Elevation with Steven Furtick – "He Answered" (September 21, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode titled "He Answered," Pastor Steven Furtick leads Elevation Church in a message about breaking negative mental loops and clinging to God’s response, presence, and love during hardships. Drawing from Psalm 114 and Matthew 4, he explores the recurring lies that keep us trapped and provides tools for replacing them with truths from God’s Word. The message is filled with encouragement, practical examples, honest reflections, and memorable moments of worship—centered on the reality that when we call out, "He answered."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Testimony and Worship (02:18–05:18)

• Impact of Worship Songs: Pastor Steven shares stories about how Elevation Church’s songs have helped people through difficult times—including cancer, prison, anxiety, and more.
• Purpose: Worship and scripture-based songs are presented as vehicles for remembering God’s faithfulness and embedding His word in our hearts.

2. Introducing the "New Loop" Theme (05:18–07:47)

• Psalm 114 as Foundation: Uses vivid scriptural imagery: "Why was it, sea, that you fled?" to show God’s power over the impossible.
• Meditation & Memory: Emphasizes the challenge of meditating on God’s word amidst life’s noise and proposes new spiritual loops to counter destructive mental patterns.
• Quote:
  • “A noisy mind needs a new loop, something else to latch onto so you don’t go absolutely crazy with temptation and with anger or with shame.” – Steven Furtick (03:40)

3. Rhetorical and Historical Questions—Personalizing Israel’s Story (08:55–12:47)

• Rhetorical Questions: Invites listeners to see themselves in stories of God’s deliverance.
• Insight: Retelling Israel’s history isn’t just about the past; it’s a prompt to recognize God’s presence in our present difficulties.
• Quote:
  • “By framing this question as rhetorical… God is not only asking a rhetorical question, but he’s asking a historical question. What did God do for you in your past that… reveals to you how powerful he is in your now?” – Steven Furtick (11:05)

4. Same Lies, New Loops (13:25–15:22)

• Mental “Loops”: Pastor Steven draws (literally, on a board) a loop to illustrate how we often replay lies from the enemy or negative experiences.
• Victory vs. Defeat: Both are found “in the repeat.” The focus is on actively choosing which loops to repeat—ones leading to defeat, or those based on God’s truth.
• Quote:
  • “Victory and defeat are both found in the repeat.” – Steven Furtick (14:11)

5. Dealing with Temptation: Jesus in the Wilderness (15:37–21:21)

• Comparison with Israel: Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is linked to Israel’s experience—highlighting how both were confronted with the same basic lies: "You are not enough. You are not loved."
• God’s Presence in Hard Times: Honest reflection on God being present even in the wilderness, and that the Spirit leads but doesn’t leave.
• Quote:
  • “He’s with you as you fight through this addiction. He’s with you as you resist temptation… The Spirit led him to a hard place, but the Spirit did not leave him in the hard place.” – (19:01–20:00)

Three Core Truths for New Spiritual Loops (21:19–41:53)

1. He's Here (21:25–29:00)

• God’s Presence: Explores Hebrews 4, emphasizing that Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses and is with us in every struggle.
• Key Moment:
  • “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence… so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – (27:27)

2. It’s Handled (29:00–41:46)

• God’s Provision: Just as God handled Israel’s battles, He has already handled what we cannot handle—especially our need for righteousness and rescue.
• Practical Application: Be careful with venting—don’t turn sharing your struggles into inventing new problems ("If you keep venting, you might start inventing." – 33:13).
• Call to Faith: Reminds listeners not to define themselves by circumstances but by God’s greatness.
• Quote:
  • “Do not define yourself by the difficulty of the season. Define yourself by the size of your God.” – Pastor Holly (26:41)

3. I’m His (41:46–50:50)

• Identity in Christ: Echoes the affirmation God spoke over Jesus at His baptism. We, too, must internalize God’s declaration: beloved, chosen, sustained.
• Refuting the Enemy: When tempted to doubt our identity, return to God’s prior affirmation, not the enemy’s lies.
• Quote:
  • “I belong to God. I’m his, and he’s got me. I’m his, and he knows me. I’m his, and he chose me. I’m his, and no man can pluck me from his hand.” – (41:10–41:39)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Victory and defeat are both found in the repeat.” – Steven Furtick (14:11)
• “The Spirit led him to a hard place, but the Spirit did not leave him in the hard place.” – Pastor Holly (20:00)
• “Do not define yourself by the difficulty of the season. Define yourself by the size of your God.” – Pastor Holly (26:41)
• “If you keep venting, you might start inventing.” – Steven Furtick (33:13)
• “He answered. I’m grateful because he answered. I’m standing here today because he answered.” – Steven Furtick (08:19)
• “Wait for the angel.” – Pastor Holly (49:18)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Impact of Worship Songs & Meditative Practice – 02:18–05:18
• Psalm 114 & the Power of God’s Commands – 05:18–07:47
• Rhetorical/ Historical Questions About God’s Deliverance – 08:55–12:47
• The Loop Illustration & Importance of Repeating the Right Things – 13:25–15:22
• Jesus’ Temptation & Breaking Mental Loops – 15:37–21:21
• Core Truth 1: He’s Here – 21:19–29:00
• Core Truth 2: It’s Handled – 29:00–41:46
• Core Truth 3: I’m His – 41:46–50:50
• “Angels Are on the Way” Testimony & Illustration – 50:50–57:09
• Affirmations, Worship, and Closing Moments – 58:29–End

Worship & Response (58:29–End)

The episode closes with a meditative worship segment, encouraging listeners to call on God in every season and to affirm over themselves the truths that “He’s here, it’s handled, I’m His.” The community is invited to lift their hands and receive angelic help and God’s loving assurance.

• "I call God and He answers. I'm so glad. I call God and He answers." (59:39)

Takeaways & Application

• Replace Negative Loops: Identify and exchange recurring mental lies for God’s truth.
• Affirm His Presence: When facing temptation or hardship, anchor yourself in the fact that God is with you.
• Trust It’s Handled: Don’t try to fix everything alone; God already accomplished what you couldn’t.
• Rest in Your Identity: Remember you are God’s beloved in every circumstance.
• Wait for the Angel: Stay steady in faith—the help you need is on the way.

Summary Table: Three New Loops to Break Old Lies

| Old Loop (Lie) | New Loop (Truth) | Time | |------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------| | I am alone | He’s here | 21:26; 27:29; 41:53 | | It’s too hard for me | It’s handled | 29:00; 31:47; 41:53 | | I have to earn love | I’m His | 41:10; 41:46; 42:13 |

For anyone struggling with cycles of doubt, shame, or fear, “He Answered” is a call to embrace God’s steadfast love and finished work—and to let Him write a new loop in your heart.