Podcast Summary: Developing Yourself To Assist

Guest Speaker: Debra Simons
Event: Ladies & Men‘s Conference 2021, Murrieta, CA
Date: October 7, 2021
Host Platform: Dufresne Ministries Podcast

Episode Overview

In this relevant and candid message, Debra Simons addresses the necessity for those serving in any capacity within ministry—particularly the ministry of helps—to actively develop themselves spiritually. Drawing from biblical accounts, personal experiences, and practical wisdom, Simons warns against spiritual complacency and emphasizes the importance of continual growth in order to effectively assist leaders and advance with the move of God. She challenges listeners not only to value their connection and assignment but to guard and grow it through dedicated spiritual disciplines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Spiritual Development for Those Serving

• Simons stresses that being in the room with an anointed leader is not a substitute for personal spiritual development.
  • "If you're going to help, you have to develop spiritually. You cannot make the mistake of being in someone's room that's anointed… and think that you are more developed than you are because you have an anointing to help them." (03:19)
• The anointing on a leader can be mistaken as one's own spiritual maturity, but it is only a shared equipment for the task at hand.

2. Transition and Recognizing Instructions in New Seasons

• Simons uses the story of Joshua and the Israelites preparing to cross the Jordan to illustrate how transitions require specific divine instructions.
  • "Every time that we are in another place of transition… God has instructions for us because these are the pivotal times where the enemy will come in and he will try to get us off course, and we have to recognize it." (02:20)

3. Staying Properly Connected and Protecting Your Place

• Emphasizes recognizing and valuing "spiritual connections" and staying properly connected to where God has placed you.
  • "When you find the place where God has ordained you to be connected, you have to protect that place. And one way to protect it is to develop." (10:28)
• Failure to spiritually develop leads to drifting, division, and ultimately, removal from the place of assignment.

4. The Danger of Relying on Past Growth

• Simons warns against trying to live off previous spiritual victories or teachings.
  • "It would be a mistake for them to think that after they've had… excellent teaching, that they could go home and relax, trying to live off of the food that they already ate and not realizing that they have to eat fresh and anew right where they're at." (13:07)
• Relevance: Staying fresh in the Word and prayer ensures continued effectiveness.

5. The Call to Actively Pursue the Anointing and Move of God

• Drawing from Joshua 3, Simons urges listeners to "go after" the flow of the Spirit and be proactive.
  • "When you see the anointing increasing, you better go after it. You better go with the flow that is set before you." (22:05)

6. Applying Prophetic Words by Faith and Action

• Shares about the prophetic word, "the famine is over," and notes that manifestation depends on the people adjusting their faith and actions.
  • "The prophet said, the famine is over. We better start talking like that. We better start thinking like that… Faith is an act." (24:39)

7. Supportive Ministry Requires Ongoing Development

• Challenges those in supportive roles to keep growing or risk becoming a "yoke"—a hindrance rather than a help.
  • "When God's saying it's time to run, you better be ready to run… That's a place that is so dangerous, if you don't recognize it, that's a place where you can become a yoke." (32:27)

8. The Dangers of Criticism and Devaluing Leadership

• Reflects on Miriam and Aaron's challenge to Moses as a warning against undermining God-ordained leadership, regardless of how spiritual you become.
  • "Just because you're used by God… doesn't mean that God's got, is going to change his order for you. He's got an order." (46:05)
• Failure to repent or recognize drift leads to confusion and loss, both personally and corporately.

9. Personal Testimony: Learning Through Humility and Correction

• Simons shares candid experiences of correction, especially in marital relationships, and the importance of unity and not criticizing each other.
  • "Dr. Dufresne… was really big on couples not criticizing each other… because with your words, you let the enemy in." (01:04:38)

10. The Continuous Cycle of Receiving, Applying, and Adjusting

• Growth means not only hearing instruction from leadership but acting on it, making necessary adjustments, and advancing together.
  • "When the word is preached, changes should be made. And if you do this, you're going to stay developing and in the flow that God intends us to be in…" (01:09:07)

11. Encouragement to Evaluate & Stir Up Commitment

• Regularly examine your dedication to the assignment, stir yourself up if needed, and remember your role is vital.
  • "In every new season that we're going into, we have to examine ourselves and say, am I still as dedicated to what God is doing as I used to be? And if not, stir yourself up." (52:15)

12. Every Member is Important and Must Excel where Planted

• All roles in the body are necessary; excelling requires intentional spiritual investment.
  • "No matter what we're doing, it's important, and we need to see it as that and value that we are one piece, a part of the whole." (01:15:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Spiritual Development:
  "If you're going to serve and be good at serving, you must develop spiritually… What is preached can't just be something that goes in one ear and out the other." — Debra Simons (04:00)

• On Transition and Change:
  "Every new phase and every new season comes with instructions, because God is just. And we have to be the ones that discern the instructions for the new season." — Debra Simons (27:12)

• On Being a Proper Assistant:
  "You are going to have to develop spiritually if you're going to continue to be the assist that is needed. You gotta grow up." — Debra Simons (39:58)

• On Criticism in Leadership:
  "Just because you begin to hear some things doesn't mean that God's got, is going to change his order for you. He's got an order." — Debra Simons (46:45)

• On Importance of Place and Longevity:
  "It takes something to stay next to somebody for a long time. It takes something of development to stay in your place of serving and really be an assistant for a long time… I'm glad you still have enough sense to know that this is the place where you're supposed to be." — Debra Simons (01:00:41)

• On Applying the Word:
  "When the word is preached, changes should be made. And if you do this, you're going to stay developing and in the flow that God intends us to be in." — Debra Simons (01:09:07)

Important Timestamps

• 03:19 — On the dangers of confusing proximity to anointing with spiritual maturity.
• 10:28 — The necessity of protecting your God-ordained place.
• 22:05 — Encouragement to actively pursue God’s new move.
• 24:39 — Example on acting in faith after receiving a prophetic word.
• 32:27 — The risk of becoming a yoke through spiritual stagnation.
• 46:05 — Lessons from Miriam and Aaron’s challenge to Moses.
• 52:15 — Encouragement to self-evaluate and rekindle commitment.
• 01:00:41 — The value of faithfulness and longevity in serving.
• 01:04:38 — Story: marital unity and not criticizing spouses per Dr. Dufresne’s example.
• 01:09:07 — Importance of applying the Word and making continual adjustments.
• 01:15:34 — Affirming the importance of every member’s role.

Summary Takeaways

• Continual spiritual development is mandatory for anyone assisting in ministry, regardless of proximity to the anointed.
• Transitions demand new instructions—seek and apply them diligently.
• Guard your place of service by staying spiritually alert and devoted.
• Faithfulness and humility lead to lasting effectiveness in fulfilling God's assignment.
• Apply what you hear, proactively adjust, and remain teachable to stay in God’s flow.

Simons concludes with an exhortation that we are in a season of great opportunity, and no one should miss the doors God is opening—“It’s a door of opportunity for us to see the manifestation of what we have been believing for.” (01:17:00)