Pastor Steven Furtick encourages believers to remember and appreciate God's past faithfulness, even when current prayers seem unanswered. He emphasizes that God remains constant through life's challenges and urges the church family to recognize God's work in their lives, drawing from Joshua chapter 17 to illustrate the importance of acknowledging God's provision and presence.
Pastor Steven Furtick opens by sharing excitement about the ongoing series of Elevation Nights, describing them as some of his favorite moments where the church family gathers in arenas to worship God and hear powerful messages. He announces upcoming Elevation Nights events across various cities including Hershey, Pennsylvania; Brooklyn, New York; Indianapolis, Indiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Knoxville, Tennessee; Columbus, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois, inviting everyone to attend and experience encouragement and faith.
Pastor Furtick extends a warm welcome to the entire church family, both in-person and online, encouraging viewers to engage by sharing their names and locations. He emphasizes that the Lord has heard their prayers, even if the answers have not come in the way they expected. This sets the tone for the message about faith, patience, and recognizing God's work.
He reflects on a recent worship song titled "Call God," which declares that God answers when called. Pastor Furtick acknowledges that some may feel God has not yet answered their prayers, but reminds them that God has answered many times before. He highlights a common spiritual challenge: adapting to answered prayers to the point of no longer appreciating them.
To counter this, Pastor Furtick commits to intentionally drawing attention to God's past deeds and His unchanging nature in his sermons throughout the year. He stresses that God’s faithfulness is a foundation believers can rely on regardless of life’s difficulties, such as divorce, wayward children, or professional setbacks. God will never leave or forsake His people and will supply their needs.
The message transitions to a focus on Joshua chapter 17. Pastor Furtick notes that many sermons tend to focus on the early chapters of Joshua, which recount the Israelites taking possession of the Promised Land and crossing the Jordan River. However, he points out the importance of continuing to explore the later chapters to fully appreciate God's ongoing work.
He greets viewers from diverse locations including Kenya, West Virginia, Dayton, Ohio, California, Cape Town, and Cornelius, North Carolina, highlighting the global reach of the church and the universal relevance of the message.
Pastor Furtick encourages the congregation to settle in and receive the word God has for them. He emphasizes that recognizing where we come from—our spiritual history and the ways God has moved in our lives—is crucial for maintaining faith and strength. This remembrance helps prevent spiritual complacency and keeps believers grounded in God’s promises.
In this message, Pastor Steven Furtick calls on believers to not forget their origins and the faithfulness of God throughout their journey. By appreciating past answered prayers and trusting in God's unchanging nature, believers can face current challenges with confidence and hope. The message serves as a reminder that God’s presence and provision are constants, even when circumstances seem uncertain.
This sermon from Elevation Church encourages a deeper awareness of God's ongoing work in our lives and invites us to celebrate His faithfulness continually, fostering a resilient and grateful faith community.
