Episode Overview

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Faith Is An Act, Part Two | Nancy Dufresne | Jesus the Healer Broadcast
Date: November 12, 2020
Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne

Theme:
This episode centers on the essential truth that faith requires action. Pastor Nancy Dufresne passionately teaches that believing alone isn't sufficient—faith must be acted upon to produce results. She illustrates this principle with biblical stories, personal testimonies, and encouragement for listeners to turn belief into tangible steps. The message is empowering, practical, and delivered with urgency: the cycle of faith is incomplete without corresponding actions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Faith Requires Action

• Faith isn't merely talk: Many believers discuss faith but never move beyond the planning stage.
• "Faith without acting is dead." (00:11)
• Actions bring results: Results come not from faith alone, but from faith acted upon.

2. Scriptural Illustrations

• The Ten Lepers (Luke 17): Jesus told them, "Go show yourselves to the priest," focusing on action rather than simply questioning their faith or feelings (01:07).
  • "He didn't give them something to believe. He gave them something to act." (01:55)
  • Their healing came as they acted, not before.
• The Man with the Withered Hand (Mark 3): Told to stretch out his hand—he acted and was healed (13:10).
  • "Your miracle is waiting for your movement." (13:28)
• Peter Walking on Water: His miracle continued "as long as he was acting. When he stopped acting and started thinking, he went beneath." (36:00-37:00)
  • "Little faith can get you on miracles. Little faith can participate with a miracle." (39:00)

3. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Guiding Actions

• The Holy Spirit will lead believers in what actions to take, often stretching beyond what feels "safe" or comfortable (05:05).
• We should act when there is peace in the spirit, even if the mind struggles (10:08).

4. Practical Application – Testimonies and Examples

Personal Testimony: Acting While on Medication (08:10)

• Pastor Nancy recounts struggling with the idea of taking medicine, fearing it meant doubting God.
• The Holy Spirit told her: "Take the medication. While you're on the medication, feed your faith. And I'll tell you when to come off of it."
  • She did so for three months, daily feeding her faith; then, per His direction, she stopped the medicine and experienced full healing.
• Key takeaway: "It would not displease God for us to be on medicine. What displeases God is for us to be on medicine and never feed our faith." (09:43)

Everyday Acts of Faith (14:26)

• Even small steps—like believing for less pain, more movement, or doing what you can—are acts of faith.
• Suggestion: Write down what you're believing for; beside it, note the actions you can take to demonstrate your faith.

Overcoming Procrastination (18:25)

• Procrastination is often the result of overthinking instead of acting.
  • "The way to get rid of procrastination is quit thinking. Just get up and do it." (19:22)
  • She playfully exhorts, "Don't leave your house with your bed unmade! Get up and make your bed. Quit thinking about it." (20:30)

Testimony: Missed Opportunity to Raise the Dead (22:00)

• Dean Graves recounts a story of an instructor at Rhema who was prompted by God to raise a man from the dead, but overthought and missed the moment.
  • Later, the man's widow and children facing the consequence reinforced the price paid for not acting on faith.
  • Memorable Quote: "What you think about, you can't have. It's what you act on, you have." (25:23)

The Power of Lifestyle Actions and Consistency

• Faith is a lifestyle: the woman whose child was crippled (41:28) acted daily, pulling him from the wheelchair, speaking the word, until one day healing manifested.
  • She didn't wait for "full faith"—she acted as her faith was growing.
  • "If you're just going to act once, you have to go home without what you need. Faith will turn you into a lifetime person of action." (44:18)

5. The Dangers of Thinking Over Acting

• "If you're going to obey God, you can't have the habit of thinking. You have to have the habit of acting on what He says." (29:17)
• Calculating and discussing delays or prevents obedience. The natural mind (and the enemy) always supply reasons not to act (30:40).

6. The Woman with the Issue of Blood: Step-by-Step Acting (46:00)

• Every part of her journey was an act of faith: getting out of bed, getting dressed, leaving the house (against the law), seeking Jesus, pressing through the crowd, speaking words of faith, and publicly testifying.
• "If you only do convenient acts, you'll never have great faith." (55:12)
• Acting often means inconvenience, discomfort, and pushing past the "victim" mentality.

7. Living by Faith = Living by Acting

• "Great faith will lead you to great actions." (01:00:15)
• "The just shall live by faith. The just shall live by acting." (01:00:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the necessity of faith in action:
  "Actions get results. It's not faith that gets results. It's faith acted upon that gets results." — Nancy Dufresne (00:18)

• On God’s guidance:
  "The Holy Ghost will lead you how to act...he'll keep you on the front edge of your faith, not the back edge." (04:22)

• Dealing with doubt:
  "When you stop acting and start thinking, you went beneath... Jesus calls it doubting." (38:42)

• Everyday action matters:
  "One act of faith, she got out of bed. That's an act." (52:56)

• On procrastination:
  "The way to get rid of procrastination is quit thinking. Just get up and do it." (19:22)

• On overcoming victimhood:
  "If you only do what's convenient, you'll never have great faith... Get up. You're not a victim." (56:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction and main theme: Faith must be acted upon | | 01:07 | Story of the Ten Lepers—faith as action | | 05:05 | The Holy Spirit guides your acts of faith | | 08:10 | Pastor Nancy's testimony about medicine and faith | | 10:08 | Following peace in your spirit to act | | 13:10 | Miracle of the withered hand—movement brings miracles | | 14:26 | Suggestions for daily acts of faith | | 18:25 | Overthinking breeds procrastination—just act | | 22:00 | Missed opportunity to raise the dead; the cost of not acting | | 29:17 | Habit of acting vs. habit of thinking | | 36:00 | Peter walking on water—keep acting, don't start thinking | | 41:28 | Testimony of a mother's persistent daily actions for her disabled child | | 46:00 | Woman with the issue of blood: layers of action | | 52:56 | Faith is built by small, consistent daily acts | | 55:12 | Great faith requires inconvenient acts | | 01:00:15 | Recap: Live by acting on faith |

Summary & Takeaway

Throughout this episode, Nancy Dufresne insists that faith is only effective when joined with action—regardless of how big or small. From opening the Bible each morning, to seeking healing, to obeying God in life's pivotal (and seemingly impossible) moments, the power of faith is unlocked only through obedience and steps of movement. She encourages listeners to stop overthinking, quit waiting for perfect conditions, and trust the Spirit’s leading to take the next right step, no matter how simple.

Her message is both practical and inspiring: If you want to see miracles, you must be willing to act—consistently, boldly, and sometimes inconveniently. Faith is a lifestyle, not a theory.