Lord, Are You Listening? | Steven Furtick | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Lord, Are You Listening?

Elevation Church • Apr 3, 2026 • 19 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Steven Furtick explores what it means to move from knowing about God to experiencing a personal 'my God' moment. By examining Jesus' cry on the cross and Elijah's desperate prayer for the widow's son, we are reminded that God is listening even in our darkest and most uncertain moments. When life feels impossible or silent, we can trust that Jesus has already broken down every barrier to bring us life and hope.

Themes

Personal Faith ("My God" Moment)God's Sovereignty in DarknessThe Finished Work of the CrossAnswering the "Why" in SufferingResurrection and Restoration

Key Points

1.
A true 'my God' moment occurs when you move from relying on someone else's testimony to experiencing God personally.
2.
On the cross, Jesus demonstrated complete sovereignty over creation, ordering the sun to stop shining so that darkness knew it worked for Him.
3.
Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 on the cross ('My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?') to sit with us in our own questions and pain.
4.
Even when asking 'why,' Jesus still declared 'my God'—teaching us that doubt and questioning do not sever our relationship with God.
5.
The temple veil was torn from top to bottom, signifying a divine act from God rather than human effort.
6.
In 1 Kings 17, Elijah called on God as 'my God' for the first time when faced with the personal crisis of a deceased child.
7.
Elijah stretching himself over the child three times points prophetically to Jesus stretching His arms on the cross and rising after three days.
8.
We must reverse the enemy's logic: sin bows to Jesus, and death is conquered by Him, not the other way around.

Sermon Moments

“When Jesus was dying, the sun stopped shining because He was the light, showing that darkness works for Him.”

“Even when Jesus was asking why on the cross, He still said 'My God, why?'—showing that He remains our God in uncertainty.”

“The temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, not bottom to top, because no human person could tear open access to God.”

“Elijah stretched himself three times over a dead child, foreshadowing Jesus stretching His arms on the cross and rising after three days.”

“Jesus does not bow to sin—sin bows to Jesus; death does not conquer Jesus—Jesus conquers death.”

This Week

Turn your 'why' into a prayer of relationship by declaring 'My God' even when you don't understand your current situation.

Stop carrying the weight of past sin or guilt, trusting that Jesus bore it completely on the cross.

Reach out to someone sitting in a dark season and offer comfort by simply being present rather than giving clichéd answers.

Surrender control of an impossible situation in your life, moving from walking by sight to walking by faith.

Reframe dark or difficult seasons as moments where God's top-to-bottom power can break through.

If you have relied on secondhand faith, make a personal commitment to surrender your life directly to Jesus Christ.

Remind yourself daily that death, sin, and fear bow to Jesus and have no final authority over your life.

Remember This

Even in your darkest season and deepest questions, God hears your cry and has personally cleared the way to give you life.

A Challenge for You

Don't carry another day what God gave His Son to remove from your life; confess Jesus as Lord and step into your 'my God' moment today.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.