Monday Morning Commentary

The Most Encouraging Sermon You'll Never Hear...

We are not doing a series for the next few weeks at Elevation.  My husband will just be preaching messages that God lays on his heart.  And if this week is any indication of how the rest of the no-series is going to go, it is going to be great.

My husband preached from Matthew 11:1-11.  John the baptist was in prison and he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "are you the One?" Jesus replies to them with a statement about the many miracles He has done, then when John's disciples left, Jesus turned to the crowd and talk about John the baptist and how he was the greatest man ever born of a women.

My husband said that the reason Jesus gave John the answer he gave was because Jesus did not want to affirm John's faith in John, he wanted to affirm John's faith in Jesus.  And that perhaps, when we our faith is shaken (like John's the baptist's was), Jesus is talking behind our backs.

My husband went on to give us 3 words of encouragement.

1. You are doing better than you think your are.  In your job, as a mom, as a dad, as a daughter, as a student, as a Christian. 
2. Your life means more than you think it does.  God is using you in ways you may never know.
3. It is less about me than I think it is.  It is all about God and the work that He is doing.

I wish everyone would take the time to listen to this message.  It was so encouraging to me personally.

You can listen to the message every hour on the hour at the Elevation Experience and also in our blog archives later today.

Have a great Monday!

Comments

[Karis Baltzell]

I follow you on twitter and saw your tweet about the sermon and I have not been able to get it off of my mind. I can not wait to hear it, but I'll have to take a break from chasing the 2 year old first. =) Me and my husband are church planters (with ARC) and are launching in February, and this was just about the most timely word that God's placed in our (my) path since we've been on this journey! Thank you guys for your passion and inspiration!

[Keirstin]

This sermon was so fitting to where I am in my life right now. Point 1 was the most encouraging. But, I needed the reality check given in point 3. My favorite quote from the sermon was, "It isn't about your participation, it's about the mission."

Thankful for Pastor Steven. Thankful for you always standing beside him and encouraging him.

[Elizabeth]

Sunday's "The most encouraging message you've never heard" was without a doubt very encouraging to my husband and I, but especially my husband. It was truly the Lord speaking through Pastor Steven. When church was over, I thought something was wrong and asked my husband if he was okay. My husband is this total "Rock & Roll guy. He tries to be tough, but he told me he had to hold back his emotions during the message to keep from crying. He said it felt like God was speaking to him specifically for the first time. His prayers to God is only one.. to really experience God's love and to know He's real and cares.. that's all he wants. And something happened.. he felt God's love and encouragement that morning. He felt God speaking to his heart.

Sunday was also our 7 yr wedding anniversary. We had plans, but instead we spent the whole day talking about the message, with some very deep conversations about the Lord.. about our life, our hearts. The entire day was filled with an overwhelming peace.. We felt Gods presence with us all day. I know the Lord opened something in my husbands heart..there is no doubt.. Only eternity knows. It was truly the best anniversary we've ever had.. more meaningful than all the other's we've celebrated.. and more than I hoped for! I LOVE You Abba.. You are so good!

[Holly Massey]

I received this text message from my husband this morning. "...You matter more than you think..." The words weren't perfect, but the meaning was not lost. I love how growing closer to God also leads to growing closer to my husband.

[Brianna Shipes]

I heard that sermon on saturday and when I was hearingbPastor Steven Furtick preach I was being touched by God and I am only 12 going on 13 in january 19. I thought it was funny when he brought out his phone and asked for the nearest playground and it wound up with 18 resturants near n
him and then Pastor Steven Furtick was like telling the phone that i'm not hungery I want to find a playground so my kids can play and the phone said looking for more resturants and finally Pastor Steven Furtick said your frustrating me your not doing your job!!! and the phone said I think thats an opinion. THAT WAS HULLARIOUS AND THAT HE'S A VERY EXCELLENT PREACHER AND PASTOR THAT I EVER SAW PREACH AND HOPEFULLY MEET AT THE TRUNK OR TREAT ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 30,2011!!!I hope I can also meet you and your kids too. But anyway at the end I cried because God touched me and this is one of the most powerful sermons I ever heard. Also tell Steven that all of his sermons get to me and make me cry and praise the lord!!!Well I hope to see you all at the trunk or treat on sunday night and I hope he preaches at Matthews on sunday night so I can finally meet you all. GO THE FURTICK FAMILY AND THE FURTICK FAMILY ROCKS!!!!

[Tami]

A powerful message from Pastor Furtick! One that truly encouraged me and my husband on Sunday morning. Love, love point #1!!!

[nylse]

thanks for the encouragement...i love the pastor's messages.

[Kat]

This was the most incredible sermon I've never heard :) I always say every week "This one was in my top 5" but really, this one was. God spoke to me clearly through this weeks message. Pastor is incredibly gifted & brought it home as usual!

[Beverly Brown]

I wept with relief when I watched this message online last p.m. because I'm struggling on several fronts right now. Also, Pastor quoted word for word encouragement I received decades ago from one of my high school math teachers. Desperate, I went to her for help because I just wasn't "getting" geometry and felt I never would. "You are doing better than you think you are," she said. Now I know what she meant.