Podcast Summary: Elevation with Steven Furtick

Episode: I’ve Got To Get Up
Release Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this stirring episode of "Elevation with Steven Furtick," Pastor Steven delivers an empowering message titled "I've Got To Get Up," inspired by the Biblical story of the man healed at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15). Preaching to a live audience in Miami, Pastor Steven explores themes of personal breakthrough, divine timing, overcoming excuses, and the transformative power of Jesus. He urges listeners not to be defined by their struggles, but to rise—physically, spiritually, and emotionally—because of Christ’s compassion and authority.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Personal Nature of Jesus' Miracles

• Scripture Focus: John 5 – The healing at Bethesda.
• Main Point: God’s work is deeply personal—He sees and addresses the needs of the “one.”
  • "That’s how personal God is. One who was there had been an invalid for 38 years." (02:18)
• Application: Steven draws parallels between visible physical ailments and the hidden pain or anxieties many carry, emphasizing that Jesus desires to heal both.

2. The Challenge: “Do You Want to Get Well?”

• Meaningful Question: Jesus asks, “Do you want to get well?”—a choice that challenges listeners to desire genuine change and freedom.
  • "The way you answer this question is going to mark your life from this moment forward." (02:59)
• Moment of Engagement: Congregation is encouraged to respond:
  • "I dare somebody to shout, I want it, Lord. … I want these chains to break." (03:18)

3. Excuses and Divine Command

• Turning Point: The man at the pool responds with excuses, but Jesus overrides them with a command: “Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.”
• Memorable Quote:
  • "He has excuses, but verse eight is really the power of the passage. Then Jesus said to him, get up." (03:52)
• Insight: God’s instruction supersedes our perceived limitations when it’s time to move forward (04:13–04:52).

4. Unstoppable Moves of God

• Personal Anecdote: Steven recounts starting Elevation Church against the advice of “experts” who doubted the possibility of a multicultural congregation in Charlotte, underscoring:
  • "When God gets ready to do something, nothing can stop him." (05:15)
• Reflection on His Father's Conversion:
  • Steven recalls preaching to his father, who he thought was “too far gone,” only to later witness his father’s emotional surrender to Christ after a sermon Steven deemed a failure.
  • "He gave his life to Christ that day after the worst sermon I ever preached." (10:37)

5. Three Things Jesus Does

Steven distills his message into three baptist-style points:

1. Jesus Stops – He pays attention to the individual regardless of circumstance.
   • "Jesus stops for one man who can't do anything in return." (19:39)
2. Jesus Sees – He looks past our struggles; sees our true selves.
   • "They are all mentioned by their condition... sometimes you can go through something so long you forget who you are." (16:58, 17:12)
   • "He saw the man. He sees me." (27:39)
3. Jesus Says – He speaks life and commands us to rise.
   • "You have two voices going on. You have one voice saying, stay down... It is not emotionalism… It’s called faith… one word from Jesus…"(33:01–33:27)
   • "Then Jesus said to him, you have to get up. I've got to get up." (33:27)

6. Breaking the Power of Shame and Bad Labels

• Identity Issue: Cautions listeners against defining themselves by their struggles instead of their status in Christ.
  • "You no longer say, 'I'm dealing with depression.' You say, 'I am depressed.' … But wouldn't it be terrible if I let the fear of letting you down stop me from preaching to you?" (17:12–17:32)
• Grace Over Shame:
  • Story of Jesus stopping the stoning in John 8, illustrating his power to halt condemnation.
  • "Not only is he a savior who stops, he is a savior who stoops." (24:53)

7. When Others Don’t Understand

• Religious Objections: Cites those who tried to limit the healed man—“It is the Sabbath, the law forbids you from carrying your mat”—but the man replies,
  • "The man who made me well said to me, 'Get up.'” (35:12)
• Application for Listeners: Urges them to listen to Jesus’ voice above critics.

8. Living Out the Testimony

• Transformation: From lying on the mat to carrying it—inverting testimony as a symbol of overcoming.
  • "I'm carrying the mat that I once laid on." (37:33)
• Call to Action: Propels the congregation to rise with faith, leave behind shame, and celebrate new life in Christ.
  • "If that's you, when I say three, you've got to... get up." (37:52–38:12)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Personalization of God’s Grace:
  • “That’s how personal God is. One who was there had been an invalid for 38 years.” (02:18, Steven Furtick)
• Desiring Change:
  • “I dare somebody to shout, 'I want it, Lord!'” (03:18, Steven Furtick)
• On God’s Power:
  • “When God gets ready to do something, nothing can stop him. Not even a bad sermon, not even a bad necktie.” (10:56, Steven Furtick)
• Confession on Excuses:
  • “The hero of this story is not the man… He’s full of excuses...” (14:35, Steven Furtick)
• Hope for the Struggling:
  • “God will package some of his best gifts in some of the ugliest boxes.” (30:22, Steven Furtick)
• Identity Restored:
  • “Jesus didn’t see the mat first. He saw the man.” (27:39, Steven Furtick)
• Obedience and Authority:
  • “Y’all have walked by me every day for 38 years, and not one of you had the power to get me up. But that man over there… the man who made me well said to me, 'Get up.'” (35:56, Steven Furtick)
• Celebratory Commission:
  • “If that's you, when I say three… get up.” (38:11, Steven Furtick)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 01:41 | Introduction to John 5: Pool of Bethesda | | 02:18 | The personal nature of God’s intervention | | 03:18 | Desiring freedom; “I want it, Lord” | | 03:52 | Jesus' command: “Get up” | | 05:15 | Miracles in personal life and church founding | | 10:37 | Testimony of Steven’s father’s conversion | | 14:35 | God uses our struggles | | 15:32 | Three key actions: Jesus stops/sees/says | | 17:12 | Identity vs. condition | | 19:39 | Jesus stops for the “one” | | 24:53 | Jesus “stoops” for the condemned | | 27:39 | Jesus sees beyond the mat | | 30:22 | Ugly boxes, beautiful blessings | | 33:01 | Competing voices: faith vs. despair | | 35:56 | The voice of Jesus vs. voice of critics | | 37:33 | Testimony transformed: carrying the mat | | 38:11 | Call to action: “Get up” | | 40:01 | Salvation invitation |

Tone and Style

Pastor Steven’s delivery is passionate, energetic, and deeply personal. He blends humor (stories about his family, especially his wife’s gift-wrapping habits), vulnerability (his “failed” sermon story), and powerful spiritual challenges. There is a direct invitation to engage—“shout I want it, Lord,” “touch somebody,” “give God a praise”—showing a lively, responsive atmosphere.

Episode Takeaways

• God’s movement in your life is personal, timely, and unstoppable.
• He sees beyond your struggles to who you really are—and invites you to get up from whatever has kept you down.
• Obedience to God’s voice is essential—even when it runs counter to your experience or others’ opinions.
• Your journey and battles can become testimonies of God’s grace to others.
• No matter your past, Jesus stops, sees, speaks—and ultimately saves.

If you need a message of hope and a call to rise above your current battles, this episode reminds you: “I’ve Got To Get Up”—because the final word belongs to Jesus, not your circumstances.