Dufresne Ministries Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Title: 6 Hindrances To Following The Spirit
Speaker: Morgan Dufresne
Location: World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA
Date: December 7, 2020

In this episode, Morgan Dufresne explores foundational truths about the Christian walk: specifically, how to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and the six major hindrances that can obstruct believers from being led into the fullness of God’s plan. The message is practical, personal, and full of lively examples aimed at young people, businesspeople, and anyone seeking to deepen their walk with God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Foundations: Sonship, Spirit, Word, and Fellowship

• “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
  • The teaching begins with the importance of understanding sonship – that God wants a family, not just a nation ([00:30]).
  • Feeling Alone: Any sense of loneliness is not from God (“That feeling is tied to a spirit that’s trying to separate you from the love of God. Don’t yield to that.” – Morgan, [02:30]).
• The Role of the Spirit:
  • The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit concerning our identity as children of God (Romans 8:16).
  • Experiencing the Spirit isn’t merely emotional (“It’s about a leading. That’s how I know I am best in my place as a child of God, when I’m being led by the Spirit, not when I feel some goosebumps in a service.” – [13:50]).
• Indwelling vs. Infilling:
  • The indwelling Spirit comes at salvation; the infilling (baptism) of the Spirit brings spiritual clarity and boldness ([06:25]).
  • Analogy: Like switching a faint phone call on a mobile to a car’s Bluetooth: infilling brings power and clarity ([07:00]).

The Process of Being Led

• Desiring Leadings, Not Just Power:
  • “People want all the power… and yet they’re not taking time to get the leadings. He leads us into victory.” ([09:30])
• Instant vs. Developed Victories:
  • Many want instant breakthroughs, but the greatest victories often come from following the Spirit’s lead over time: “We want instant. God doesn’t work... it develops who we are as a child of God.” ([11:50])
• Sonship and Hearing:
  • Confidence in our identity as God’s children grows with sensitivity and obedience to the Spirit's leading.
• Allowing vs. Learning to Be Led:
  • “It’s not always how to be led, but allow to be led.” – Even a technically correct understanding won’t help unless your will is surrendered ([24:45]).
• Consecrating the Mind, Not Just Heart:
  • Renewal requires submitting one's thoughts and will, not just emotions ([26:30]).
• Self-Evaluation Prayer:
  • Colossians 1:9-11 is recommended as a prayer for desiring to please God fully before bearing fruit ([29:10]).

The Six Hindrances to Following the Spirit

1. The Flesh

• Flesh pulls away from the Spirit, comparable to shifting into reverse in a car ([34:10]).
• Quote: “When you yield to the flesh, you are always throwing that stick in reverse... you’re headed in the wrong direction.” ([35:05])

2. The Mind

• The unrenewed mind seeks relief, not necessarily victory. It must be renewed by the Word to move forward and not talk you out of God’s leading ([37:40]).
• Example: Joshua had to renew his mind with God’s Word before entering the promised land ([39:50]).

3. A Lack of Honor

• Not honoring spiritual authority (especially one’s pastor) cuts off one main avenue for the Holy Spirit’s voice ([44:00]).
• Quote: “You’re not anointed to hear everything for yourself… there are truths that will help you receive the specifics much easier.”
• The speaker’s practice: trust the Holy Spirit to speak correction through her pastor when she’s unsure ([46:10]).

4. Wrong Influences

• Human voices can drown out the Spirit faster than anything ([50:15]).
• Quote: “I believe I know the voice of my Father, and another I will not follow.”
• The importance of surrounding yourself with right, divine influences.

5. Habits

• Good or bad habits can interfere with obedience.
• Example: Peter’s fisherman habit of checking the weather became a hindrance when Jesus called him out to walk on water ([53:40]).
• Quote: “Your spiritual habits must always come first… Habits can interrupt leadings.” ([55:20])

6. Desires

• What you spend time with, you’ll desire. This applies to both Godly and fleshly things ([57:00]).
• Sushi Analogy: The more Morgan spent time eating sushi with her husband, the more she desired it—a metaphor for how spending time with certain things (or people) shapes your desires.
• Relationships: Many miss God’s leading in relationships by predetermining what they do or don’t like, rather than allowing God to guide them ([59:50]).
• Quote: “The Holy Ghost can’t lead you if you don’t even give Him a chance. You’ve made a decision based off of a certain setting, you’ve not given Him an opportunity.” ([1:01:20])

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Allowing Yourself to be Led:
  • “You can know the 54 steps of developing the spirit... but that doesn't mean your heart is tender.” ([24:55])
• On Habits:
  • “There are people that are working themselves right out of a leading, and people too lazy to get one… He doesn't take the first step. You do.” ([54:25])
• On Relationships and Leadings:
  • “Leadings come to sons. And you want to grow up, then put yourself in a position where God can talk to you as a grown up. Take somebody out—ask them on a date... The Holy Ghost can’t lead you if you don’t even give Him a chance.” ([1:03:15])
• On Emotions vs. Leadings:
  • “It’s not about a sensation and a feeling. It’s about a leading.” ([13:50])
• On Overthinking Spiritual Decisions:
  • “Your thoughts muddy the waters of the leading of the Spirit... leave it alone, get back in the Word, let those thoughts settle so that the water of the Holy Ghost gets clear again.” ([1:08:20])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:30 – Introduction to Romans 8:14 and the heart of sonship
• 06:25 – Indwelling vs. infilling of the Spirit and importance of spiritual clarity
• 13:50 – “Goosebumps don’t prove sonship—being led does”
• 24:45 – “It’s not always how to be led, but allow to be led.”
• 34:10 – Hindrances 1 & 2: The Flesh & Mind
• 44:00 – Hindrance 3: Lack of Honor for God-given leaders
• 50:15 – Hindrance 4: Wrong voices and influences
• 53:40 – Hindrance 5: Habits—natural habits interfering with spiritual promptings
• 57:00 – Hindrance 6: Desires—how your company and choices shape your heart
• 1:08:20 – On mental clutter muddying the Spirit’s leading and how to regain clarity

Takeaways and Final Encouragement

• God’s full plan and victory for us depends on being unhindered in following the Holy Spirit.
• The six hindrances are practical and common, and overcoming them requires honest self-examination and adjustment.
• Obeying the Spirit and renewing your mind is a lifelong, daily practice that determines the fruitfulness of your walk as a son or daughter of God.

Final Encouragement:
“You are never alone. Don’t ever say you don’t know what to do. We always know what to do. He always causes us to triumph. Amen.” ([1:11:00])

This summary captures the tone, content, and practical teaching style of Morgan Dufresne, providing a clear and detailed guide to the episode’s key lessons on being led by the Spirit and overcoming hindrances.