Podcast Summary: Biblical Courage, Part Two

Speaker: Morgan Dufresne
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Date: September 15, 2020
Location: World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA

Episode Overview

This episode, "Biblical Courage, Part Two," delivered by Morgan Dufresne, delves into the true meaning of biblical courage. Building on her previous message, Morgan contrasts worldy motivation with spiritual encouragement and challenges listeners to cultivate the kind of courage demonstrated in Scripture. Using examples from the lives of Jesus, Abraham, David, and Joshua, she encourages believers to focus less on hype or human effort, and more on staying full of God's Word and Spirit, developing the inner strength necessary to meet life's battles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Difference Between Hype and True Biblical Courage

• Morgan opens by emphasizing that the inspiration of God's Word far outweighs external motivational hype:
  • "People pay a lot of money to go get hyped up... you've got the word. That's free." (02:00)
• She cautions against transplanting motivational tactics from the business world into church and spiritual life (03:30).
• Notable Quote:
  "I don't need two hours of man's mental inspiration. Because one scripture, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost... that's double inspiration." (01:50)

2. Encouraging Yourself in the Lord

• Biblical courage, unlike emotional hype, can be cultivated alone—just you and the Holy Spirit (08:00).
• Especially for singles, Morgan stresses that inner wholeness comes from knowing and encouraging oneself in Christ—not relying on a spouse for spiritual strength (09:30).
• Practical point: It's not enough to just think encouraging thoughts. Speaking the Word aloud is essential (13:30).
  • "You can't think encouragement... it's going to take you speaking encouragement to yourself." (13:50)
• Morgan examines the example of Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb, illustrating how Jesus encouraged Himself by declaring God’s Word over the situation (John 11:4).

3. Faith in Action—Abraham as a Model

• She draws from Romans 4, underscoring that Abraham’s strength came from focusing on the Performer (God), not the performance (the outcome) (21:00).
• Notable Quote:
  "When you know the Performer, you’re not concerned with the performance." (25:30)
• Believers can get off-balance by focusing on what hasn’t happened, rather than Who is able to bring it to pass (23:30).
• Being "fully persuaded" (Romans 4:21) is about turning all attention to God, rather than obsessing over how or when a promise will manifest.

4. The Greatest Miracle—Salvation, and a Model for Believing

• Morgan highlights that at salvation, the focus was solely on Jesus, not on “getting something”:
  • "You didn’t know to focus on having a manifestation. You were only focused on the manifester—I just need God." (29:30)
  • This principle should be carried into believing for other needs: healing, provision, etc.

5. David’s Preparation—Courage Isn’t a Moment, It’s a Life

• The story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) illustrates that courage is built in the unseen “fields” of everyday life (41:00).
• David conquered Goliath in his private battles long before the public showdown.
  • "Goliath was defeated back when the lion showed up, when the bear showed up. That's really when Goliath was defeated." (45:00)
• Living full of God means you don’t need extra time to “get ready”; you’re always ready to respond in faith (48:00).

6. Shedding Natural Methods for Spiritual Strength

• Borrowing from David’s experience with Saul’s armor, Morgan encourages listeners to lay aside what works for others, or what worked in previous seasons, and trust God’s way for them now (52:30).
• "I'm too full to wear this. I'm too full to put on something natural. I'm too full to do this the way a natural man would need to do this." (53:30)
• Sometimes discouragement comes from clinging to old methods—instead, stay tuned to the Spirit’s present leading.

7. Bringing God Into Every Situation—like Jesus at Lazarus’ Grave

• Jesus wasn’t in a hurry to get to Lazarus because “once he spoke the word, God was there” (1:03:00).
• For listeners: Speaking God’s Word brings Him onto the scene—it's not about performing or rushing, but about God’s presence in every situation (1:04:00).
• "All I’m doing, I’m not believing God to see something performed in my life. I’m believing God so I can bring God into my life again and again." (1:05:40)

8. Meditate and Encourage: Joshua’s Example

• Closing with Joshua 1:8, Morgan explains that staying full of God’s Word is what positions a believer for prosperity and success (1:07:00).
• No new assignment was given—just “get back to my Word.” The key difference in new challenges is not new revelation, but “new skill” developed from continual encouragement in the Lord (1:13:00).
• Notable Quote:
  "The greatest effort you'll make in believing is not believing, but keeping your eyes on the one that you believe in." (1:10:00)

9. Moving from Inspiration to Skill

• True courage and forward momentum come not from hype or “new vision,” but developing new skills in the Word as the Holy Ghost leads (1:14:00).
• In familiar circumstances, learn to seek the Spirit’s present-day direction rather than recycling old formulas.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "One scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, that's double inspiration.” (01:55)
• "If you're having more discussions about your financial situation than you are encouraging yourself in the word about it, you're off balance." (16:45)
• "When you know the Performer, you're not concerned with the performance." (25:30)
• "The greatest miracle that man will ever step into and experience: salvation. And how did we come by that? We just wanted Him." (32:30)
• "Goliath was defeated back when the lion showed up... because David got full of God in the fields." (45:20)
• "Every moment can be a faith moment if you stay full." (50:00)
• "It’s not about getting me to see something. It’s about getting God on the scene to perform what only He can do." (1:17:10)
• "The greatest effort you'll make in believing is not believing, but keeping your eyes on the One that you believe in." (1:10:00)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |----------:|:------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction—The nature of biblical inspiration | | 09:00 | Encouragement vs. motivation, self-encouragement| | 14:00 | Example of Jesus declaring over Lazarus | | 21:00 | Abraham’s faith and focus on God | | 29:30 | The miracle of salvation as model for faith | | 41:00 | David models courage vs. Goliath; daily preparation| | 52:30 | Shedding natural methods; staying led by Spirit | | 1:03:00 | Jesus and Lazarus—speaking brings God on scene | | 1:07:00 | Joshua and the importance of meditating on the Word | | 1:14:00 | Encouraging yourself; skill vs. new vision | | 1:17:10 | Closing thoughts; focus on God, not performance |

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Biblical courage is not an emotional hype or a fleeting feeling. It is the result of continually encouraging yourself in the Lord—through meditating on, speaking, and worshiping around His Word.
• The create-or of your courage is not in new vision, but in developing new skills under the Spirit’s leadership and focusing on God Himself rather than outcomes.
• Life’s greatest victories are won in the unseen places: Like David in the fields, your private fellowship with God prepares you for public battles.
• Encouragement should be proactive, not reactive. Stay “full” of God, so you’re always ready to respond in faith.
• "The greatest effort you'll make in believing is not believing, but keeping your eyes on the one that you believe in." (1:10:00)

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