Podcast Summary: "The Power of Interpretation"

Elevation with Steven Furtick – iHeartPodcasts | August 22, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Steven Furtick wraps up the “Trigger” series by focusing on the importance of interpretation in our spiritual lives. He explores the biblical story of Joseph and draws parallels to the New Testament, emphasizing that how we interpret our circumstances, emotions, and dreams shapes our reality and spiritual growth. Through his characteristic energy and practical storytelling, Furtick urges listeners to seek God’s guidance—not just for understanding scripture, but for making sense of life’s challenges, emotions, desires, and past experiences.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Biblical Foundations of Interpretation

• Genesis 40/45 – Joseph and Dreams:
  • Joseph interprets dreams for the cupbearer and baker in prison, attributing the power of interpretation to God.
  • Quote: “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Steven Furtick, 01:51)
• 1 Corinthians 14:13 – Paul on Spiritual Gifts:
  • Emphasis on the need for interpretation in spiritual matters: “One who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.”
  • This connects the role of interpretation in spiritual gifts to broader life application.

2. Interpretation Beyond Dreams: Applying it to Life

• The act of interpretation isn’t just for mystical moments or spiritual gifts, but is vital in everyday relationships and challenges.
• Quote: “I need an interpretation to be a good husband. Because men and women are different… If I don’t learn to interpret... nothing is wrong does not mean, literally, nothing is wrong.” (Steven Furtick, 06:53)

3. Event vs Interpretation

• Furtick draws a distinction between what happens to us (“the event”) and what we tell ourselves it means (“the interpretation”).
• Quote: “My situation is not as important as my interpretation of my situation.” (Steven Furtick, 08:27)
• Joseph’s Life as Illustration:
  • Joseph could view his circumstances as abandonment, but through God’s interpretation, he sees purpose despite betrayal and suffering.

4. Three Major Interpretations in Joseph’s Story

• 1. Interpreting Others' Dreams (Genesis 40):
  • Both the cupbearer and baker receive interpretations; Joseph doesn’t manipulate the meaning based on personal desire.
  • Quote: “He didn’t have the power to make the dream mean what he wanted it to mean. What he had to do was seek God…” (Steven Furtick, 15:13)
• 2. Interpreting Pharaoh’s Dream (Genesis 41):
  • Joseph humbly acknowledges that the power to interpret comes from God.
  • Quote: “Joseph answered Pharaoh, ‘It’s not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’” (Steven Furtick, 18:15)
• 3. Interpreting His Own Life & Pain (Genesis 45):
  • The ultimate test: Joseph must interpret the trauma and outcome of his own life.
  • Quote: “You sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Steven Furtick, 27:05)
  • The “event” is betrayal; the “interpretation” is God’s providence.

5. Who Is Your Interpreter?

• Furtick asks listeners to consider what lens they use to interpret life—past experiences, pain, outside voices, or God’s truth.
• Quote: “Are you interpreting your God through your life or your life through your God?” (Steven Furtick, 30:08)
• The “wrong interpreter” (like the devil) adds or subtracts, distorting what God says about us.
• Anecdote: Preaching in a foreign language and needing a true interpreter (33:49–35:57).

6. The Five Areas Needing Interpretation (The “DREAM” Framework)

(Furtick spells out the word DREAM, each letter representing a key prayer focus.)

a. D – Desires (37:31–42:23)

• Ask God to clarify our true desires, distinguishing between what we think we want and what’s rooted in God’s will.
• Quote: “If the Holy Spirit doesn’t interpret my desires, I will run around my whole life trying to get what I want. And then when I get it, I won’t even want what I’ve got.” (Steven Furtick, 38:29)

b. R – Rejection (42:23–43:52)

• Learning to see past rejections through the lens of God’s protection and purpose.
• Quote: “What man calls rejection, sometimes God calls protection.” (Steven Furtick, 43:31)

c. E – Emotions (43:52–47:17)

• Filtering emotions—anger, fear, sadness—through the Holy Spirit, seeking the root cause rather than living at the level of reaction.
• Anecdote: Argument with his wife about a bill, realizing his anger was really fear. (44:54–45:58)
• Quote: “If you don’t pray for the power to interpret, you will just live at the level of the emotion and never know what is beneath the surface.” (Steven Furtick, 45:58)

d. A – Advantages (47:17–50:49)

• Recognizing every “attack” or adversity as a potential God-given advantage for future impact and service.
• Quote: “Quit calling it an attack, it’s an advantage. Quit calling it a weakness because it is in your weakness that he is strong.” (Steven Furtick, 50:11)

e. M – Middle (50:49–52:37)

• Trusting God for interpretation not only in hindsight or at the resolution, but while we are “in the middle” of uncertainty or pain.
• Quote: “I want to interpret my life as it unfolds through the lens that you love me and that you’re with me. I need a faith interpretation…” (Steven Furtick, 51:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Do not interpretations belong to God?” — Steven Furtick (01:51, referencing Joseph)
• “My situation is not as important as my interpretation of my situation.” — Steven Furtick (08:27)
• “You sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” — Steven Furtick (27:05, paraphrasing Joseph)
• “Who is your interpreter?” — Steven Furtick (30:08)
• “Quit calling it an attack, it’s an advantage. Quit calling it a weakness because it is in your weakness that he is strong.” — Steven Furtick (50:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:51 — Introduction of Genesis 40 & “Do not interpretations belong to God?”
• 05:26 — New Testament connection: 1 Corinthians 14:13, spiritual gifts, and interpretation
• 08:27 — Principle: The interpretation of your situation is more important than the situation
• 13:53–15:13 — Joseph interprets the cupbearer and baker’s dreams; seeking God’s meaning, not personal preference
• 16:38–18:47 — Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph’s humility (“It’s not in me, God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer”)
• 23:16–30:08 — Joseph faces his brothers, interprets his own pain ("You sold me, God sent me")
• 30:08–35:57 — Who is your interpreter? The danger of distorted interpretation
• 37:31–52:37 — Furtick spells out the "DREAM" framework for interpretation

Final Takeaways & Tone

Pastor Steven Furtick’s message is passionate, humorous, and deeply practical. He urges listeners not to settle for surface-level understanding, or to allow pain, past, or cultural voices to dictate their story. Instead, believers are exhorted to ask the Holy Spirit for the “power to interpret”—to see God's meaning in every situation: desires, rejections, emotions, advantages, and the “middle” moments of uncertainty.

“I need God to make sense of this.” (Steven Furtick, 11:04)

The episode ends with a call to prayer, asking for spiritual discernment and faith to trust God’s interpretation for every aspect of life.

For Reflection:

• Who (or what) is interpreting your life’s events for you?
• Are you asking God for understanding, or defaulting to past wounds or worldly voices?
• Where do you need a new interpretation—of your desires, rejections, emotions, past hardships, or current uncertainties?

This episode is a reminder: The difference between breakdown and breakthrough often isn’t what happened, but the interpretation you choose. “Do not interpretations belong to God?”