Not Dead Yet

In this sermon titled “Not Dead Yet,” Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church discusses how God is still working in people’s lives, even during periods of waiting or struggle. He begins by discussing the church’s year-end offering and the importance of tithing and giving beyond that (0:00-3:07).

Pastor Furtick then delves into a passage from Leviticus 11:29-37, 44-45, which lists unclean animals and dietary restrictions (3:08-7:11). He explains that these rules were not just about “eating clean” but about teaching the Israelites to “be clean” and “think clean” (9:47-10:48), purging them from their past in Egypt so they could enter the promised land.

He outlines four stages of God’s guidance for His people:

1. Brought from a place: Referring to the Israelites being brought out of slavery in Egypt, and metaphorically, believers being rescued from sin and shame (12:49-16:02).
2. Bought with a price: Emphasizing that this rescue was not free, but bought by the sacrifice of the “Lamb who was slain,” Jesus Christ (16:03-17:56).
3. Caught in a pattern: Acknowledging that even after being rescued and redeemed, people still struggle with past patterns, habits, and conflicts (17:57-21:20). This “wilderness” phase is where God works in weakness and waiting.
4. Taught through a process: Highlighting that God doesn’t condemn for mistakes but patiently teaches His people through a process, like the laws in Leviticus, to liberate them from old ways of thinking and behaving (21:21-24:07).

Pastor Furtick encourages listeners to “think like God” (24:07-27:43) and discern what is best for them, even if it feels familiar or comfortable. He stresses that confidence in God’s promises must be coupled with a commitment to His process.

He then contrasts God doing “big things” (29:29-32:58), like parting the Red Sea, with His attention to “little things” (32:59-35:20), like the details in Leviticus. The sermon emphasizes that God, the God of the dramatic, is also the God of the details (35:21-36:00).

A significant part of the sermon focuses on dealing with the “weasel” (38:37-41:52), representing common, rapidly multiplying issues like worry, that can steal potential and invade different areas of life. He advises not to “eat” the weasel (don’t consume or dwell on negative thoughts) but to put them off-limits.

Finally, Pastor Furtick reinforces the message that God still has big things for everyone (41:53-44:34). He uses the example of Abraham’s faith despite his old age, emphasizing “I’m not dead yet.” The sermon concludes with the powerful message from Leviticus 11:37: if a dead carcass falls on seeds that are to be planted, the seeds remain clean (44:35-50:05). This metaphor conveys that even when dreams, ideas, or hopes die, the potential (the “seed”) God put within is still clean and capable of growing, because “God’s not done.”

What does “Not Dead Yet” signify? 

In the sermon “Not Dead Yet,” the phrase signifies that God is not finished with you and still has big plans for your life, even if you are going through a difficult or waiting period (7:12, 41:53).

Pastor Steven Furtick uses it to convey several ideas:

• Continued Divine Work: Even when you feel stuck or like things are dying (dreams, hopes, plans), God is still actively working in your life (44:35-50:05).
• Resilience and Potential: The “seed” of God’s potential within you is still clean and alive, even if a “dead thing” has fallen on it, meaning what God has put in you is greater than any limitation or setback (46:37-50:05).
• Overcoming Obstacles: It’s a declaration against giving up, facing the “weasels” (worries, negative thoughts, patterns) that try to steal your potential because you are still here and God’s purpose for you is not over (38:37-41:52).
• Hope for the Future: It’s an affirmation that greater things are still to come, and God is not done with His work in you or through you (44:02-44:16).

The Connection of “Big” and “Little” things? 

The sermon connects “big things” (like the Red Sea parting) with “little things” (like dietary laws) to illustrate God’s involvement in both. God performs grand miracles to deliver His people, but also provides detailed instructions for daily life and thought processes (“little things”) to ensure their ongoing purity and spiritual growth. The “little things” are crucial for living a holy life in the “wilderness” between deliverance and the promised land, preparing them for an even bigger purpose.

How does the “weasel” metaphor apply? 

In the sermon, the “weasel” is used as a metaphor to represent small, insidious, and rapidly multiplying negative influences in a person’s life that can steal potential and invade different areas (38:37-41:52).

Here’s how the metaphor applies:

• Common and Reproducing: Just like weasels are commonly found animals that multiply rapidly if not dealt with, certain negative thoughts, worries, or habits also multiply quickly in one’s mind and life (36:52-37:00).
• Stealing Potential: The weasel in the image is shown trying to get at eggs, symbolizing how these negative influences try to steal or eat away at the potential and promises God has spoken into your life (39:37-40:00).
• Examples of “Weasels”: Pastor Furtick gives examples such as:
  • Worry: Constant worrying about things like a recession can overshadow thoughts of “resurrection” or hope (40:01-40:51).
  • Sneaky Infiltration: The enemy (devil) will “weasel his way” into personal areas like marriages, or into business by encouraging cutting corners (41:23-41:40).
• What to Do with the “Weasel”: Just as God commanded not to eat the literal weasel (making it off-limits), the message is to put these negative thoughts and influences off-limits in your mind and life. You are taught to discern and distinguish them so they don’t hinder the bigger things God wants to do (40:53-41:12).

Be Encouraged

No matter what you’re facing today, remember that your story is not over. You are stronger than you know, and within you lies incredible potential. Keep believing, keep pushing forward, and know that every step, big or small, is progress. Your efforts matter, your dreams are valid, and you are capable of amazing things. Embrace the journey, learn from every experience, and never stop growing. You’ve got this!