“Don’t Forget Where You Come From”

Elevation with Steven Furtick | January 18, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Steven Furtick explores the powerful theme of remembering your roots and appreciating God’s past faithfulness amid present pressures. Using Joshua 17 as his central scripture, Furtick unpacks the tension between "too much and not enough," cautioning against the drift from gratitude into entitlement, and urging listeners to "clear" out mental and spiritual clutter to fully claim God’s promises. Throughout, he blends biblical exposition, personal anecdotes, and pointed life applications, encouraging his audience to reframe their perspective, celebrate progress, and walk in spiritual authority.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Remembering God's Past Answers (02:41–06:10)

• Furtick begins by encouraging listeners that God hears prayers—sometimes not in the expected way, yet He always responds according to His faithfulness.

• He warns about adapting to answered prayers so completely that we cease to appreciate them, becoming desensitized to God’s ongoing work in our lives.

  “Sometimes we adapt to our answered prayers and we cease to appreciate them.”
  — Steven Furtick (04:18)

• Practical Reflection: Furtick commits as a pastor this year to continually highlight God’s faithfulness, not just focusing on unmet desires or unresolved issues.

Scriptural Foundation: Joshua 17 and The “Pressure of Blessings” (06:11–15:00)

• Scripture focus: Joshua 17, where the tribes of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) complain about their inheritance not being enough, despite recent blessings.

• Observation: After the excitement of initial victories, Israel must now contend with managing and increasing what they’ve already been given—less dramatic, but more challenging.

• Blessing and Pressure:

  • Furtick notes that blessings often carry new pressures—growth brings complexity, requiring new perspective rather than just contentment or complaint.

  “Blessings are heavy in your life. Sometimes it’s not that you don’t appreciate them, it’s that the pressure has kept your perspective from seeing the bigger picture.”
  — Steven Furtick (13:40)

The Tension of "Too Much and Not Enough" (15:30–19:30)

• Describes the Israelites’ complaint: They’re outgrowing their land, yet reluctant to press into underdeveloped areas or face challenges.

• Relates it to modern life: We frequently oscillate between feeling overwhelmed (“too much”) and perceiving lack (“not enough”).

  • Examples: Too much work, not enough time; too many demands, not enough energy.

  “The devil only has two lies... One is ‘I’m not loved’ and one is ‘not enough.’”
  — Steven Furtick (17:19)

• Personal Application: Gratitude and perspective shift—remembering what would once have been considered a miracle, like a $500 bonus, now feels commonplace.

The Danger of Entitlement (23:25–29:00)

• Insight: Without continual focus on God’s goodness, we move from inheritance (“God gave me this”) to entitlement (“I deserve more”).

• Compares Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1—he asks for enlightenment to see existing blessings, not for more blessings.

  “Without a constant focus on the goodness of God, it is easy for me to go from inheritance to entitlement.”
  — Steven Furtick (25:44)

• Practical challenge: Evaluate if you’re living in “entitlement” mode about God’s gifts—marriage, career, family, opportunities.

The Manasseh Effect vs. The Mandela Effect (44:07–49:00)

• Manasseh’s Naming: Joseph names his son Manasseh, meaning “forget,” signifying moving past pain to see God's purpose.

  • It's not about erasing memory, but reinterpreting the past in light of God’s provision.

• Mandela Effect Illustration: People collectively misremember historical facts.

• Manasseh Effect: Instead of misremembering your story with pain or regret, actively recall God’s faithfulness and redeeming work.

  “The Manasseh effect is when you’ve been through hell ... but you decide in your mind, I’m going to remember it different.”
  — Steven Furtick (49:22)

Claiming Your Inheritance: Work and War (30:33–36:52; 50:39–56:00)

• You must “clear” what God has given you: The land was enough, but it required effort to clear forests and expel enemies before reaping its full potential.

  • Spiritual lesson: “Behind what you have been unwilling to confront is the answer to the prayer you seek.”

• Modern application: Don’t just pray for deliverance; act in areas—clear your mind, cut toxic ties, set boundaries, prioritize spiritual and mental health.

• Ownership: Stop envying others' breakthroughs—success and freedom come through cultivating and stewarding what you have.

  “Are you working with what God gave you or simply complaining how it’s not enough?”
  — Steven Furtick (34:45)

  “If you clear it, you can claim it... Even though they have chariots? God says, I am an expert in overpowering chariots.”
  — Steven Furtick (54:42)

Overcoming Present Obstacles by Remembering God's Power (51:30–56:00)

• Key Analogy: The Israelites feared the Canaanites' chariots, forgetting God had previously drowned Pharaoh’s chariots in the Red Sea.

• Reminder: Don’t let present opposition erase your memory of God’s past victories.

  “You come from a God who opens red seas. … You are very powerful. Don’t let what you are facing make you forget who you are.”
  — Steven Furtick (53:39; 54:20)

Call to Action/Prophetic Exhortation (56:01–61:30)

• Personalize Your Battle: Everyone’s “Canaanite” (issue/enemy) is different, but God’s power is greater than “any them you can name.”
• Promise and Process: God’s promises require partnership: clear the land, displace the “enemies” (habits, thinking, relationships) to fully inhabit your inheritance.
• Prayer: Furtick prays for renewed gratitude, strength, and perspective.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

[04:18]
“Sometimes we adapt to our answered prayers and we cease to appreciate them.”
— Steven Furtick

[13:40]
“Blessings are heavy in your life. … It’s not that you don’t appreciate them, it’s that the pressure has kept your perspective from seeing the bigger picture.”
— Steven Furtick

[17:19]
“The devil only has two lies he puts on a loop in your mind: One is ‘I’m not loved’ and one is ‘not enough.’”
— Steven Furtick

[25:44]
“Without a constant focus on the goodness of God, it is easy for me to go from inheritance to entitlement.”
— Steven Furtick

[49:22]
“The Manasseh effect is when you’ve been through hell … but you decide in your mind, I’m going to remember it different.”
— Steven Furtick

[34:45]
“Are you working with what God gave you or simply complaining how it’s not enough?”
— Steven Furtick

[54:42]
“If you clear it, you can claim it... Even though they have chariots? God says, I am an expert in overpowering chariots.”
— Steven Furtick

[53:39; 54:20]
“You come from a God who opens red seas. … You are very powerful. Don’t let what you are facing make you forget who you are.”
— Steven Furtick

Important Timestamps By Segment

• [02:41] – Online greetings and call to gratitude
• [06:11] – Introduction to Joshua 17 and sermon context
• [13:40] – “Pressure of blessings” insight
• [17:10] – “Too much and not enough”
• [23:25] – Shift from inheritance to entitlement
• [29:58] – Personal reflection: remembering humble beginnings
• [34:45] – Stewardship: working your inheritance
• [44:07] – The story of Manasseh and the “Manasseh effect”
• [47:09] – Mandela effect analogy and re-framing the past
• [50:39] – “God can do one thing in your life…” (Manasseh effect climax)
• [54:42] – “If you clear it, you can claim it.” (climactic exhortation)
• [56:01] – Call to action: “You can drive them out”
• [61:30] – Prayer for strength, gratitude, and action

The Takeaway

Pastor Furtick’s message is a timely reminder to honor where God has brought you from, realign your perspective on daily pressures, and “clear” whatever is holding you back from fully stepping into your God-given inheritance. The “Manasseh effect” is your invitation to rewrite the narrative of your past, focus on God’s faithfulness, and move forward with spiritual authority, knowing that you are “very powerful” in Christ.

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