Podcast Summary

Episode: Developing For Prosperity, Part Two

Speaker: Morgan Dufresne
Location: World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA
Date: November 10, 2021
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast

Overview

In this motivational episode, Morgan Dufresne unpacks the biblical perspective on prosperity, teaching that true prosperity isn't just about accumulating wealth, but growing into a well-developed person who walks in God's plan for every area of life. She emphasizes that believers are called to develop themselves for prosperity through reverence, obedience, and complete reliance on God, illustrated with scripture and personal testimonies. The message’s tone is practical, passionate, and faith-filled, urging listeners to pursue substance over appearance, and quality of life over quantity of possessions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Prosperity Requires Development (00:08–05:05)

• Prosperity, from God’s view, is holistic: it encompasses finances, relationships, health, and a life rich in the joy of the Lord.
• Development is fundamental—just as professionals must develop skills for enduring success, believers must develop spiritually and mentally to fully experience God’s blessing.
• Quote:

  "God's plan in prosperity is not just for us to believe and call for prosperity, but to develop for it. Amen. We're to develop for prosperity." (00:48)

• Unlike worldly systems that depend on self, God’s prosperity requires dependence on Him. Peter and John, though without money at the temple gate, could still offer something more valuable due to their spiritual development. (03:00–04:30)

2. Renewing the Mind Comes Before Financial Increase (05:20–08:20)

• Reference to 3 John 1:2: True prosperity and health stem from a prospering soul.
• The order matters: “Money would come after the mind came first.” (06:30)
• Don’t focus solely on financial increase; first, develop your mind and character.

3. Adversaries at the Door of Prosperity (08:25–12:00)

• The enemy fights our increase, especially as we stand at doors of financial opportunity (referencing scriptural teaching on “many adversaries” at the door).
• A developed man will stand his ground; one motivated only by money will look for easier paths and miss God’s best.
• Quote:

  “A developed man will make it through the threshold and not back up. Amen. But one that just pursues money will forego the open door.” (10:20)

4. Dependence on God vs. Self-Effort (12:01–17:00)

• Self-effort wears a person out; reliance on God brings joy, health, and longevity.
• Jesus taught the disciples to “watch and pray” to stay full of the Spirit, avoiding temptation—not just temptation into sin, but the temptation to take the wrong (fleshly) path.
• Memorable moment:

  “It’s not just about being tempted with the wrong things. It's about being tempted to go the wrong direction.” (14:25)

5. Three Keys to Develop for Prosperity (17:01–33:30)

Morgan presents three essential qualities for developing oneself for God’s prosperity:

a. Reverence (18:10–27:20)

• Reverence for God is more than outward behavior; it’s about the heart especially under pressure.
• Examples:
  • Job: Despite loss, maintained reverence; “he was still prosperous with the man on the inside.” (21:55)
  • Moses: Initially acted without reverence, which God corrected over time.
• Quote:

  “Reverence under pressure... will test a man's level of godliness.” (19:30)

• Reverence means upholding God’s Word in every area, especially at home—don’t violate the Word for convenience.
• Memorable moment:

  “An empty believer is easily filled with unbelief.” (26:40)

b. Obedience (33:31–38:10)

• The person God can prosper is a humble servant, not merely a bold leader.
• Quick obedience to God’s Word and Spirit is necessary; delay in obedience leads to struggle in receiving from God.
• Quote:

  “The man God can make prosperous isn’t the bold leader, but the humble servant.” (34:10)

• The measure you give your heart to God determines how much you can receive from Him.

c. Reliance (38:11–45:30)

• Prosperity is about the quality of life, not quantity of things.
• Reliance on God brings peace, joy, and sufficiency regardless of outward material status.
• Quote:

  “Prosperity is a mindset not of quantity, but of quality... If you have the quality of life that the Word of God says you can have, you are living in prosperity.” (39:00)

• Man’s measure is external (quantity); God’s measure is internal (quality).

6. Biblical Examples: David and Hezekiah (45:31–59:00)

a. David—A “First Funder” (45:35–50:10)

• From 1 Chronicles 29: David demonstrated reverence and reliance by personally providing the first and best for God’s house, drawing from his private resources.
• Quote:

  “The man who could pull from any resource... took from himself first. That's reverence. You're not waiting for somebody else to give... you are a first funder.” (48:45)

• Where and how you invest (time, money) reveals your true trust in the source of prosperity.

b. Hezekiah—Establishing His Own Covenant (52:00–59:00)

• 2 Chronicles 29: Upon taking the throne, Hezekiah’s first act was to restore reverence—cleanse the temple, reinstitute worship, offerings, and make his own covenant with God.
• Each generation must establish its own reverent, obedient, and reliant relationship with God.
• Memorable quote:

  “Young people, you cannot live off the covenant and the prosperity and the health and the blessing on your parents...” (57:30)

• True legacy: What you establish in reverence, obedience, and reliance affects generations.

7. Joy, Sudden Turnarounds, and Contentment (59:01–61:00)

• When the people restored the temple under Hezekiah, there was “great joy” and “sudden” blessing as God responded.
• The cycle observed in Israel’s history: as long as there was reverence, obedience, and reliance, prosperity, victory, and joy followed. When focus shifted to quantity and idols, loss and sorrow ensued.
• Final exhortation:

  “Prosperity is not about quantity, but quality. Amen.” (61:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “We're to develop for prosperity. The man who is developed for his profession can have longevity. The man who is undeveloped will quickly become a liability and not an asset.” (00:45; Morgan Dufresne)
• “If you want to prosper in the things of God, you will have to become completely reliant on him. Every crutch you have to allow to be removed, you have to agree with that.” (16:20; Morgan Dufresne)
• “Reverence in his presence is not hard. It's reverence under pressure that will test a man's level of godliness.” (19:30)
• “An empty believer is easily filled with unbelief.” (26:40)
• “The man God can make prosperous isn’t the bold leader, but the humble servant.” (34:10)
• “Prosperity is a mindset not of quantity, but of quality.” (39:00)
• “Where you invest your time and your money is where you believe riches is going to come from.” (48:55)
• “Young people, you cannot live off the covenant and the prosperity and the health and the blessing on your parents. Hezekiah says, ‘I want my own covenant established and broken with God.’” (57:30)

Key Takeaways

• Prosperity is holistic: True prosperity in God’s system is about overall well-being and joy, not just material accumulation.
• The process is universal: The process—reverence, obedience, reliance—is the same for everyone, even if prosperity looks different.
• Generational effect: Demonstrating and imparting these principles leaves a legacy that blesses future generations.
• Active participation: Everyone, not just leaders, is called to be a “first funder”—taking personal responsibility for revering, obeying, and relying on God.
• True prosperity is seen in the quality of life, not in bank accounts or public status.

For further edification and more resources, visit dufresneministries.org.