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Danger In The Distance - Elevation with Steven Furtick | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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Danger In The Distance

Elevation with Steven Furtick

Fri Mar 14 2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Danger In The Distance" Episode of Elevation with Steven Furtick

Release Date: March 14, 2025

I. Introduction

In the episode titled "Danger In The Distance," Pastor Steven Furtick delves deep into the transformative power of God's grace, using the biblical account of a man with leprosy from Mark 1:40-45 as the foundation for his message. Furtick aims to inspire listeners to reassess their identities, confront personal issues, and embrace the intimate relationship God offers.

II. The Story of the Leper (Mark 1:40-45)

Furtick begins by recounting the story from Mark 1:40-45:

“A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.'”
— Steven Furtick [00:01]

He emphasizes the man's desperation and the profound compassion Jesus exhibited by touching him, defying societal and religious norms of isolation for those afflicted with leprosy. Despite Jesus' instruction to keep quiet, the man spreads the word, leading to Jesus retreating to solitary places.

III. Identity vs. Issues

A central theme of the episode is how personal issues can overshadow one's identity. Furtick highlights:

“We can become more known by what's wrong with us than who we have the potential to be.”
— Steven Furtick [04:50]

He draws attention to the leper's lack of a name in the scriptures, symbolizing how his condition defined him more than his true self. Furtick challenges listeners to reflect on whether their identities have been consumed by their struggles or achievements.

IV. The Nature of God's Grace

Furtick explores the concept of grace, cautioning against its dilution through overuse:

“Grace is contagious. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter where you've been.”
— Unknown Speaker [22:45]

He argues that true grace is transformative and challenges believers to comprehend its depth beyond familiar hymns like "Amazing Grace." The idea of "Dangerous Grace" is introduced, suggesting that understanding God's grace fully requires embracing the changes it brings to one's life.

V. The Danger of Isolation

Isolation, both physical and emotional, is portrayed as more perilous than the risks associated with intimacy. Furtick uses the "screen" metaphor to describe how individuals hide behind barriers, preventing genuine connection with God and others:

“You can come to church, but you're behind a screen.”
— Steven Furtick [13:00]

He emphasizes that emotional isolation fosters shame and hinders the experience of God's presence, urging listeners to break free from these self-imposed barriers.

VI. The Walk of Shame: Humility and Courage

The narrative of the leper's hesitant approach to Jesus serves as a powerful illustration of humility and courage:

“I'm here. Here I am, Lord.”
— Unknown Speaker [19:58]

Furtick describes the internal struggle and determination required to move from isolation to seeking healing. The "50 paces to grace" concept underscores the significant effort needed to reach out despite fears of rejection or judgment.

VII. Jesus' Compassion and Indignation

Furtick delves into the dual emotions Jesus felt—compassion and righteous indignation. He explains the Greek term "splagnizomai," which conveys deep empathy and righteous anger:

“Jesus was filled with compassion. He was filled with compassion and he was indignant.”
— Steven Furtick [33:43]

This combination drove Jesus to break religious laws to heal the man, demonstrating that true compassion can challenge and transform established norms for the sake of love and redemption.

VIII. Application: Letting Go of Shame and Embracing Grace

Furtick calls listeners to embrace God's grace by shedding shame and allowing themselves to be seen authentically:

“Grace is contagious. You are not what you did, and you are not what they said.”
— Unknown Speaker [22:45]

He encourages active participation in spreading grace, likening it to a contagious force that can overcome personal and societal shame. The message emphasizes that healing and transformation occur when individuals humble themselves and seek genuine intimacy with God.

IX. Conclusion

In closing, Furtick reiterates the profound impact of God's grace, urging listeners to move beyond isolation and embrace the healing touch of Jesus:

“He touched the man, and his shame was gone.”
— Steven Furtick [40:05]

He reminds the audience that accepting grace requires vulnerability and submission, but promises that this path leads to true healing and restoration.

Key Takeaways:

Identity Over Issues: Don't let personal struggles define who you are; your true identity is in Christ.
Embrace True Grace: Understand and accept the transformative power of God's grace beyond familiar concepts.
Break Isolation: Move past emotional and physical barriers to experience genuine connection with God and others.
Humility and Courage: Approach God with humility, even when it feels risky or shameful.
Compassionate Action: Let God's compassion inspire you to break down societal and personal barriers.

Notable Quotes:

“A man with leprosy... begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.'” — Steven Furtick [00:01]
“We can become more known by what's wrong with us than who we have the potential to be.” — Steven Furtick [04:50]
“Grace is contagious. It doesn't matter what you've done. It doesn't matter where you've been.” — Unknown Speaker [22:45]
“I'm here. Here I am, Lord.” — Unknown Speaker [19:58]
“Jesus was filled with compassion and he was indignant.” — Steven Furtick [33:43]
“He touched the man, and his shame was gone.” — Steven Furtick [40:05]

Final Thoughts

"Danger In The Distance" challenges believers to reconsider how they perceive their struggles and the grace offered by God. Through the story of the leper, Steven Furtick illustrates the necessity of moving beyond self-imposed isolation and embracing the transformative power of genuine, intimate relationships with God. The episode serves as both a call to action and a reminder of the profound compassion and grace that defines the Christian faith.

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Transcript

Steven Furtick (0:01)

Hey, this is Steven Furtick. I'm the pastor of Elevation Church, and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives you perspective to see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message. Mark, chapter one, verse 40. A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. I am willing, he said, be clean. Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong see that you do not tell this to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices Moses commanded for your cleansing as a testimony to them. Instead, he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly, but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. I'd like to speak today for a few moments about danger in the distance. Danger in the distance. Certain phrases in our Christian vocabulary lose their power, or at least their ability to penetrate our psyche because of usage like when we say grace. This is a phrase or a word, a concept that is so familiar to many of us that I am afraid when we sing Amazing Grace, we can barely, through our yawning, understand just how scandalous the concept is. I also thought that maybe one of our worship leaders at one of our locations would write us a song called Dangerous Grace. Because to really understand the grace of God is to understand that it jeopardizes the way you have lived your life, and it will not be contained by our conception of it, but our conception of it must come up to the level of its efficacy. In Mark 1:40,45, we see an example of this kind of grace. I'd like to spend the majority of my time in just one verse. The first verse, verse 40 says that a man with leprosy came to him. I looked in Matthew's Gospel, Luke's Gospel, and John's Gospel to see if I could find a little more information about this man. Mark doesn't tell us much about his background, his hair color, his eye color. He doesn't even give the common courtesy of stating his name. Now, come on, you even ask your server his name at the restaurant. This man, who is the subject of one of the first miracles recorded in this marking account, does not even get a name. We are not told his name, but we are told about his condition, which is leprosy. We're not given his name, but we know about his issue, which is leprosy. It goes to show that sometimes your identity can be consumed by your issues. That is, you can become more known by what's wrong with you than who you have the potential to be. Is anybody here to the point that you no longer know your own name or you no longer have a real sense of your identity or yourself? We are losing a sense of ourselves at times because our issues have run so rampant. Our issues have consumed our identity. When Moses met with God, the fire was burning the bush, but it did not consume the bush. It burned and burned and burned. God spoke from the bush. He said, I want you to know who I am. Moses said, who are you? He said, I am. Moses said, I am is a good start. What comes next then? God said, without saying, whatever you need comes next because I will not change, I am. But what you will need in different seasons of your life will change. So whatever you need, I will already be. Before you even know your need. I am what you need. How many are grateful for an omniscient God who knows what you need and can be what you need? Now? Some people know what you need, but they cannot be it. Some people would love to give you what you need if they could, but they can't. God is the only one who simultaneously knows what you need and is what you need. I dare you to look at the person next to you, even if you've been married for 43 years, and tell them, you can't be what I need. Not in every season. You can't be what I need. You might come close sometimes, but I need a God who is familiar with my secrets and my most intimate issues and has still made the decision to love me. On my worst day, with no makeup on, in my failure, with my flaws. I need a God who will choose me, not just despite my flaws, but because of my flaws and cause all things to work together for my good according to his purpose. Who will make my weakness his strength? Who will set up and dwell in the midst of a broken Praise God is that to me? This man is given no name. We know his issue, but not his name. His identity has been completely consumed by his issue. I'm hanging out on this point because I wonder, has it ever happened to you? God did not say I am the great. I did. But there is always a temptation in life to over identify either with your issues or with your gifts. So if you are really good at something, you can learn in life to perform in such a way that you receive the praise of people because of what you do. God is not the great I do. He is the great I am. I feel like the revelation of this is worth us hanging out in verse 40 for just a minute. We have time. A man with leprosy. A man with leprosy whose name has been consumed by his disease, for which there is no cure. A man who has been relegated and confined and quarantined to the outside quarters of society, prohibited from normal human relationships, caused to dwell in desolation. In Leviticus 13, we see a snapshot of the kind of situation this man would have lived in. The book of Leviticus at points reads more like a Whole 30 book than it does like a scripture verse because all the dietary restrictions are there. Then when you get to Leviticus 13, it's more like a dermatology manual than it is like a devotion. Don't read Leviticus if you're looking for that quick inspiration. It gives prescriptions like this. It says, if you have leprosy. Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, unclean, unclean. Watch what's next? As long as they have the disease, they remain unclean. They must live alone. They must live outside the camp. The greatest pain of this particular issue is not physical. It is emotional. It is the pain of isolation. So now you understand the significance of this phrase. A man with leprosy who had no name came to him. Who was the name above? Every name. I could preach that for a whole series. That thing just hit me.

Steven Furtick (8:47)

He came to him. He did it all wrong. He did it all wrong. He did the total wrong thing, this man. He broke every religious rule in the book. He didn't first of all announce unclean, unclean. He didn't identify himself by his issue. Unclean, unclean. He did not keep the appropriate distance. Because when you have leprosy, you have to stay back because you are contagious. This Law was not given because people were cruel. It's kind of like I didn't think to say this in the other ones, but y'all are so advanced. You pull stuff out of me. You know how there are certain kids you don't want your kid around? Not that you don't like that kid, but if that kid rubs off on your kid, it's just like they don't have the same values. Then you might realize your kid is that kid. That's a parenting sermon, and I don't do that. It's crazy that he would think to approach anyone, let alone the miracle worker from Galilee. A man with leprosy came to him, came to him. Only take a second. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. LeBron. 24, 25, 6, 7. Pray. 39, 31, 2, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50. That's the distance. 50 paces away. 50 paces away. That's how long you had to stay. That's. That's the appropriate distance a leper was supposed to keep in order that they would not defile someone who was clean. 50 paces. I thought about calling this message 50 paces to grace. Not 50 shades or nothing like that. 50 paces to grace. He's allowed to be around people. Not too close, though. Not too close, though. Just at a distance. He can come to church. The leper can come to church, but if he comes to church, he has to sit. Sit behind a special screen so nobody will catch what he has. The only way we'll make you sit in a special place at elevation is if you are late, but we don't check you at the door. What's your issue? And then seat you accordingly. Wouldn't that be interesting? See, the leper had an advantage over a lot of us. His issue was on the outside. A lot of us don't have spots on our skin. We have secret spots, spots in our soul. Issues of insecurity. You can't see them. Certain issues, you can see certain addictions manifest in practical ways. And then someone goes to get help. The thing about secret spots, though, is when they are on the inside of you, you can be in church, but you are behind a screen. The screen keeps other people from seeing you as you really are, but it also keeps you from seeing God as he really is. Y'all need to help me preach this. I'm feeling very vulnerable back here. You can come to church but you're behind a screen. You can come to church, but you don't really let the presence of God touch you. You can come to church, but you fight down the emotions. You can come to church, but you play it off because the people next to you, they kind of know you and you feel kind of ashamed. See, shame always creates a screen. A screen to keep you from being who you really are, from seeing and being seen from back here behind this screen. I'm at church, but not really. I'm coming home physically, but I'm staying at work emotionally.

Steven Furtick (27:30)

God's nickname is Will. He touched him. He touched that man the first time. That man felt something on his skin. He was touched by the one who wrapped him in flesh and the word became flesh. This is just a gospel message. This is just a gospel message. It's not very deep. I understand that. It's not very profound. I get that. But it's so much shame that keeps us away from the presence of the God who is already willing to take it away. So much shame. When Jesus looked at that man, the Bible says he was 41, filled with compassion. He was filled with compassion. You look confused. Are you confused? 9, 10. Coming back. 12, 13, 14, 10. I saw you had that digital Bible When I was sitting next to you. I noticed you had that digital Bible when I just said Jesus was filled with compassion. You looked confused. Sit down. Let's talk about it for a second. Pull it back out. It said Jesus was filled with compassion. Yep, there it is. Give me yours. This is a mess right here. Let me break out this woman's pink Bible to show you what the word of God is? See, this is what yours says too. It says, filled with compassion. We're all reading that same translation. Who has an orange elevation Bible? We gave away like 19,000 of these to people who made a profession of faith or rededication in Christ last year. Praise the Lord. Study the Bible like this? Yep. See this one we gave you? This one is the one I wanted to show. They translated it from Greek. Sometimes the languages, there's a distance between culturally, how they saw certain concepts and how we see certain concepts when we say grace. It's a soft term, but when the Hebrew mind thought of grace, they imagined grace coming from the same place. Anger came from. It all came from. I'm going to teach you a word. Do you have any friends who make fun of you for coming to this church? Break this out on them at lunch today. Splagnizomai. Yeah, Just say it with confidence. They won't know if you said it right. Just say in the Greek, tell your neighbor in the Greek, it's splagnitzomai. Here in this translation, which they did in 2011, the NIV translation committee, they did it a little different. They said Jesus was indignant in 84. When they got together to translate it according to the same protocol of translation, they put the other one up there again, if you can, in the back. Compassion. Then when they translated it again, they said, no, it should be indignant. Angry, furious, Frustrated, Annoyed, Indignant, undignified. Which one is it? Was he filled with compassion or was he indignant? Yes, he was filled with compassion and he was indignant. It came from the same place. Splagnizomai. It means the guts, the bowels. The place where you really feel it, which becomes much more meaningful when you remember that the first sign of leprosy is that you lose feeling in your extremities. Now this man who has lost the ability to feel and who has gone numb is touched by a savior who can feel for him. This is where Christianity is different than every other world religion. This is why we're not just one in a list, because we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but he is able to be touched with the feeling. You know what happens in life? We go numb. Especially in this age of information, where we are expected to process all of the events all at once. The good ones, the bad ones. We can't feel it anymore. When you go numb, you can get hurt and not feel it. You can die of a small cut that becomes infected because you do not feel it. You don't know it needs healing because you do not feel it. Has the enemy made you go numb to the point that you no longer feel? SPLAGNIZOMAI Jesus felt for the man the religious system had gone numb when Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand one chapter later in Mark, they were worried about which day he did it on. They had gone so numb the only thing they could think about was he broke the rules. But Jesus, who is the righteousness of.