Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

Not only is God's timing perfect, but there are times when He gives us something we need before we even need it! The Israelites of Jesus' time did not realize the true nature of the gift they had in Jesus, but when He was on the cross, one of the last things Jesus did was forgive those who had cast Him aside. Pastor Jeff reminds us today that Jesus has mercy on us even when we reject Him, and He is waiting with open arms to welcome those who call on His name into His family.

Not very long ago, clocks needed to be wound regularly in order to keep accurate time. A clock requires some source of stored energy in order to keep the mechanism turning, and if you forgot to wind your watch, you would lose track of what time it is! Well, in today's message, Pastor Jeff teaches you that God's watch never needs winding. He knows exactly what time it is, and more importantly, He knows exactly when to deliver His blessings to have maximum impact. He has His timing down to the millisecond!

The best gift that you and I can receive at Christmas is a reminder of the reason why Jesus came to this world! It didn't take long after the Garden of Eden for sin to spread and infect this world, and Satan's forces corrupted everything that God had called good. But Pastor Jeff reminds us that God has the final word in His creation! He sent His only son, Jesus, to stand in the gap between man and God and restore the bonds that were broken. His sacrifice made a way for us to be saved from death!

Wouldn't we love to get the most out of church every time we attend? Well, as humans, there are always going to be things trying to distract us when we spend time in God's presence. But Pastor Jeff encourages us to approach God with thanksgiving in our hearts, and to clear our minds of things that are distracting or that shut us out from good and righteous thoughts. The enemy doesn't want us to spend time in worship, and he will try and throw every possible obstacle in our way to distract us.

When you go deep-sea diving, you're usually paired up with a “buddy” that you must stay close to at all times. In the deep, dark ocean, you need someone who is watching your back, and they likewise need you watching their back, to ensure that you both complete the dive safely. Pastor Jeff encourages you today to find a church or a faith community that helps you navigate through life, but remember that it's just as important to contribute and help others as it is to seek help for yourself.

Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year for those of us who follow Christ! We are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who took on flesh and made His dwelling among us. In today's message, Pastor Jeff teaches us that the unique circumstances surrounding Jesus, from His miraculous conception and birth to His dual nature as man and God, all contribute to Him being a one-of-a-kind person! There is no other religious figure who can hold a candle to Jesus' glory.

A lot of things about following God are illogical. Paul and Barnabas singing songs of praise while in prison is illogical. Noah building an ark on dry ground is illogical. Abraham leading his son to certain death on Mount Moriah is illogical. But what Pastor Jeff teaches us today is that the peace that God gives us in uncertain times defies all human logic. It gives us the grace and the confidence to do what He tells us. Even in the toughest of circumstances, we can find comfort as we abide in His peace.

Satan will spend countless resources trying to convince people that God isn't real, or if He is real, that He doesn't have any control over this world. When catastrophes happen, one of the first things people ask is why a loving God would allow bad things to happen. But Pastor Jeff reminds you today that, no matter what the world says, Jesus is still in control! You may not understand why things are happening the way they are right now, but you can rest in the promise that He has a plan for it all.

Jesus was born into an extremely difficult time in Jewish history. Under Roman occupation, the Hebrew people had very little freedom, and that freedom could be stripped away with one word from Caesar Augustus. But Pastor Jeff reminds us in today's message that the birth of Jesus brought joy to those who encountered Him, because He represented the hope of a new Kingdom that would one day replace every kingdom of mankind! Jesus is a bright light that cuts through the darkness of the world.

We've heard how Jesus' birth was miraculous and defied all sorts of human expectations for how the Messiah would come into this world. But what Pastor Jeff wants us to understand today is that just as Christ's birth was miraculous, His death on the cross was brutal and barbaric. But yet, we read in God's Word that Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to this fate, because He knew that His sacrifice of pain and death would make a way for all of those who call on Him to be saved from sin.

Look at the richest and most powerful people in today's world. What are they doing besides trying to gain more power and riches for themselves? Pastor Jeff teaches you today that there is a difference between those who live in contentment with what God has given them and those who are consumed by the drive and desire for more. God wants you to be content and to realize that He will provide for your needs. Look back on your life up until this point, and think about how He has gotten you this far.

Sometimes when you're in a stressful situation, the thing that helps you stop spiraling is to see the situation from a different angle. Getting a fresh perspective on the situation, either from consulting with a close friend or from mentally choosing a different approach, can ease your anxiety and give you new energy. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you today that God has the ultimate vantage point, and He can show you the kind of perspective shift to give you a hopeful view of life.

There was nothing ordinary about Jesus' birth. From the immaculate conception to the circumstances that led Mary to give birth in a stable for animals, Jesus came into this world as the result of many miracles. Pastor Jeff wants us to realize that the miracles surrounding Jesus' birth help highlight Him as the Son of God, the Messiah that humanity had been waiting for. Christmas isn't just a day to open presents and sing carols; it's a time to celebrate the night that God took on human form!

How different would things be if you didn't get second chances? What if every crime were punishable by life imprisonment? What if you only got one strike in baseball before you were out? Sometimes, second chances are a chance to grow and learn from your mistakes, but there are some things you only get one swing at! Pastor Jeff reminds you today that you only have one soul, and there are only two places where that soul will go after death. You need to take the fate of your soul extremely seriously.

We live in a world that desperately needs a source of hope. The problem is that every time we put our hope in something manmade, we end up disappointed! This is a fallen world, and the things that we build for ourselves eventually crumble to dust. Pastor Jeff reminds us today that we have a responsibility to share a message of hope with the entire world! Jesus came to this world to bring hope to the hopeless, and we are empowered to share that hope with everyone we meet!

God rarely uses direct language to guide us in this life. Instead, He gently guides us in the way we should go, so that we can learn to recognize His will for our lives without even being told. Pastor Jeff teaches us today that when Joseph was told that it was safe to take his family back to Israel, he wasn't told where to take them. But the Lord guided Joseph's steps, and the family settled in Nazareth. If you are following God's will for your life, you can be certain that He will bless the steps in front of you.

The story of humanity is permanently scarred by sin. Ever since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, we have had to deal with sin, sickness, and death, as the beauty of God's original creation decayed and fell into disorder. But Pastor Jeff reminds us that the hope we celebrate in this Christmas season is that Jesus has come to set us free! We are no longer condemned to punishment for our sin, but instead we have the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of the Father.

Have you ever thought that thermodynamics can be an illustration of God's creation? Well, the first law of thermodynamics states that energy can change forms, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Similarly, the book of Ecclesiastes teaches that mankind cannot add to or take away from God's creation. Pastor Jeff encourages you to practice humility and recognize that all of humanity's advancement and knowledge cannot take away from God's glorious Creation.

Think of the cycles of life that you see in nature. As the seasons change, plants bloom in the spring and summer, then fade and die during the fall and autumn. And in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon observes that human lives function in a similar cycle. Pastor Jeff wants you to realize today that there is something valuable to be gained, no matter what season of life you are in. The opportunities you have right now in your life won't be around forever, so will you let them go to waste?

When firefighters rescue people from burning buildings, they don't stop helping them once they reach the exit. Those people are still in danger while they're anywhere close to the fire! Well, Pastor Jeff reminds us today that God doesn't just free us from sin, but He places us in a new environment within His Kingdom. If we were rescued from sin but not given a new way to live, we would fall right back into our sinful habits. But in God's Kingdom, we have the opportunity to live for something greater!

Have you ever watched a spy movie and wished you were given an important assignment of your own? Well, you may not be part of a secret organization like the ones you see in the movies, but you are part of God's Church, and you are part of the Great Commission to reach people for the Gospel! Pastor Jeff teaches you today that the Great Commission is both a corporate and an individual mandate: everyone is responsible for playing their part in drawing people in to witness the glory of God's Kingdom.

They say first impressions are everything. If your first interaction with someone goes poorly, there's a chance that person won't want to be around you in the future. But Pastor Jeff wants you to recognize today that you may also be the first representative of the Kingdom of God that someone will ever meet. If you are allowing the fruit of the Spirit to flourish in your life, you have a better likelihood of giving that person a good first impression of Jesus! Is your life a good reflection of His goodness?

It's good for us Christians to be engaged in our society. While we don't belong to this world, we are still living in it, and we should live lives that bring glory to God in our communities. However, Pastor Jeff reminds us that our citizenship in this world isn't our priority! Scripture teaches that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, which we received the moment we accepted Christ into our hearts. The kingdoms of this world will all crumble one day, but the Lord will reign forever and ever!

Following God requires you to be patient. It's so easy to want to be in the right place right now and to try to rush God's plans for your life. But Pastor Jeff teaches you today that there is value in the moment you are in. Life isn't just about the destination; it's also about the journey you take on your way to that destination. God can work in you in those moments of waiting, so that you can be better prepared to receive the blessing that is coming. But all of this requires you to be patient and to wait on the Lord.

When you get in your car, you need fuel in the tank to get going, and you need the key to start the engine. Without either of these vital components, the car won't start. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that in order to endure and overcome the temptations of the world, you need God's wisdom as your fuel, but you have also been given the key to unlock it as an adopted child of God. Because your sin has been covered by the blood of Christ, you have been granted access to the wisdom, knowledge, and joy that He provides.

When you visualize all of the choices you make in life, it can feel like an endless spiderweb of possibilities and hypothetical “what-if” scenarios for how your life will turn out. But in God's eyes, those paths only have two possible outcomes: life with Him or life without Him. Pastor Jeff warns you today to prioritize your life with God while you still can, because all of the earth's pleasures and treasures are temporary. When they all fade away, what will you be left holding at the end? Be sure you're holding on to the Lord.

If you have a dog or a cat at home, have you ever wondered what they think when you leave for work? Some people will set up cameras in their homes and capture images of their beloved pets waiting by the door for hours for their owners to return home. But that pet cannot possibly understand why you are gone for so long! Pastor Jeff reminds you that mankind is incapable of fully understanding God's plans. All you can do is be patient and wait on His timing to accomplish His Will.

Finding a river in the middle of a desert seems pretty unlikely! But so did the prospect of rebuilding Israel when the Israelites were returning from captivity. But just as God provided for the Israelites when they couldn't see a way forward, the Lord can do the same for you today. In today's message, Pastor Jeff encourages you to have faith in the impossible. Because if God is the one ordaining your steps, He will tear down the roadblocks in front of you. Faith in the Lord can accomplish the impossible.

If you were packing for a long hiking journey, would you rather have a map drawn on the back of a napkin? Or would you rather have a detailed map of the trail, complete with information about rest stops and camping sites along the way? In today's message, Pastor Jeff wants to make sure that you're taking advantage of the most useful map you have available to you. God's Word is the map that will guide you through this life, no matter what kinds of challenges you face along the way.

Listen, dating is a complicated process! It can take years for you to find someone that you feel comfortable dating, and by the time you get to that point, it can become difficult to let that relationship go. But in today's message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that even your romantic relationships should build you up in your faith, not tear you down or distract you from following God. So if your potential partner isn't going after God in their own life, that relationship has the potential to be destructive for both of you.

Have you ever used GPS to navigate an unfamiliar area, and the directions told you to make a turn onto a road that just wasn't there? Well, it turns out that even with our advanced technology, we can still be led astray by human knowledge. That's why Pastor Jeff is reminding you today how important it is to live your life with God as your true compass. The ways of man are liable to get it wrong more often than not. But God's truth is perfect, and His Word will never lead you down the wrong path.

When you buy a piece of furniture or equipment that requires assembly, it usually comes with an instruction manual that gives you the steps needed to complete the project. If someone else tried to look a the finished product and write their own manual, the instructions would be incomplete and unreliable. Pastor Jeff wants you to ask a big question today: why do people look at the instruction manuals that men write for themselves, when you have access to God's Word, given to you by the Creator himself?

How long would you be able to hold on if you had no hope for a better future? The world is full of broken people living broken lives: people who are looking for any reason to keep holding on. Pastor Jeff lays out the structure of the book of Ecclesiastes in today's message and shows you how true faith in Jesus can give you the hope you need to hold on through this life. No matter how difficult life's challenges may get, you have a God who cares for you and has prepared a better place for you.

The rearview mirror in your car is useful for lots of reasons. It gives you a way to see if there's a vehicle behind you, but it also serves to remind you of where you're coming from. Pastor Jeff teaches us today that we need a rearview mirror in our own lives, to remind us of how God has provided for us so far. It becomes easier to trust Him in the present when we reflect on what He has done for us in the past. But when we forget to look back, it can be easy to get locked up in fear and lose faith in the Lord.

Sometimes we just want God to take the wheel, to take control over our lives without having to put in any effort ourselves. Wouldn't it be easier that way? But in Pastor Jeff's message today, he reminds us that following God isn't some passive activity, where we get to play passenger as He drives the car. We still play an active role in our lives on this Earth, but what God does is gently guide us, showing up in ways we don't expect, so that we can gain wisdom even in the difficult trials we face in this life.

The Middle East has always been a region full of tension. The Israelites weren't able to just walk into the Promised Land after leaving slavery in Egypt, they had to fight to take possession of what had been given to them. But Pastor Jeff warns us today that the most pivotal conflict in that region has not happened yet, and it may be coming sooner than we think. Despite the coming violence, we will see God move to intervene on behalf of His people like we have never seen before.

How good are we at predicting the future? For the most part, we don't even know how the next two or three days are going to play out. But yet, the prophet Ezekiel received a vision from God that allowed Him to predict the rebuilding of the nation of Israel, twenty-six hundred years before it came to pass! In today's message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that not only does God know how this story ends, He knows the beginning and the middle of the story as well. Nothing comes as a surprise to Him.

The Bible teaches us that from God's point of view, a thousand years is like a day, and one day is like a thousand years. God doesn't see the world on the same timeline that you and I do, but that doesn't mean that He isn't faithful to fulfill His promises. In today's message, Pastor Jeff reminds you how God's faithfulness to Israel continues to this day, as He brought His people back to the land of their ancestors after nearly two thousand years of exile. The Lord's promises endure forever.

One of the ways that God proves his might to mankind is by using unusual people to fulfill His plans and purposes. He doesn't pick the strongest or smartest people from the population; he goes after those who society has passed over. The humble shepherd boy, youngest and smallest among all of his brothers, became the warrior that none of them could be on their own, and Pastor Jeff shows you today that it's all because of his faith in God. That faith gave him the strength of a whole army.

When you're reading an epic story of good versus evil, it can be hard to resist the urge to skip to the final chapter and see how it ends. There's that small part of you that wants to know if good will prevail, or if evil will win the day. Well, when it comes to the spiritual battle that the church is facing, the ending has already been written in Scripture! But Pastor Jeff has to temper your expectations today, because there are some facets of the modern church that act like the end of the story is unknown.

The conflict between the Arabs and Jews in the Middle East can be traced back all the way to the time of Isaac and Ishmael. From a childhood rivalry between two sons of Abraham, the conflict has turned bloody and violent, with millions of innocent people caught in the crossfire. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that this conflict we see today in the Middle East is by no means a new thing, and it is liable to get worse before it gets better. But no matter what happens, remember that God is still in control.

The uncomfortable truth of God's Law says that the penalty for sin is death. That's a price that you can literally only pay once, and it's something you can't get back once it's gone. But in today's message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that God has provided another option for those who are guilty of sin, and that is to follow Jesus! He becomes the mediator between mankind and God, and allows the relationship that was broken in the Garden of Eden to be restored, bringing Creation into the presence of the Creator.

Living in sin is like living with a negative balance in your bank account. Every transgression is another charge that puts you a little bit further into the hole. Eventually, that bill is going to come due, and you won't have enough money in the whole world to pay for it! But Pastor Jeff reminds you today that the death of Jesus on the cross made a way for you to live a life with no sin balance at all. By accepting Jesus' gift of salvation, your past sins are wiped away, and your future is secured in Him.

Jesus doesn't just want to be someone you call on when you need spiritual guidance. Living in the way of Jesus means that you rely on Him for everything you need! Pastor Jeff reminds you that there are thousands, even millions of voices that you can listen to as you make your way through this life. But if you quiet your mind and distance yourself from the noise, you will hear the still, small voice of Jesus calling out to you. He will provide you with what you need to endure and overcome this world.

The light that comes straight from a light bulb can often be harsh, even blinding sometimes. That's why people use lampshades or filters to help diffuse that light and let it spread out more evenly. Pastor Jeff teaches you today that when Jesus revealed His divinity to Peter, James, and John, it was like taking a lampshade off to reveal the true light underneath. That light was always present when Jesus was around, but His human form served to shield people from the full force of His Glory.

The first step in forgiving someone is letting go of your grudge against them. You're allowed to recognize the hurt that their actions may have caused you, but follow that acknowledgment with another one: that you can't seek vengeance on your own. Today, Pastor Jeff uses the example of Jesus to illustrate this point: He could have brought down literal fire and brimstone on Peter in retaliation for his betrayal, but instead, Jesus surrendered Peter's treachery and responded in love and compassion for His friend.

A lot of healing can take place over a meal. Sitting down to eat with someone is a very human experience, where all involved are taking care of their physical need for food. In the case of Jesus and the disciples, they had an opportunity to eat together after Peter returned to his life of fishing. Pastor Jeff shows you today how the breaking of bread between Jesus and Peter mended the relationship that had been previously strained. Peter's denial of Jesus was forgiven, and the bond between man and God was restored.

Pastor Jeff reminds us today that people are always watching us. Maybe it's those we pass on our way to work every day, the cashier serving you at the grocery store, or it can even be members of your family. In today's message, Pastor Jeff wants us to be inspired to build a habit of prayer so profound that it becomes noticeable to the people around us. Not so that we can look holy in front of others, but so that people can see the Holy Spirit living inside us, as He makes us into new creations.

Bible Prophecy is kind of like a roadmap. Not only does it tell us where the world is going, it also serves to remind us of what has happened before! Pastor Jeff reminds us today that there are many things prophesied in God's Word that have already come true, and more things that have yet to happen. But because we've seen those prophecies come true in the past, we can also have faith that the prophecies that have yet to happen will eventually come to pass! We have to wait on the Lord's timing.

When you go to get into a pool, it's hard for your body to adjust to the temperature of the water. Some people lower themselves into the water slowly because they're afraid of the cold. But sometimes, in order to acclimate to the water quickly, you just need to jump straight into the water! In today's message, Pastor Jeff reminds you that you need to be fully committed to following Jesus if you want to see Him do great things in you. He won't do much in your life if you keep second-guessing His calling.

You may think that you're safe from the sin of idolatry because you don't bow down to a little statue of Buddha in your closet. But Pastor Jeff reminds you today that idolatry isn't just about worshipping other gods; it's about letting things get between you and your worship of the one true God. Anything can become an idol if you let it take precedence over your relationship with Jesus. Your favorite sports team, that new show that's on TV, and even your closest friends can become idols.