Podcast Summary: “According to Your Faith”

Dufresne Ministries Podcast | Guest Teacher: Dennis Hattabaugh | World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA | February 6, 2020

Overview

This episode features guest minister Dennis Hattabaugh teaching on the critical importance of personal faith in receiving God's promises. Drawing on numerous scriptural accounts, Dennis underscores the principle that, according to Jesus’ own words, what believers receive from God is not determined exclusively by God’s will or power, but “according to your faith.” The message challenges listeners to take responsibility for developing a strong, active faith, emphasizing that neglecting faith is tantamount to neglecting God’s promises. The teaching balances scriptural exposition, practical guidance, and personal testimony, all delivered in an encouraging, straight-talking tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Faith—The Deciding Factor

• Core Text: Matthew 9:27–30 – Jesus heals two blind men, saying, “According to your faith, be it unto you.”
  • Dennis: “Notice he didn’t say, ‘according to my power’ or ‘according to God’s will.’ He said, ‘according to your faith, be it unto you.’” (08:00)
• The message is that God’s will and power are constants, but what is received depends on the individual’s faith.

2. Common Misconceptions about God’s Will

• Many Christians believe that if something’s meant to be, “it’ll just happen,” but Dennis rebuts this:
  • “That kind of teaching is so wrong because it lays responsibility at God’s feet instead of ours.” (12:10)
  • Citing entire denominations that default to “if it’s God’s will…”
• True scriptural practice is to “rightly divide the word” and see that Jesus consistently points to personal faith rather than fate.

3. Your Part and God’s Part

• God has done His part; believers must develop their faith to receive what Jesus has already provided.
• Romans 12:3 / Ephesians 2:8-10: Faith is a gift, but it must be developed.
  • “If you and I neglect our faith... then our faith is not growing or our faith stays small.” (17:30)
• Faith can be measured—weak, strong, growing, exceeding faith.

4. The Work of Faith

• “Faith is a work… not to earn anything from God, but to develop it.” (21:30)
• Faith development is likened to building physical muscle—it takes daily effort, not just church attendance.

5. Scriptural Case Studies Emphasizing Personal Faith

• Mark 9:22-24: Jesus turns “if you can do anything” into “if you can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
  • “Jesus’ response is, ‘You believe something.’” (30:10)
• Mark 5: The woman with the issue of blood receives healing by touching Jesus’ garment, acting in faith.
  • “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole. Not just healed, but whole.” (39:00)
• Jairus’ Daughter: Despite bad news, Jesus’ instruction is, “Only believe; keep on believing.” (41:30)
  • “It was his faith that got Jesus there, and it’s going to be his faith that brings this manifestation.”

6. Personal Testimonies: Faith in Crisis

• Dennis shares about his father’s and father-in-law’s deaths (52:00). Despite being “Word of Faith people,” lack of faith development led to tragedy. This illustrates:

  • The danger of neglecting daily faith building.
  • The importance of being ready spiritually before a crisis hits.

• When Dennis’ granddaughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor, his conviction, born of steady faith development, was firm: “Honey, it’ll be the way we say, the way we believe.” (59:40)

7. Preparedness vs. Emergency Faith

• Stressing that faith must be built before crisis, not only activated during trouble:
  • “In that moment, I didn’t have time to go try to build my faith. What came out of my heart arrested my mind.” (1:02:15)
• Emergencies reveal our true level of faith development.

8. Persistence and Aggressiveness of Faith

• Matthew 15:21-28: Canaanite woman's persistent faith for her daughter’s deliverance is commended by Jesus: "O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee as thou wilt.” (1:06:45)
• Faith “never quits,” “never makes provision for failure,” and “never loses.”

9. Obedience is Part of Faith

• Luke 17:11-19: Ten lepers are cleansed “as they went”—obedience and faith in action.
  • Only the one who returned was made completely whole: “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” (1:13:40)

10. The Need for Specific, Intentional Faith

• Dennis warns against generic, unfocused faith: “‘What scriptures are you standing on?’ Well, nothing in particular. That’s what you’re going to get—nothing in particular.” (54:30)

11. Faith and Personal Responsibility

• “You and I will always receive on our individual faith… That’s our responsibility, not God’s.” (1:17:30)
• Prayer lines have a place, but true spiritual maturity is learning to receive by personal faith.

12. Faith and Relationship with God

• “Faith is easy through relationship; faith is hard through religion.” (1:20:50)
• Ongoing relationship with God is foundational to robust, working faith.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Scriptural Truth:
  “Scripture is what you use to rightly divide the Word. Nowhere in Scripture can we find that kind of prayer or truth that says, ‘if it’s God’s will, so be it.’”
  —Dennis Hattabaugh (13:50)

• On Personal Responsibility:
  “Whether you and I are receiving tonight is not up to God. It is up to our individual faith and what we’re doing with our faith.”
  —Dennis Hattabaugh (18:10)

• On Spiritual Preparedness:
  “Faith cannot be built overnight, brothers and sisters… When you get a report or come into a situation and you haven’t developed [faith], you can be overwhelmed.”
  —Dennis Hattabaugh (52:25)

• On Building Faith Daily:
  “If you do that and you work on your faith every day—which means working on your relationship with God—then at the end of this year, your faith will be so much further along than now.”
  —Dennis Hattabaugh (1:26:00)

• On Faith in Action:
  “You need to learn to receive. Amen. God is good. Hallelujah.”
  —Dennis Hattabaugh (1:28:30)

Key Timestamps

• [08:00] – Jesus’ words: “According to your faith, be it unto you.”
• [12:10] – Misconceptions about God’s will and responsibility for outcomes.
• [17:30] – The graded nature of faith; importance of development.
• [21:30] – Faith as active work.
• [30:10] – Mark 9, Jesus makes healing conditional on belief.
• [39:00] – Faith of the woman with the issue of blood.
• [41:30] – Jairus’ faith in the face of bad news.
• [52:00] – Personal story: Dennis’ father’s death and faith preparation.
• [54:30] – The danger of having “nothing in particular” to stand on in faith.
• [59:40] – Testimony: Dennis’ granddaughter and declaration of faith.
• [1:02:15] – The necessity of pre-crisis faith building.
• [1:06:45] – The Canaanite woman’s persistent faith.
• [1:13:40] – Luke 17, lepers healed “as they went.”
• [1:17:30] – The personal nature of faith.
• [1:20:50] – Faith, relationship, and religion: distinction.
• [1:26:00] – A call to daily faith development.

Conclusion & Calls to Action

• Listeners are urged to:

  • Take responsibility for their faith journey.
  • Build faith daily through the Word, prayer, confession, and relationship with God.
  • Understand that all God’s promises are available, but only received “according to your faith.”
  • Remember, “Nothing is more important to your life than your faith.” (1:27:00)

• Closing Affirmation (1:28:30):
  “Heavenly Father, I thank you for the Word. The word of God is equipping my life. I declare I will never be the same, Lord Jesus. I’m going to work on my faith every day…”

Summary prepared for listeners wanting a full, practical, scripture-filled recap without audio.