Podcast Summary: "He Took The Manna Off The Menu"

Elevation with Steven Furtick – January 30, 2026
Host: Pastor Steven Furtick
Duration: [Timestamps included for major segments]

Overview

In "He Took The Manna Off The Menu," Pastor Steven Furtick delivers a dynamic, perspective-shifting message on spiritual provision, contentment, and adapting to new seasons of God’s supply. Drawing from Philippians 4:10-19 and Joshua 5:12, Furtick explores the shift from manna (God's miraculous, daily provision in the wilderness) to the produce of Canaan (fruit of working the promised land), challenging listeners to discern God's changing methods of meeting their needs and to move from a need-driven (“need side”) to a supply-focused (“supply side”) faith.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Scriptural Foundation: Contentment and God's Supply

• Philippians 4:10-19 – Paul’s reflections on contentment “in any and every situation.”
• Joshua 5:12 – The day Israel ate from Canaan’s land, God ceased providing manna; a literal and spiritual shift.

"It is proof that your surroundings don’t have to dominate your spirit. … My state of affairs doesn’t have to determine my state of mind."
— Steven Furtick ([02:14])

• Paul, writing from house arrest, models authentic joy and contentment.

2. Supply Side Spirituality vs. Need Side Thinking

• Furtick riffs on “supply side economics” as an analogy: instead of focusing on your needs, focus on the abundant supply God provides.

"Are you going to live your life from the need side or the supply side? … Do I see my needs through my supply, or am I always missing my supply because all I see is my needs?"
— Steven Furtick ([13:28])

• Faith’s Greatest Question: Will you focus on what you lack, or look for where God is already supplying?

3. The Nature and Purpose of Needs

• Needs aren’t meant to disappear, but to keep us dependent on and connected to God.
• "If you didn’t have any needs in your life, it would be just a matter of time before you thought you didn’t need Him." ([15:42])
• Relationships and church community are God’s distribution system for meeting needs; God uses people as conduits.
• Warns against expecting any person (spouse, friend, pastor) to be your everything.

"You can’t hold people hostage to the needs you have that they can’t meet."
— Steven Furtick ([29:11])

4. Vulnerability, Gratitude, and Investing in Relationships

• Paul values not just the Philippians’ financial support, but their solidarity (“you shared in my troubles”).
• Furtick shares personal memories, driving home that those present in your low seasons are the most deeply appreciated.

“If you really want to invest in relationships, buy low… The time you want to buy in is when it’s low, because then when it shoots up, you’ll have a good stake in it. Relationships are a lot like that.”
— Steven Furtick ([33:20])

• Memorable Oprah quote: "Anybody will ride with you in the limousine. What I need is somebody to ride with me when the limousine breaks down and we have to take the bus." ([35:26])

5. The Manna Narrative: Recognizing Seasonal Provision

• Manna in the wilderness was miraculous, temporary provision; when Israel entered Canaan, the menu changed.
• Just because a source dries up doesn’t mean God has abandoned you—it means it’s a new season, requiring a new strategy.

"There are some things in your life that God provided, and now they’re not there anymore. … It’s just the new season. Guess what new season means? New supplies."
— Steven Furtick ([46:51])

• Illustration: Furtick shares about missing a favorite squash soup at a restaurant—it’s “off the menu,” but a new season brings new options.

6. Lessons on God’s Provision: Four Key Qualities

a. Seasonal

• God’s supply adapts to your season; don’t expect yesterday’s provision to carry you today.

b. Unusual

• Provision often appears in unexpected forms or people (“God hides his provision for your secret needs in unexpected places” — [01:08:06]).

c. Proportional

• God gives you what you need for each day and each assignment: "Give us this day our daily bread."
• Trying to operate outside of your capacity for the season leads to frustration.

d. Personal and Local

• God’s provision is tailored for you; it's in your “house,” “heart,” and “grasp” ([01:11:39]).
• Avoid envy; God provides specifically for your role, calling, and season.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Contentment through Struggle:

  “It is against the backdrop of his great struggle that he [Paul] declares the supply and strength of God.”
  — Steven Furtick ([19:26])

• Human Distribution of Divine Supply:

  "God is the need meter, but the church is the distribution system through which God meets needs in the world."
  — Steven Furtick ([23:44])

• Gratitude for Support:

  "What really mattered to me was that you were there for me."
  — Steven Furtick, reflecting on Paul’s words ([31:58])

• New Season, New Strategy:

  “If you keep longing for Egypt and keep looking for manna and don’t learn how to farm in Canaan, you’re gonna starve to death.”
  — Steven Furtick ([59:30])

• Becoming a Need Meter:

  “Are you a kneader or a need meter? … I'm blessed to be a blessing.”
  — Steven Furtick ([01:01:29])

Important Timestamps

• Scripture Reading & Introduction: [00:00 – 05:30]
• Supply vs. Need Side Faith: [13:15 – 17:50]
• Needs in Relationships & Community: [18:00 – 23:55]
• Paul’s Vulnerability and Support: [27:35 – 35:35]
• God’s Provision: The Manna Narrative: [40:13 – 01:03:25]
• Outline: Four Qualities of Provision: [01:05:50 – 01:13:24]
• Final Encouragement & Shout/Moment of Praise: [01:13:25 – 01:16:38]

Conclusion & Takeaways

• God’s methods of provision change with each season; learn to recognize and embrace the shift.
• Contentment is rooted in trusting God’s ongoing, personal supply—even when the form changes.
• Don’t idolize old sources of blessing; look for the new supply in your new season.
• Invest in relationships, especially in lean times, and value community as God’s delivery system.
• “Whatever I don’t have, I don’t need it in this season.” ([01:10:40])
• Embrace your role as a need meter as God elevates you from survival to surplus.

Final Charge:

“And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches.”
— [01:16:32]

Audience Participation: Shouts of “It’s mine!” and encouragement to praise in response to God’s faithfulness.

This summary captures the spirit, teachings, and major moments of Steven Furtick’s powerful sermon, providing both inspiration and practical insights for listeners navigating their own seasons of need, transition, and blessing.