Elevation with Steven Furtick – "This Is Then (God Uses Stupid)"

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Steven Furtick
Guest Contributor: Eric Phillips

Overview

In this episode, Steven Furtick digs deep into Genesis 28, exploring the story of Jacob’s encounter with God and the transformative power of trust and surrender. Centered on the theme “This Is Then (God Uses Stupid),” Pastor Furtick challenges listeners to move past conditions and bargaining with God (“If you bless me, then…”) to embrace faith in the present moment, recognizing God’s provision, protection, and presence—even when the way forward seems unclear or the steps seem "stupid" by worldly standards.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Worship, Thanksgiving, and Perspective

• The episode opens with a spirit of gratitude, emphasizing the importance of both praising God for tangible blessings and recognizing His presence, even in times of challenge.
  • Eric Phillips opens with a prayer of thanksgiving, listing everyday blessings—health, family, provision—and declaring God’s faithfulness. (03:00–04:00)
  • Steven Furtick:

    “It won’t do any good for us to sing all this beautiful music...if [our] heart isn’t open. So I thank you that heaven is open—may our hearts be too.” (04:03)

2. The Jacob Narrative: Blessed, But…

• Pastor Furtick walks the congregation through Genesis 28:10–22, focusing on Jacob's flight from Esau, his unlikely encounter with God, and his iconic dream.
  • Jacob is "blessed but”—blessed, yet alone, afraid, and uncertain about the future.
  • The Lord promises Jacob inheritance, descendants "like the dust of the earth," and global impact (09:00–10:20).
  • Steven Furtick:

    “Have you ever been blessed, but…?” (07:35)
    “God will speak about things that have not even started yet in the natural, and He’ll speak it supernaturally.” (10:21)

3. The If-Then Mindset: Bargaining or Surrender?

• Furtick zeros in on Jacob’s vow: “If God will be with me … then the Lord will be my God.”
  • The biblical text offers two pivot words: “If… then…”
  • Furtick reframes Jacob’s vow not as an act of doubt or bargaining, but as a humble admission of need—asking for God’s presence, provision, and protection for the journey ahead (21:45–22:42).
  • Notable Quote:

    “Sounds like the boy thinks he can bargain with the Most High. ... At this stage in my life, I think Jacob is saying it doesn't take much for me to trust you. … If you'll do that much, then you'll be my God.” (22:42–23:13)

4. Surrender vs. Strategy: The True Path of Faith

• Furtick shares personal anecdotes and ministry history, highlighting how what appears as "strategy" in hindsight was experienced as "surrender" in the moment (13:52–16:20).
  • Modern church practices and growth—often seen as carefully planned—were actually born out of necessity and surrender, not calculated business principles.
• Steven Furtick:

  “Many of the things in our ministry that felt very strategic … were actually things that at the time just felt like, what do we do next, God? ... You experience a lot of things as surrender in real time.” (13:52–16:06)

5. “God Uses Stupid”: Embracing Risk, Obedience, and Trust

• The message repeatedly emphasizes that God can use actions that seem foolish by worldly standards—moments when obedience or generosity feels "stupid" but actually becomes the basis for blessing.
  • Early "stupid" decisions in both his personal life (giving away an emergency fund, only buying what could be afforded) and church planting (refusing a seemingly smart fundraising strategy) ultimately led to breakthrough and growth (38:40–43:48).
  • Steven Furtick:

    “What the world calls wise, what the world calls strategic, God calls stupid. And what the world calls stupid, God calls strategic.” (40:41)

  • God’s ways of working—through surrender, small beginnings, and unlikely means—are highlighted with biblical connections (Jacob’s stone becomes Bethel, the “House of God”).

    “You say it’s stupid to call a rock the house of God. Not when God spoke to you there, stupid!” (41:45)

6. “This Is Then”: Don’t Postpone Trust and Obedience

• Furtick flips the conditional “If… then…”—urging listeners to stop postponing surrender, joy, and obedience until after God proves Himself yet again.
  • “This is then” means recognizing that God has already done enough to deserve our trust right now (45:14–46:39, 51:03–51:44).
  • Steven Furtick:

    “You don’t need more proof to trust Him. You just need more practice.” (51:44)

7. The Call to Action: Trust, Surrender, and Giving

• Tying the message to tithing and generosity, Furtick aligns financial faithfulness with the broader journey of trust.
  • He challenges listeners to respond—especially in the area of giving—reminding them that all they hold is from God, and the practice of tithing is foundational (54:00–55:28).

8. Invitation and Prayer:

• The episode closes with a heartfelt altar call, inviting listeners to surrender fully to Christ, not just in general but in every specific area of life (56:00–63:10).
  • Steven Furtick leads prayer:

    “Heavenly Father, I am a sinner in need of a savior. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Today I make Jesus the Lord of my life.... This is my new beginning.” (62:29–63:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You experience a lot of things as surrender in real time. … The strategic explanation often camouflages the surrendered experience.” (13:52–16:06)
• “After all I've seen, I'd be stupid not to [praise God]. After all he does for me, I'd be stupid not to say thank you.” (30:55–31:10)
• “You call it stupid. I call it surrender.” (44:14)
• “You don’t need more proof to trust Him. You just need more practice.” (51:44)
• “What is your if? Hasn't He already done it? Hasn't He already proven to you His love? What more would God have to do to get you to trust Him? I’m telling you, this is then.” (59:50–60:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:28] – Invitation to praise and open one’s heart
• [05:38] – Genesis 28: Jacob’s story and context
• [13:52] – Surrender vs. strategy: Lessons from ministry and life
• [22:42] – The “If… then…” moment and its spiritual meaning
• [38:40] – Testimonies of “stupid” faith steps
• [45:14] – “This is then”: Stop waiting, start trusting
• [51:44] – “You don’t need more proof, you need more practice”
• [55:28] – Call to give, foundation of tithing
• [62:29] – Salvation prayer and final invitation

Recap and Application

Main Takeaway:
Pastor Furtick’s message is a call to trust God now, not after the next answered prayer, not after every “if” is satisfied. He challenges the audience to recognize God’s faithfulness in the everyday (food, clothing, presence, protection), to see the value in perceived “stupid” steps of faith, and to move from bargaining and postponing to radical present-moment obedience.

Final Challenge:

• Consider—where are you living in “if… then…”?
• What have you called "stupid" that might actually be the place of your greatest blessing?
• What does trusting God look like for you, today?

“This is then.”