What If I Got It Wrong?

Summary

Elevation with Steven Furtick
Episode: "What If I Got It Wrong?" (August 9, 2026)
Host: Steven Furtick

Main Theme & Purpose

This sermon explores the universal doubt and fear behind the question: "What if I got it wrong?" Steven Furtick uses the biblical story of John the Baptist's doubts while imprisoned (Luke 7; Matthew 11) as a lens to examine our doubts about hearing God, making significant life decisions, and enduring unmet expectations. He unpacks the difference between doubt and unbelief, offering practical ways to navigate uncertainty, suffering, and unfulfilled plans with faith.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Doubt in the Scriptures

• Scripture: Luke 7:11–23 (Jesus raises a widow’s son; John the Baptist questions if Jesus is the Messiah).
• Steven emphasizes he’s not presenting a step-by-step formula for hearing from God, saying:
  • "God is way bigger than seven steps. One time in the Bible, God spoke through a donkey. So I figure if we start listing all of the ways God could speak, we'd be here too long." (02:00)
• He aims to paint scriptural pictures rather than systematic theology (01:47).

2. The ‘What If I Got It Wrong?’ Question (08:21)

• Steven shares the emotional drive to college with his son Elijah, both privately wondering, “what if I got it wrong?” — Elijah about his school, Steven about his parenting.
• He names other life decisions that can spark this anxiety: going to college, getting married, buying a house, starting a business.
  • "What if I started the business thinking I was stepping out on faith, but it was really foolishness? The ones that really get you on the inside aren't just, what if I got it wrong and it's going to cost me, but what if I got it wrong and I'm dragging others along in the wake of my decision." (09:35)
• The spiraling doubt is universal, even with the best intentions.

3. Biblical Doubt: John the Baptist’s Crisis (14:00–20:00)

• John the Baptist, a figure of faith and forerunner to Christ, now doubts from prison — "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Luke 7:19)
• Furtick notes the surprise: John, who baptized Jesus and heard God’s affirmation, is now doubting (17:19—17:45).
• Key Principle: "If you never have any questions about the God you encounter in the pages of Scripture, you are cherry picking." (13:17)
• Doubt is not proof of faithlessness, but often of honest struggle—John goes to Jesus with his doubts, not away from him.

4. Responding to Doubt: Bring It To Jesus (21:30)

• Many churches suppress doubt, but Steven emphasizes bringing doubts directly to God:
  • "The number one rule in this church is bring it to Jesus." (21:32)
  • "Instead of judging John that he had doubts, notice what he did. Luke, chapter 7, verse 19. He sent them to the Lord to ask. See, that's all you really have to do with your doubts... Just take them to the Lord." (21:42–22:23)
• Importance of who you share doubts with: Shrink your circle to those with faith, who will pray with you (22:35).

5. Understanding the Context: Doubt and the Dungeon (23:23–28:42)

• Context matters: John’s doubt emerged in prison, isolated, beneath Herod’s palace.
  • "You can't understand my doubt if you don't understand my dungeon." (24:15)
• Doubt looks different when we’re in pain or stuck—what was clear can become cloudy under pressure.
• Steven draws a parallel to life’s hardships: “It was clear in the Jordan, but it’s cloudy in the jail” (28:42).

6. Divine Warnings and Grace (26:07)

• God’s correction (the “beep” of spiritual warning) is grace, not condemnation.
  • "The beep is a blessing." (25:45)
  • "When God's spirit convicts you of something in your life, that's a blessing. Just like when he comforts you." (26:07)

7. Listen to Him, Not the Prison (30:30)

• First Point: "Listen to Him, not the prison." (30:30)
• Isolation breeds wrong conclusions; faith comes from tuning into God, not your circumstances.
  • "When you try to make sense of your situation in isolation, you always come to the wrong conclusion." (30:46)
  • Don’t let resistance trick you into doubting your calling.
• Resistance is often a sign of significance (32:57–34:20).
  • "The proof that God speaks, it isn't that it's easy. It's that he's with me when it gets hard." (32:14)

8. Expectations vs. God’s Purpose (36:01–44:24)

• John expected a triumphant Messiah (the “fork and fire”) who would free him; Jesus emphasized compassion and healing.
• Furtick unpacks that Jesus quotes Isaiah to affirm He is the Messiah but omits “freedom for the captives,” the part John most wanted to hear (41:01–42:50).
  • "What do you do when Jesus leaves out the part you wanted to hear the most?" (42:03–42:09)
• Sometimes faith means trusting God even when He does not fulfill your expectations.
  • "I need you to let go of your plan and lock into my purpose." (42:24)

9. God’s Faithfulness Amid Our Doubt (45:04–48:09)

• Jesus affirms John’s significance and faith even during John’s doubts.
  • "John stopped believing in Jesus. But Jesus never stopped believing in John. Isn't that good to know that if I'm faithless, he remains faithful?" (45:20–46:00)
• The real miracle is not always getting out of the prison (as in Acts 16 or Joseph’s story), but keeping the faith in the darkness (46:39–48:09).
  • "John never got out of prison, but his faith never left either." (47:39)

10. Doubt as a Doorway to Deeper Faith (48:11)

• Doubt can be a portal to deeper faith, not a dead end.
  • "Doubt is a door God can come through and take you deeper in your faith." (48:11)
• Final call: Keep trusting and believing, even amid unmet needs or disappointments.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Honest Doubt:
  • "Some people think you should never ask that question. You should always be confident. And those people are confidently wrong." (12:52)
• On Divine Affirmation:
  • "If you never have any questions about the God you encounter in the pages of Scripture, you are cherry picking." (13:17)
• On John’s Example:
  • "He sent them to the Lord to ask. See, that's all you really have to do with your doubts." (21:42)
• On Context and Compassion:
  • "You can't understand my doubt if you don't understand my dungeon." (24:15)
• On Faith’s Endurance:
  • "John stopped believing in Jesus. But Jesus never stopped believing in John." (46:00)
• On Unmet Expectations:
  • "What do you do when Jesus leaves out the part you wanted to hear the most?" (42:03)
• On Praise in Difficulty:
  • "I didn't get what I wanted when I wanted it, but I still believe it." (44:46)
• Congregational affirmation:
  • "I trust in God, my savior, the one who will never fail. He will never fail." (51:47–52:06)

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Timestamped Structure of Key Segments

• 01:47 – 03:43: Steven Furtick opens with Luke 7 and discusses God's unpredictable ways of speaking.
• 08:21 – 12:16: Personal reflection on fatherhood, stepping into the unknown, and the universal "What if I got it wrong?" question.
• 13:03 – 17:24: Examining church teachings on doubt and John the Baptist’s pivotal role and witness.
• 21:30 – 23:23: The right response to doubt: take it to Jesus; be wary of who you confide in.
• 24:15 – 30:18: The effect of personal dungeon (prison) on doubt; context shifting our perspective on faith.
• 30:30 – 36:01: Listen to God, not circumstances; resistance as a sign of significance.
• 36:01 – 44:24: John’s expectations versus God’s reality; coping with unmet expectations.
• 45:04 – 48:11: God’s faithfulness amid our doubts and the deeper faith found in darkness.
• 48:11 – 53:58: Worship, ministry, and declarations of trust—“I trust in God.”

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Flow & Tone

• Heartfelt, honest, and empowering — both confessional and instructional.
• Relatable stories (e.g., the drive to college) anchor big spiritual concepts (doubt, faith, unmet expectations) in real life.
• Congregation interaction and humor lighten introspective moments, maintaining warmth and hope.
• The closing song (“I Trust In God”) anchors the message in worship and communal affirmation of faith despite uncertainty.

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Summary Takeaways

• Doubt is not an enemy to faith but a door to deeper trust — if brought to God.
• Be careful not to let isolation or unmet expectations define your theology or crush your resolve.
• Jesus remains faithful even when you waver; your dungeon doesn’t nullify your calling.
• When God’s answers defy your expectations, focus on His presence and promise rather than specific outcomes.
• Anchor your trust, worship, and identity in God’s steadfast purpose, not your performance or understanding.

Final encouragement:
"The fact that He will never fail doesn't mean He always does what I want. It means He promises to be with me right in the middle of it." (50:55)

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End of Content Section

Transcript

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[Steven Furtick]

Hey, this is Steven Furtick. I'm the pastor of Elevation Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you, hope it builds your faith. Hope it gives you perspective to see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message,

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Stand up on your feet. It's preachent time.

[Backup Singer]

Come on.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Columbia, Riverwalk, UC Toronto, all of our campuses.

[Steven Furtick]

We're going to be sharing from Luke Chapter seven today in our fourth installment of the series. I know that voice. I know a name and I know that voice. It's been my aim through the series not to teach you so much systematically. Like three steps to hear from God or seven steps to hear from God. Because I figure God is way bigger than seven steps. One time in the Bible, God spoke through a donkey. So I figure if we start listing all of the ways God could speak, we'd be here too long. We would miss lunch. What I'm endeavoring to do instead is just give you some pictures from the scripture of the times when the Lord spoke. Then as we paint that picture, hopefully you will see specifically Something God is speaking to you. How many have felt God speaking to you in the last few weeks as we've been journeying through his word together? Now in Luke chapter seven, I'm going to read two stories. The first one I'm not going to preach on, but it will be so helpful for us to understand. The second one in Luke 7:11. That was easy for me to remember where to start today. The Bible says soon afterward Jesus went to a town called Nain, after his disciples, and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out. The only son of his mother, she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, don't cry. Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, young man, I say to you, get up. Verse 15. The dead man sat up. Even a body that isn't breathing knows that voice.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I said, even a body that has

[Steven Furtick]

seated ceased breathing knows that voice. Don't even have a pulse, but I know that voice being carried out of the gate. Then the Bible says he sat up and began to talk. Jesus was talking. And then he was talking. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

A great prophet has appeared among us.

[Steven Furtick]

They said, God has come to help his people. This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. Remember, that isn't the story I want to preach about. Here's what I want to talk about today. John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else? What kind of crazy question is that? You just heard that he raised somebody from the dead and you want to know are you really who you claim to be? What kind of crazy question to ask from John of all people, John the Baptist? I could understand Mark the Methodist, Ernie the Episcopalian, but this is John the Baptist talking about, are you the one, or should we expect someone else? Verse 20 is funny to me. When the men John sent, when they came to Jesus, they said, john the Baptist sent us to ask. You get it? Are you the one we totally believe? But John just wanted to know,

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Are

[Steven Furtick]

you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? At that very time, Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits and gave sight to many who were blind. So he Replied to the messengers. Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. We're going to go Back to verse 19 for our message today. Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? The title of my message today is a what if I got it wrong? Have you ever wondered that before? What if I got it wrong? I know you can't nod too much because you came to church with them, but what if. And you drove to church in it, and the salesman told you it was a good deal. But what if I got it wrong? We're going to talk about it today. Father, I know what you spoke to me, but I ask God, would you use me to speak it to them? I would be so honored if you would use me, Lord. Here's my voice box. Here's my mind. Everything I have is yours, Lord. Use me in their life because you know what they need. In Jesus name, amen. You may be seated. Since my oldest son, Elijah, has been home now from college for a year, we can reminisce on when we went to college with. Without having too much trauma. When he went to college. I had this very vivid memory of me sitting in the passenger seat as we drove to Lynchburg, Virginia, where I was going to drop him off at college. I don't know if anybody in this room today is going to college over the next few days or the next few weeks, or if you plan to go to college at a future time in your life. I don't know if anybody in this room is questioning that decision or not, but I could just feel how heavy he was. As Charlotte got farther and farther behind and Lynchburg got closer and closer, he was thinking, what if I got it wrong? I could tell. Not by anything he said. I could just tell by how quiet he got. I mean, first I was playing John Mayer in the car to try to cheer him up. Then I even switched over and I played some music I hated. I even resorted to playing his playlist in the car. But I still couldn't get him to smile. I could tell what he was thinking. I'd never been this far away from home before. I tried to make the best decision I could. I know it's a good school. I'm going there. And I know my girlfriend is going to be there. What if this Is terrible. What if I make no friends? Now, the interesting thing about that isn't, of course, that he was thinking that. Of course you think that when you're going off to college, leaving home for the first time. What he didn't know was I was in the seat thinking the same thing right next to him. Not what if you got it wrong? Not what if you shouldn't go to college here. To me, I'm just like he said, we'll drop out. This is not life or death. I hope we got it right, but we can fix that. What I was thinking more about is what if I got it wrong raising you? What if I didn't do enough?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

What?

[Steven Furtick]

I did the best I could as a dad, but this is my test run. You are my lab rat. What if I got it wrong? I firmly believe that when you have your first child, you should set up not only a college fund, but a therapy fund for all the mistakes you will make on them that you will correct before you raise the other kids. So your firstborn gets an extra savings account. I'm thinking in the passenger seat. Did I do it right? I did the best job I could as a dad. I tried to be at every baseball game. I tried not to push him too hard. But did I push him hard enough? What if I got it wrong? What if I coddled him too much? What if I didn't comfort him enough? What if I was too soft? What if I was too strict? It's this ping pong of possibilities and potentials of pain I might have caused him and mistakes I may have made that I may not even be aware of, even doing my best. What if I got it wrong because this is my first rodeo? I have no idea how to raise one up and I have no idea how to send one off. And I have never shipped this product into the world before. So what if I traumatized you and didn't know it? What if your friends one day in college are going fishing because I never taught you to fish? You don't have any friends. What if because you don't have any friends, you lock yourself in your dorm room and refuse to eat? What if they call me and say, you've got to come get your son? Your mind can spiral pretty quickly. I'm being silly, but not by much. Because once this question starts in your mind, you know exactly what I'm talking about. What if I got it wrong? What if I started the business thinking I was stepping out on faith, but it was really foolishness? The ones that really get you on the inside aren't just, what if I got it wrong and it's going to cost me, but what if I got it wrong and I'm dragging others along in the wake of my decision. I just thought it was kind of poetic with somebody maybe watching this, going to college or maybe sending somebody off to college or maybe getting married or just got married or just got pregnant or just welcomed a third child into

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

the world or just bought a new house or just downsized or just upsized or just right sized man, I think we could afford. But what if I got it wrong? There is no Bible verse that tells

[Steven Furtick]

me how much my monthly payment should be. There's Dave Ramsey and he's kind of

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

a prophet, but I didn't find the

[Steven Furtick]

exact verse to tell me the specificity of the decision.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

You have Elijah driving to college going,

[Steven Furtick]

what if I got it wrong? And me sitting next to him going, what if I got it wrong? He's going, what if I'm not ready?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I'm sitting next to him going, what

[Steven Furtick]

if you're not ready?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I think it was my job to get you ready. But how do I know if you're ready? Because I've never done this before. How many feel this in an area of your life right now? Come on. I'm sharing my personal baggage up here with y'.

[Congregation Member]

All.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I could use a little backup. What if I got it wrong? I thought I was supposed to quit that job in faith to step out for something new, but they haven't exactly been lining up with offers from other jobs. What if I got it wrong? What if I just quit because I

[Steven Furtick]

was frustrated, not because I had faith? What if I got it wrong? It's a humble question. Some people think you should never ask that question. You should always be confident. And those people are confidently wrong.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Even when they are wrong, they are never in doubt.

[Steven Furtick]

By the way, most of the sermons I've heard in church about doubt only have one point. Are you ready? Write this down. We're going to talk about doubt today. Ready? Write this down.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Don't.

[Steven Furtick]

Don't do it. The Bible says don't do it. God has been good to you.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

How could you doubt him now?

[Steven Furtick]

You can't make me doubt him. I know too much about him that rhymes, but it's not very real.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

If you never have any questions about

[Steven Furtick]

the God you encounter in the pages of Scripture, you are cherry picking. There's some stuff in here that will

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

spin you around so quick you'll be so dizzy.

[Steven Furtick]

Talking about, did I really just Read that. Did that really just say that? Can I really do that? Can I really believe that? In the scripture that I read you in Luke chapter seven, it's interesting because the person who is doubting is not one of the 12 disciples. Instead, we find a person who actually had a job that preceded and in some ways was priority above the 12 disciples. See, the 12 disciples that you read about. Matthew, Luke, all these guys that you read about. Peter and Andrew, all these guys you read about, they follow Jesus. This character came before Jesus. In fact, the Bible calls him a voice in the wilderness we're talking about. I know that voice. Before the voice of Jesus spoke, the voice of John spoke. Here's what he said. Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight the crooked path. In fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, he came declaring, repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. That was John. It was John, you may remember, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Oh, yeah. John's voice was powerful. He would stand out and preach with no microphone, no PA system, no screen support, nobody really to give him an amen. Because what he was preaching was so controversial, it challenged their lifestyle. As he preached, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The people would stream out into the wilderness, into the desert, to be baptized by John. Imagine his shock when Jesus, the one who his voice was meant to herald into the earth as a human. When Jesus showed up to be baptized by John. Let's look at that for a moment and Matthew chapter three. Before we go any further. When Jesus came to be baptized by John, he was already busy baptizing others. In Matthew 3:11, John said, I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He talking about, Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. How can he who had no sin be washed in the water for the remission of sin? That's what John is wondering.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you,

[Steven Furtick]

and do you come to me? Jesus replied, let it be so. Now it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus was not being baptized so that his sin could be washed away. He was being baptized so that yours could.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

In other words, he's perfectly fulfilling all of the righteous requirements because he knows we can't.

[Steven Furtick]

Then John consented.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.

[Steven Furtick]

At that moment, heaven was open. At that moment, heaven was opened. And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice, a voice from heaven, the voice of the Father from heaven with the Holy Spirit alighting. A voice from heaven said, said this

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Jesus, this is my son, whom I love.

[Steven Furtick]

With him I am well pleased. John heard it. John heard it in the Jordan. He heard the affirmation.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I mean, you talk about confirmation affirmation, knowing it's God.

[Steven Furtick]

John heard a voice from heaven saying,

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

this is the one.

[Steven Furtick]

So how In Luke, chapter 7, verse

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

18:19 is John calling his disciples? Remember, John sent his disciples away to follow Jesus. When he saw Jesus, he said, look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I'm not worthy to carry his sneakers. I can't carry his flip flops. Follow him.

[Steven Furtick]

And they did. So not only was John certain, but he was sacrificial. He gave up the ministry he had so Jesus could have the ministry he couldn't. Now the Bible says John calls two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, are you the one who is to come or should we expect someone else? I could understand this question if he had just received reports that Jesus was taking long naps and teaching boring lectures. But remember what we read right before this? The disciples just saw Jesus raise a boy from the dead. John. It was amazing. Jesus walked right up to his bier and touched it.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

When he touched the stretcher, he said, get up. And the kid just stood set up. And Jesus handed him back to him. Jesus just ruined a funeral, John. They were having a perfectly good funeral. They were about to bury that boy. Jesus said, you won't need this grave plot today. You can save this for later. But not today. Tell somebody. Not today. Not today. Not today. Not today. When Jesus speaks, resurrection happens. Dead things come alive. Dead things come alive. I know a name. I know a name. I know a name. I know a name. I could do a run. I know a name. That if he speaks to a grave, it'll be empty by the time he gets done saying it.

[Steven Furtick]

That's what I'm talking about. He just raised somebody from the grave. And John said, that's interesting. Go ask him. Are you the one? Do you understand my confusion at the text? How can he be so confused when Jesus identity is so clear? This is Where I'm glad we have four Gospel. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. John wasn't written by John the Baptist. It was written by the humble disciple, the one who said he was the one Jesus loved. Luke, of course, was written by a physician who also wrote the Book of Acts. Mark was written as an action gospel from Simon Peter's memory. But Matthew was written with some details the others left out. When you read Luke chapter seven, it says John's disciples told him about all these things and calling two of them. He had questions, he had confusions. And yes, one of the most powerful men in Scripture had doubts.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Doubt.

[Steven Furtick]

Doubt. I need to say this every couple months just to make sure you know. If you have doubts and come to this church, we won't kick you out. In some churches, they will make you feel like you don't belong if you're having trouble believing. I don't understand that. I definitely don't understand it because I know how much doubt there is out there that people are just pressing down and not talking about. The number one rule in church is don't have doubt. And number two rule is if you

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

do, don't say it out loud.

[Steven Furtick]

But the number one rule in this church is bring it to Jesus.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Bring it to Jesus. Can we give John a hand?

[Steven Furtick]

Can we give him a hand?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Instead of judging John that he had doubts, notice what he did. Luke, chapter 7, verse 19. He sent them to the Lord to ask. See, that's all you really have to do with your doubts. You don't try to press them down or get them out or shake them out or pray them away. Just take them to the Lord. Take it to the Lord. Take it to the Lord. It's so important in times of doubt, whether you are doubting your faith, whether you are doubting your future, whether you are doubting yourself, whether you are doubting your decision. It is very important in your times of doubt that you shrink your circle and only talk to people about your doubts. Who are the Lord or who will take them to the Lord with you. I need to say that again. If you start talking too much about doubt with people who don't have any faith themselves and won't agree with you, it won't be long before they will talk you out of believing altogether. But I need some people in my life that I can talk to. I can say I'm struggling with something right now. Will you believe with me that I can get my act together before I blow my life up? I'm having a lot of shame right now. I'm in some patterns right now. I don't even like them, but I can't break them. Would you pray with me about this? Because I don't want to leave my wife and kids. But I keep feeling like I don't want to come home. And maybe I can't keep doing this. I need some people in my life who will help me take my doubts to the Lord. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sin and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

[Steven Furtick]

He didn't just ask his disciples, do you think he's the one? He said, go ask Jesus directly and ask the Lord directly. Did I get it wrong? I thought you were the one when I baptized you and gave up my ministry to follow you. But did I get it wrong? Why would you wonder that when you're hearing things so wonderful? Brother Matthew steps in to give one little detail that may help us to understand. In Matthew 11, Matthew includes something in his account. Luke Left out Matthew 11:2 when John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? Luke tells you what he asked, are you the one Matthew tells Where he asked it from? Prison. Now I understand something. You can't understand my doubt if you don't understand my dungeon. This prison was built by Herod, and it was built on a mountain cliff. On one side of the property, you had the palace where all the parties would happen. Then beneath the palace, carved into the cliff, you had a prison. John was a desert preacher. He wasn't used to dungeons. He was used to open air. And before you judge him for being in prison, he was there for preaching. Sometimes you're wrong because you've sinned. Sometimes you end up in a tight space because you did something wrong. And hey, there's grace for you there when you get it wrong and God shows you that you're wrong. By the way, learn to look for God's warnings in your life as blessings, not curses. When I drive my car and I'm backing it up, sometimes it starts to beep at me. It kind of annoys me that it beeps, but I'm glad it beeps because the beep means I'm about to back up into something. Even if it's annoying. I don't want it to go away because it is telling me, hey, you might want to slow down. The faster it beeps, the more it means that you need to pay attention because there's Something touch somebody and say, the beep is a blessing. That's what I'm trying to say. The beep is a blessing.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

When God's spirit convicts you of something in your life, that's a blessing. Just like when he comforts you. When God starts beeping and says, don't

[Steven Furtick]

text him them back.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

When God starts talking to you and says, you better block them real quick. When God starts talking and says, you know, you can't watch seven hours of that and then pray for peace, they're all running around on the screen. Everybody is having sex with everybody. If they're not having sex with them, they're killing them. If they're not killing them, they're cussing them out. If they're not cussing them out, you can't watch seven hours of that and then pray for peace. God will say, beep, beep, beep. Back up off of that. You don't need all of that. That is not condemnation. That is the kindness of God. That leads me to repentance. When God shows you something that's wrong in your life, I don't know who this is for, but there are two

[Steven Furtick]

things you can repent and redeem. Repent and redeem.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

When God shows you something wrong, hey,

[Steven Furtick]

you were harsh how you talked to them. You can repent, redeem. You can even open up a door to have another conversation about it.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

When God shows you something he wants you to change. When God says, hey, you got that wrong, God will always show you where

[Steven Furtick]

to repent with the goal of redemption. That's the difference between God and Satan. God will take you through things and show you what's wrong through reflection. That's his tool to bring you to repentance. Repentance is his tool to bring you to redemption. So he can take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for good. The enemy doesn't use reflection. The enemy uses regret. That's his weapon. He wants to show you not only was it wrong, but you're wrong. In the case of John, he has done nothing wrong, only righteousness. Matthew says he was in prison. When he heard from prison about the deeds of the Messiah, he said, are you the one or should we expect somewhere else? You know what I think, Church, look at me. I think he had been isolated so long, I think the prison walls had started to talk to. I think it was clear to him who Jesus was in the Jordan, but it was cloudy in the jail. Have you ever had something that was clear to you in one moment and cloudy in the next?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

That's John.

[Steven Furtick]

He's doubting, but he's in a dungeon.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Sometimes you will judge someone for doubting,

[Steven Furtick]

but you don't understand their dungeon.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Yes, Lord. I will preach it to three people because it's hard for me to believe

[Steven Furtick]

what you're saying when I'm facing bankruptcy and you're saying, jireh, you are enough. Jireh needs to help me pay off

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

my light bill and my gas bill

[Steven Furtick]

and then it will be enough. It is hard for me to hear you talk about second chances.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

It's even hard for me to hear

[Steven Furtick]

you talk about college when we're trying to have a kid. And we've been trying seven years and we can't have.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

So the truth of the matter is you are hearing my declaration through the

[Steven Furtick]

filter of your dungeon.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

It can be hard for you to believe, not because you doubt what God can do. They were telling him Jesus is raising the dead. Jesus is opening the eyes of the blind. He is doing miracles and it's amazing. It's not that you doubt what God can do. You are wondering, why won't he do it for you? This is the tension when I say, I know that voice. It is that I heard their testimony. But I'm going through my test and I am hearing the party on the hill. But I am not in the party in the palace. I'm down here underneath it. I'm still trying to recover. I'm still trying to remend my relationship with my own daughter. I'm still, still trying to heal from things that happened seven years ago.

[Steven Furtick]

I'm in a dungeon dealing with my doubts.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

If that is you today, I cannot predict who this message might be for. But I want to give you three points. And the first one is, listen to

[Steven Furtick]

him, not the prison.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Listen to him, not the prison. John sent his disciples to ask, are you the one or should we look for someone else? He did the right thing.

[Steven Furtick]

When you try to make sense of your situation in isolation, you always come to the wrong conclusion. Have you been doing that lately? Wave a pinky at me. This is when you start letting your situation tell you that what you see is all there is. I'm in this prison. What you see is all there is. I'm alone again on a Friday night. All my friends are at the party. What you see is all there is. I served that company for eight years and they just let me go. Claude took my job. Now I'm out here with no education and what I see is all there is. This is where it's so Important that you know that voice. Because if you listen to your prison in these moments, your faith will die. John told his disciples, I've been listening to this prison long enough. Go ask Jesus. I hear the spirit of the Lord saying, go ask Jesus. He knows the plans he has for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future. Go ask Jesus. Don't ask your emotions. If God is still with you, your emotions will fluctuate. Your emotions fluctuate with your blood sugar. You better go ask Jesus.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Don't even ask your friends what they think about it. When it's really serious, you have to have friends. But you have to have friends who can go with you to Jesus. What do you say? Say about it, Lord, I'm going to open my word. Come on. I am not going to take what the devil is telling me in this prison cell. I am not going to believe every thought I think. I am not going to allow myself to believe that just because I'm facing resistance I did something wrong. Can I preach about that? We think resistance means we did something wrong. As if God speaks something. And it's always easy. The proof that God speaks, it isn't that it's easy. It's that he's with me when it gets hard. In fact, sometimes you face the biggest resistance when you are in the most significant moments of your life. I will prove it to you. Last week I preached about Jesus in the storm. Do you remember that? And how he told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side and he sent them into the wind. Don't you think they felt that wind and thought, maybe he didn't really say, go to the other side. Maybe he didn't really tell us to get in this boat. But actually the wind was an indication that there was something so significant on the other side of the storm they had to get to. Because resistance is an indication of significance. Let me break it down to the smallest level. If a neighbor who lives next door to me steals my WI fi, I'm

[Steven Furtick]

not going to resist it.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I'm not going to even say anything about it. That is not a battle worth fighting. It's just my WI fi. If they jump on my WI fi signal, I'll probably let it go. I won't resist it at all. If they steal my wifi, if they steal my wife, that's different than my WI fi. Because now we have to access a different part of my anointing. This part of my anointing isn't the praying part. This is the laying on of hands part, because you can have my wifi, but my wife is important to me, and that's worth fighting for. You can tell what's significant to me by what I resist. Has the enemy been resisting you? I suggest to you that it may be the favor of God is so strong on your life that the enemy knows he has to fight you, lest you get through this and do something significant for him. I fight for you, girl.

[Steven Furtick]

She left me this week. She just got back from Tanzania.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Why are y' all cheering? I was almost through every pack of ramen noodles I could find at the grocery store when she got back. I fight for my wife because it's

[Steven Furtick]

the most significant relationship I have.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Here is John in prison, and I imagine he feels like some of us and the prison walls are saying, why is everybody else getting to see the miracles?

[Congregation Member]

Why?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Why is everybody else getting married? Why is everybody else having babies? Why is everybody else praising God for their testimony? Why did their kids come back home to God and yours didn't? Why have they been three years sober and you can't make three months? Why has the fight been so strong? God hasn't forgotten you. He has favored you. The hand of God has always been on your life and is still on your life. I. I don't listen to prisons. I listen to him.

[Steven Furtick]

How are we doing? Are we doing all right? Listen to him. What does the Lord say? What does he speak about my situation? But it's not only John's situation we have to understand. It's his expectations. John was raised in a belief system that said when Messiah comes, he is going to judge our enemies and free our people. So here comes Jesus. You have to remember John and Jesus had a special relationship. The Bible actually says that when Elizabeth, John's mom, was pregnant, and Mary, Jesus mom, came to visit Elizabeth, her relative. When Mary said hello to Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth's womb, John started jumping. John knew Jesus voice before Jesus was born, John started jumping. Just when Mary said hello. Jesus didn't even say hello. Somebody who was carrying Jesus said hello. John started jumping. John took a praise break in the sixth month of his mother's pregnancy when he heard that Jesus was here.

[Congregation Member]

Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here. Jesus is here.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

If you know him, it will make something inside you jump when he shows up. It will make something inside you get excited when he shows up. John Was excited when he saw Jesus. Excited enough to say, look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

[Steven Furtick]

But then Jesus starts to do his ministry. Remember when John was announcing Jesus in the Jordan, Give me Matthew 3:12 Again, please. He said, his winnowing fork is in his hand and he will clear his

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Yo, John's Jesus was coming with a fork where you thresh the wheat and throw it up and then let the chaff fall off and burn in the fire. John was like, that's what Jesus is going to do to all of you who don't believe. You see that chaff in that fire? You see that fork? My God is strong and mighty and he's about to burn. You better turn or burn. Get right or get left. Get on the bus, Gus. Don't cuss, don't discuss much. He's going to burn you up in the fire in the fort. Then they come to John and they're like, john, it's amazing. He's opening blind eyes.

[Steven Furtick]

John is like, that's nice, but what about the fork?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Yeah, it's amazing, man. People who were never able to speak are speaking. He just looses their tongue and they're speaking. It's amazing.

[Steven Furtick]

That's great, but the fire, in fact, when they were coming back to John and Jesus said, tell them that the blind see and the lame walk and the mute speak and the deaf hear and the dead live and the good news is preached to the poor. He was quoting Isaiah 35 and Isaiah 61. Imagine you're John. Imagine you're John and you're expecting a fork and a fire and you're in prison. They come to you and they're like, okay, we have a message from Jesus. We asked what you told us to ask him. Are you the one? John is like, uh huh. What did he say? And look at their report. They say, okay, the deaf hear, the mute speak. The lame walk. Recovery of sight to the blind. The dead live. The good news is preached to the poor. Now John knows that Jesus is quoting Isaiah 60:1. The blind receive sight. Look at this. In Isaiah 60:1, the Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. Now I got to slow down and show you this. Go back, please, to Luke, chapter seven when they're telling him what Jesus said, or when Jesus is telling them the message to take back, Please, John, the Baptist sent us to ask you, the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? Then Jesus starts talking to the messengers. Jesus at that very time was curing many diseases. So he replied, we have to get on the same page here. Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed. This is Isaiah 35. The deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Go back to Isaiah 60:1. The Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. So John is like, go ask Jesus that. I said, are you the one? In other words, he's doubting. In other words, are you going to do what I expect you to do? They said, okay. He said, the blind, the lame, da, da, da, da, da, da. And he said, the good news is preached to the poor. And John goes, oh, he's quoting Isaiah 60:1. This is one of my favorite scriptures. The good news is preached to the poor. Look what comes next. He sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. John is sitting there. He's like, oh, he's about to get to the part about freedom for the captives, which means he's coming to get me. But what do you do when God

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

doesn't say the part you want him to say? Luke chapter seven says, jesus said, go tell John that the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed. This is Luke 7:22. The deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. And John is like, yeah, yeah, and bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free, Right? But Jesus doesn't say that part. What do you do when Jesus leaves out the part you wanted to hear the most? All he said is, blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me. In other words, john, I need you to let go of your plan and lock into my purpose. I need you to let go of what you thought. God's speaking to somebody today. I need you to let go of your plan and lock into God's purpose, because I'm not going to do what you wanted me to do. I know you were waiting on a fork. I know you were waiting on a fire. I know you were waiting on freedom. I know you were waiting on all of these things to happen. But John, I need you to know that you are someone who is so significant that I can trust you enough to leave you in that situation. I know that. Even if the situation doesn't change, even if I don't come when you want me to, even if I don't do what you want me to, even if I don't answer your prayer like I'm answering all of theirs, I know and believe that you have the faith to remain. Even when you don't see the release you're praying for. John is saying, where's the fork? Where's the fire? Jesus is saying, where's the faith? I need you to believe about me in this season of your life that I can still do what you knew I could do when you were jumping around before you were born. I still believe it. I still believe it. I still. I still believe. Somebody shout it at the top of your lungs. I still believe it. Where's the fork?

[Steven Furtick]

Are you mocking me? I believe this stuff.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I believe every word of this is true. I believe God can do something even

[Steven Furtick]

in a dungeon that all the world's powers could not do in a palace. I still believe it. I still believe it.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

I didn't get what I wanted when

[Steven Furtick]

I wanted it, but I still believe it. Then the Bible says he turned around to the crowd and began to say about John, what did you go into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind. Not John. If not, what did you go out to see?

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

A man dressed in fine clothes.

[Steven Furtick]

No.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.

[Steven Furtick]

But what did you go out to see? A prophet. Yes, I tell you. And more than a prophet.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Keep going.

[Steven Furtick]

This is the one about whom it is written. I will send my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way before you. This is the one. Do you remember what Jesus said to John? The deaf hear, the blind see. Do you remember what John asked Jesus? Are you the one? Look what Jesus said about John. This is the one. Here's what I'm trying to say. John stopped believing in Jesus. But Jesus never stopped believing in John. Isn't that good to know that if I'm faithless, he remains faithful? By the way, John didn't stop believing long. The Bible records that he was actually willing to give his life for Jesus in prison. Even when they cut his head off, he didn't turn back from what he knew was right. That's the kind of faith John had. So Jesus said. Let me tell you about John. Some people think if you have great faith, God will always give you everything you want. That's one version but another version says, God knows you have the kind of faith that can remain and stay and believe and trust, even if he doesn't meet your expectations. In human relationships, when an expectation isn't met, one of two things happen. One is it gets filled in that gap and it gets filled with grace. You know, hey, you didn't meet my expectations, but I understand. The other is it gets filled with a grudge. Do you have a grudge against God that you haven't mentioned in your heart right now from what he didn't do for you that you wanted him to do? He said, I trust John enough that I can give him my word and that will be enough. What a beautiful story. I used to think this was the worst prison story in the Bible. In Acts, chapter 16, they sing at midnight and the chains come loose and everybody gets free. I used to think Joseph was in prison and then he got out of prison because he'd interpreted a dream. I thought that was amazing. I thought that was when Peter was in prison and the angel came and broke his chains off and got him out. I thought it was amazing. But you know what? I think what's even more amazing to me to encourage my faith is that John never got out of prison, but his faith never left either. Even though he doubted you. Doubt, that's good.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Doubt is just a door.

[Steven Furtick]

Doubt is a door God can come through and take you deeper in your faith.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

That's all right.

[Steven Furtick]

But just John.

[Congregation Member]

Just John.

[Steven Furtick]

Don't fall away. Keep trusting that he is enough, even when he doesn't do the stuff you want him to do. I have learned in my life that it is the moments when God does not do what I wanted that my faith really has a chance to demonstrate. With your heads bowed and your eyes closed all over this auditorium, I have a message today for somebody who thinks I got it wrong. You know, God never looks at you and thinks, what if I chose the wrong person? Even when John was doubting, God still knew, that's my man.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

That's my prophet.

[Steven Furtick]

I can trust him enough. Father, my prayer for your people today is that they would trust you enough that when you do not do the

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

thing they most wanted you to do. I know, Lord. I can feel it. Even in this message. There's a part of me that wants to preach. God is going to get you out of this. And God is going to come and open the prison doors. I pray that you will do that through. But sometimes, God, when you allow us to stay in the situation we're in, I believe there is A greater revelation

[Steven Furtick]

you want to give.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

So show yourself strong, God. Show yourself mighty on behalf of your people. Show them a level of trust. Show them that you are enough for their unmet needs. Show them that you are still enough,

[Steven Furtick]

even when they feel like they are not. Father, may we have the faith like John to say, I must decrease, you must increase. Everybody stand to your feet. There's a little song we sing that I want you to sing a little differently after hearing this message today. It says, I trust in God, my savior, the one who will never fail. Hey, the fact that he will never fail doesn't mean he always does what I want. It means he promises to be with me right in the middle of it. Clap your hands if you believe that. Put a praise on this message.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Now.

[Steven Furtick]

Would you lift both of your hands like you're just saying to your father, I believe you're the one who will never fail. You cannot fail. You cannot lie. Say this, God, I know you got me.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

And I trust you.

[Steven Furtick]

And I trust your timing.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

And I know your voice.

[Steven Furtick]

And I trust your name. Can we sing a few lines of that? I trust in God, my savior. Yes, lord.

[Backup Singer]

I trust in God, my savior who will never fail. He will never fail.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Sing that again.

[Backup Singer]

I trust in God. He's my savior, the one who will never fail. Oh, you will never fail. I trust in God, oh, my Savior, the one who will never fail.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

So, God, I still believe you. I believe you're a shepherd who walks with me through the valley. Yes, God. Somebody say amen. I still believe you. I believe that even though you did not meet my expectations, you are worthy of my trust. I still believe you. I might be going through a medical diagnosis, but I still believe you. No matter what the doctors say. I know the doctor that made the doctor that made the doctor. I trust in God. Somebody say it. I trust in God. As I'm waiting. I choose to worship. As I'm questioning. I choose to trust. I trust in God. I trust in his word. I trust in his promise.

[Backup Singer]

I trust in your name. I trust in what you say, God, you're true man is a liar. I trust in God. I trust in God, my Savior. Savior, the one who will never fail.

[Congregation Member/Backup Singer]

Come on, let's testify. This my favorite part.

[Backup Singer]

I sought the Lord. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord. Look at you twisting God. Get your boldness back. Every hand lifted, every mouth open, every heart in prayer.

[Steven Furtick]

Thank you for joining us. Special thanks to those of you who give generously to this ministry. It's because of you that this ministry is possible. You can click the link in the description to give now or visit elevationchurch.orgpodcast for more information and if you enjoyed the podcast, you can subscribe. You can share it with your friends. You can click the share button, take a screenshot and share it on your social stories and tag us LevationChurch. Thanks again for listening. God bless you.

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