Podcast Summary: Elevation with Steven Furtick

Episode: This Is The Time (Jonathan Josephs)
Date: November 30, 2025
Host: Steven Furtick
Guest/Speaker: Jonathan Josephs, Ballantine Campus Pastor

Episode Overview

This episode features Pastor Jonathan Josephs delivering a message titled "This Is The Time." The theme centers on the biblical call to prioritize building God’s house—not just physically, but spiritually—through obedience and generosity. Pulling from Haggai chapter 1, Jonathan addresses the dangers of procrastination, challenges believers regarding their priorities, and invites listeners to trust God through tangible acts of faith, particularly in giving.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Context: Gratitude and Assignment

• Jonathan introduces himself and expresses gratitude for Elevation Church, reflecting on nearly 13 years of serving under Pastors Steven and Holly.
• He frames the message: “I was asking God to give me a word that would inspire you to give...And the Lord said, don’t inspire them, instruct them.” (03:31)
• The talk is positioned within the context of the church’s upcoming expansion offering.

2. Scripture Focus: Haggai 1—A Call to Build God's House

• Jonathan reads Haggai 1:1–8, noting how God sends the prophet Haggai to prompt the people to rebuild the temple after years of neglect (06:47).
• Key phrase: “This is the time. Touch your neighbor as you take your seat. Say, ‘This is the time.’” (09:34)

3. The Problem of Procrastination

• Engages the congregation with the concept of procrastination, humorous anecdote about his wife's Apple TV subscription (11:40).
• Makes it relatable: “All of us have places in our life that we procrastinate on. And that’s really what the Lord is addressing in the hearts of his people in this passage.” (14:25)
• Insight: “What is not a priority to you, you will always procrastinate on.” (14:52)

4. Delayed Obedience = Disobedience

• “How many know that delayed obedience is still disobedience? ...The principle you see in this passage is when I build God’s house, he'll bless mine.” (17:29)
• The enemy’s tactic isn’t always blatant disobedience—sometimes it’s simply delay: “When the devil can’t get you to disobey, he’ll get you to delay.” (16:45)

5. Why We Wait: Excuses and Spiritual Stagnation

Jonathan addresses three primary excuses reflected in Haggai and echoed in modern Christian experience:

A. Waiting for Peace (19:00)

• The Israelites weren’t prioritizing God’s house because they wanted comfortable circumstances.
• Memorable line: “God is not bothered when we have nice things...but sometimes we get so trapped in comfort and we call it peace.” (20:55)
• He distinguishes between true, God-given peace (which may accompany hard obedience) and the counterfeit peace of “comfortable circumstances.”

B. Waiting for More (27:30)

• Referencing Haggai 1:6: “You planted much, but harvested little...you earn wages only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
• Insight: “They’re saying, well, if we had more, we would build your house. And the Lord’s saying, no, no, no. If you built my house, you would have more.” (28:55)
• Cites personal and global experiences (missions in Namibia, story of Pastor Kamadi) to highlight the power of contentment and giving.

C. Waiting for an Instruction (32:10)

• God’s explicit instruction: “Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.” (32:48)
• Miracle in obedience: “There’s only a few times in Scripture where God sends a word to his people and they actually obey.” (34:55)

6. Simple Obedience: The True Miracle

• Jonathan lauds the power and rarity of simple, full obedience to God’s word:
  “We underestimate the power of obedience, y’all. Lord, mark my life with signs, wonders, miracles. What about if the Lord marked your life with just simple obedience?” (35:30)
• He honors the leadership of Pastors Steven and Holly: “Leaders who didn’t settle at year five or year ten...but continue to say yes to God.” (36:19)

7. Practical Teaching on Giving and Tithing

• Jonathan shares personal stories—his grandfather’s and Dave Ramsey’s teachings (37:12).
• Emphasizes tithing as the “first tenth,” not just any tenth, and as a matter of obedience, not just generosity or legalism.
• Shares a viral list of “tithing myths and truths” from a friend (Jared), including:
  • “Tithing isn’t generosity, it’s obedience.”
  • “If you trust your church with your soul, trust them with your tithe.” (40:05)
• Call to Action: “If the fruit is evident...then church, this is the time to tithe.” (41:22)

8. The Result: God's Presence and Stirred Spirits

• After the people's obedient response, God says: “I am with you, declares the Lord.” (42:11)
• Reflection: “What’s greater than the assurance of his presence?” (42:14)
• Spiritual result: “God stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the whole remnant.” (42:51)
• Jonathan’s Prayer: “I want God to stir something up in our church that proclaims the gospel all over the world.” (43:03)

9. Heart of Worship: The Widow’s Offering

• Concludes by referencing Jesus watching a widow giving her last coins in the rebuilt temple:
  • “It wasn’t a big amount, but it was a lot of trust. …What Jesus was drawn to was the heart of worship.” (44:10)
• “When you prioritize him in your life…it’s amazing as you create space in your heart to trust him more.” (44:45)

10. Invitation: Salvation & Trust

• Offers a prayer of salvation and an invitation to deeper trust and obedience.
• Encourages taking home offering envelopes, praying for God’s word for the year, and being diligent in both prayer and giving (46:51).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What is not a priority to you, you will always procrastinate on.” (Jonathan, 14:52)
• “When the devil can’t get you to disobey, he’ll get you to delay.” (Jonathan, 16:45)
• “Delayed obedience is still disobedience.” (Jonathan, 17:29)
• “If you built my house, you would have more. Because it’s about priorities.” (Jonathan, 28:58)
• “We underestimate the power of obedience.” (Jonathan, 35:35)
• “If the fruit is evident, souls are won, outreach is accomplished…then church, this is the time to tithe.” (Jonathan quoting Jared, 41:22)
• “What’s greater than the assurance of his presence?” (Jonathan, 42:14)
• “It wasn’t a lot of money, but it was a lot of faith…She gave all that she had.” (Jonathan on widow’s offering, 44:12)
• “He wants a heart of worship.” (Jonathan, 45:09)

Key Timestamps

• 02:23 — Jonathan begins message and intro
• 06:47 — Reading of Haggai 1 and scriptural setup
• 09:34 — Message title: “This is the time”
• 14:25 — Procrastination and its spiritual implications
• 16:45 — Enemy’s tactic: delay vs. disobedience
• 19:00 — Waiting for peace; redefining “peace of God”
• 27:30 — Waiting for more; the logic of divine priorities
• 32:10 — Waiting for an instruction; God’s clear direction
• 35:30 — Power and miracle of simple obedience
• 37:12 — Personal story: teaching on tithing and firstfruits
• 40:05 — Myths and truths about tithing
• 41:22 — Call to tithe: “This is the time to tithe”
• 42:11 — Result of obedience: “I am with you”
• 44:10 — Jesus and the widow’s offering
• 46:51 — Prayer and offering invitation

Tone & Style

Pastor Jonathan’s tone is warm, humorous, and earnest—anchored in scripture, transparency, and practical wisdom. He weaves in stories from his own life and ministry, engages contemporary concerns (family finances, comfort, provision), and calls the church to courageous and obedient generosity.

Action & Invitation

• For listeners:
  • Reflect on areas of life where you are delaying obedience.
  • Consider the role of priorities—especially aligning with God’s purposes.
  • Tangibly trust God through giving (begin or renew tithing as an intentional act).
  • Pray for a word/theme as you look to the new year.
  • Above all, say “yes” to Christ—whether for the first time or in deeper surrender.

In Jonathan’s words:

“This isn’t just a message about giving. This is a message about surrender. And today is your day of salvation…God wants a heart of worship.” (45:09)