This week was the part 2 of Steven Furtick’s Sun Stand Still message (The one where he compares LifeChurch.tv to the 1990’s band Nirvana and Kurt Cobain!). In it, he address the “What if the sun DOESN'T stand still” side of things. The haters that get in your way, your own doubts that become obstacles. The nay-sayers, the gossips, the Debbie Downers! My favorite quote from the beginning of the talk was “If you want to do something that has never been done before, maybe it’s because God has left it for YOU to do.” Just because SOMEONE is telling you no, doesn’t mean GOD is telling you no. Pastor Furtick tweeted “Not a single #1 in the Final Four. Don't let anyone else's ranking define who you are or what you can do.” This was from Sunday night – referring to the fact that not a single #1 seeded NCAA basketball team made it to the Final Four of the end of season tournament this year! That rankings and statistics and numbers don’t always hold true to what is happening in our lives. PREACH!
One of the points he made about obstacles that really stuck with me was when he talked about the “Why Bother” attitude. He used the passage from Mark 5:21 – 43 where Jairus was taking Jesus to his sick daughter so Jesus could heal her, and Jesus was detained by another woman seeking healing, and the daughter died while they were waiting for Jesus. One of Jairus’ close advisers told them Jairus’ daughter had died. Saying to him “Why Bother?” Why bother the teacher anymore? It’s useless – she’s dead already… I find myself sucked in to that attitude A LOT sometimes. I get discouraged with how poorly my kids listen to me, so I give up and say “Why Bother?” I diet and exercise and the pounds stay right where they are so I give up and say “Why Bother.” But Jesus said, “Don't be afraid; just believe."
Towards the end of the talk, Pastor Furtick references a Journey Song (recently made popular again by the TV series Glee - another of my favorite topics) encouraging us “Don’t Stop Believing.” But not to hold on to the feeling, but to hold on to our FAITH! Faith that God will do greater things. Faith that just because we can’t see the end result, yet, to keep up the work. Faith in God’s promises for our lives. Acts 20:24 says “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.” (This is my husband’s life verse, BTW) We have to “tune out the doubt” (as Pastor Furtick says) and hold on to our faith to see us through. Don’t be afraid. Just believe. Don’t stop believing!
I think one of the reasons I look up to Pastor Steven Furtick so much, is that he was the guest speaker the first time I ever stepped foot on a LifeChurch.tv campus in the fall of 2008. It was week 3 of the Kaleo series, and Pastor Craig Groeschel introduced him as a pastor from North Carolina that has a 2 year old church with 4,000 members. (Little Stevie Furtick with is BLOND hair! And already referencing Sun Stand Still! I remember saying to my husband "If this guy is a friend of the pastor at this church, I want to go HERE!") When he was introduced last week, Pastor Furtick’s church is now 5 years old and I can’t even remember the HUGE number of people it influences! This guy is the real deal! Don’t stop believing in the BIG THINGS God can do when you just let Him!
And as an aside, it was weigh in Monday at my house today. I am down 1 pound from the last time I weighed 2 weeks ago! Small victory, but I won’t stop believing!
(And because it’s funny, every time I see the title of my post a little Kenny Chesney song goes through my head!)
AMEN!!
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