphemy requires intention.

When you think about the symbol of the cross in today’s age, you almost certainly think of it in relation to Jesus. But two thousand years ago, the cross symbolized a torturous death reserved for criminals. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that when Jesus said to take up your cross, it means that you will have to give something up. Maybe it’s a relationship, maybe it’s a sinful habit that you indulge in, but there is always going to be something you must lose in order to follow the way of Christ.

When you actively engage in preaching God’s good news, do you ever experience His unwavering strength? In today’s message, Pastor Jeff wants to show you the inherent power found in proclaiming God's good news to the world. The act of sharing His message not only becomes a source of strength, but an avenue into God’s presence. Regardless of the storms that will come, preaching God's Word will always stand as a wellspring of strength. Uplift your faith by being a catalyst for God’s love.  

When you surrender to God’s perfect love, do you experience rapid growth? Today, Pastor Jeff illustrates that your life will improve by immersing yourself in God’s love. God’s love will never fail you and will only serve to carry you to the finish line. It stands as an unwavering force, propelling you toward self-discovery and purpose. Embrace this glorious journey, allowing God's love to consume you, and witness how it shapes you into the person you were always meant to be.

If you looked at a world map from two hundred years ago, you’d see dozens of countries that exist today either didn’t exist back then or had completely different names. It seems that every few years a government falls, only to be replaced with another. Well, Pastor Jeff encourages you today to remember that Jesus is coming to establish an eternal Kingdom! While there may be conflict and struggle on the Earth right now, the time is coming when there will be no more war, only God’s eternal peace.

The Bible famously tells Christians that when someone slaps them, to turn the other cheek. Have you really taken the time to consider how you would react if someone slapped you out of the blue? It would be your most basic human instinct to fight back, to return a slap for a slap. But Pastor Jeff reminds you to break that cycle, respond to persecution with a gentle spirit, and pray for the one who is antagonizing you. Seek mercy for your enemies, just as the Lord has shown mercy to you in your sin.

As you can tell, all of the Beatitudes share a similar theme: someone who is even-keeled and slow to let their emotions take over their actions is favored by the Lord. Pastor Jeff doesn’t want you to think that these are the only things that bring about God’s favor, but they are the outward signs of a selfless heart. Being slow to anger and quick to show mercy are traits of God’s nature, and the goal of every Christian should be to show the kind of love that God has for humanity to everyone around you.