Podcast Summary

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Fully Persuaded | Morgan Dufresne | World Harvest Church | Murrieta, CA
Date: August 7, 2020
Speaker: Morgan Dufresne
Theme: The necessity and impact of being "fully persuaded" in faith, and the critical role of refusing offense in the Christian walk.

Episode Overview

In this message, Morgan Dufresne explores Romans 4:21 and the concept of being "fully persuaded" in God's promises. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining unwavering faith throughout life and highlights a crucial, often-overlooked aspect: the necessity to also be fully persuaded that offense has no place in a believer’s life. Using scriptural examples and personal stories, Morgan demonstrates how avoiding offense is a key to miracles and promotion, both individually and corporately within the Body of Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Foundation of Being Fully Persuaded

• Scripture: Romans 4:17–21, focusing on Abraham’s unwavering belief in God’s promise.
  • Abraham’s and Sarah’s faith worked together; in every relationship, each person has a part to play. (01:40)
• Quote:
  • "For one to say my part isn't as important or my part isn't as necessary, or my part can wait, is a sign of doubt and unbelief.” (03:02, Morgan)
• Being "fully persuaded" means your mind and heart are in agreement with God’s Word, and holding firm until the end.
  • “Being fully persuaded doesn't wane over time. It doesn't change...” (05:20, Morgan)

2. The Subtlety of Losing Persuasion

• The enemy doesn’t usually attack faith directly, but comes “through the back door,” tempting compromise or unbelief in lesser areas first (07:20).
• Indirect attacks (e.g., offense, pride) can erode a believer’s persuasion and rob them of promises.

3. Mind and Heart Agreement

• The spirit always agrees with the Word, but the mind often wants to go with its own natural understanding and experiences (09:40).
• Quote:
  • “Your mind does not want to go with faith. You have to make your mind go with faith.” (10:50, Morgan)
• Meditation and confession bring the mind into agreement with the heart and Word (11:30).
  • “What are you telling your mind? What are you speaking?” (11:55, Morgan)

4. The First Key: Offense Has No Place

• The primary revelation for this message: “to be fully persuaded in faith, you must first be fully persuaded that offense has no place in your life.” (13:25, Morgan)
  • “Let’s say that together: Offense has no place in my life.” (15:05, Morgan — leads congregation in confession)

Biblical Example: Mary & Martha (Luke 10:38–42; John 11)

• Martha is rebuked by Jesus—not just for being busy, but for her attitude/personality (17:17).
• Jesus corrects Martha even at risk of offending her, but Martha refuses to take offense, later receiving a miracle (Lazarus’ resurrection, John 11).
• Quote:
  • “You can’t get offended when you’re wrong. You can’t get offended when others are right. Those are two opportunities that we have...” (25:20, Morgan)
• Hypothetical: Had Martha taken offense and infected her siblings, Jesus “would have never been able to demonstrate the resurrection power.” (30:00, Morgan)

Biblical Example: Peter (Matthew 16:13–23)

• Peter’s divine connection: The one who tells you who you are in Christ is often the one the devil tries to provoke you to be offended with first (31:55).
• Peter is rebuked sternly by Jesus (“Get behind me, Satan”), but doesn’t allow offense to govern his response (33:52).
• Quote:
  • “The one thing that's offensive to God is sin... You don't have any right to get offended with any other human being Jesus died and paid the price for…” (36:10, Morgan)

5. The Relationship Between Offense and Pride

• Offense and pride are “twins… you can't have offense without having pride.” (37:55, Morgan)
• “It’s pride that gets offended.” (38:35, Morgan)

6. The Other Side of Offense: Miracles and Promotion

• Each time Peter refused offense, he was being positioned for future promotion (e.g., his role at Pentecost, 42:40).
  • “On the other side of an opportunity for offense is a miracle. On the other side… is promotion.” (42:50, Morgan)
• These accounts illustrate how the willingness to reject offense keeps believers on track for the fulfillment of God’s plans.

7. Personal Application: Morgan’s Story

• Morgan shares an incident where she was wrongly blamed before a conference and had the option to take offense or walk by faith (44:00).
• She walks listeners through her thought process and ultimate decision, showing practical steps in refusing offense.
  • Remaining in offense would have jeopardized not just her service but potentially her own miracles (children, health) and the move of God in meetings.
• Quote:
  • “When you give into offense, you’re giving up your place in the Body of Christ. There’s no place for offense in the Body.” (51:30, Morgan)

8. The Scope of Offense: At Home and Church

• Offense in the home (marriage, family) is just as dangerous as in ministry (53:10).
• Disagreements and discussions are natural; offense is a manifestation of hurt feelings and pride.
  • “Offended people act offended, they talk offended, they look offended.” (54:55, Morgan)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “For one to say my part isn't as important... is a sign of doubt and unbelief.” (03:02, Morgan)
• “Being fully persuaded doesn't wane over time. It doesn't change when you’re fully persuaded... you hold fast to that until we go to heaven.” (05:20, Morgan)
• “Your mind does not want to go with faith. You have to make your mind go with faith.” (10:50, Morgan)
• “Let’s say that together: Offense has no place in my life.” (15:05, Morgan)
• “You can’t get offended when you’re wrong. You can’t get offended when others are right.” (25:20, Morgan)
• “The one thing that's offensive to God is sin... You don't have any right to get offended with any other human being Jesus died and paid the price for...” (36:10, Morgan)
• “Offense and pride are twins, really... you can't have offense without having pride.” (37:55, Morgan)
• “On the other side of an opportunity for offense is a miracle. On the other side... is promotion.” (42:50, Morgan)
• “When you give into offense, you’re giving up your place in the Body of Christ. There’s no place for offense in the Body.” (51:30, Morgan)
• “Offended people act offended, they talk offended, they look offended.” (54:55, Morgan)

Key Takeaways

• Being fully persuaded in faith is foundational, but it is incomplete without being fully persuaded to reject offense.
• The enemy often seeks to derail believers “through the back door” with subtle options for offense and pride.
• Real-life and biblical examples show that refusing offense positions believers for miracles and promotion, while offense robs them of God’s best.
• Every relationship and covenant—church, family, marriage—requires conscious rejection of offense for the fullness of God’s plans to unfold.

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-----------| | Opening & Main Scripture Introduction | 00:00–05:45 | | The Back Door Tactics of the Enemy | 07:20–08:35 | | Mind & Heart Agreement, Meditation | 09:40–13:00 | | The Necessity to Reject Offense | 13:25–16:00 | | Mary & Martha: Offense in Relationships | 17:17–30:00 | | Peter & Divine Connections | 31:55–38:35 | | Consequences and Opportunities of Offense | 41:50–43:45 | | Morgan’s Personal Illustration | 44:00–52:00 | | Offense at Home | 53:10–55:10 | | Conclusion and Call to Action | 55:10–end |

Conclusion

Morgan Dufresne’s message sets the stage for ongoing teaching on being fully persuaded in all areas of Christian life, starting with the crucial area of offense. She urges listeners to actively confess and believe, “offense has no place in my life,” highlighting that an offense-free heart is not only evidence of true faith but the gateway to miracles, promotions, and the fullness of our divine destinies.