Podcast Summary

Dufresne Ministries Podcast

Episode: Loving The Things God Loves
Speaker: Stephen Dufresne
Location: World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA
Date: April 29, 2019

Episode Overview

In this episode, Stephen Dufresne shares a heartfelt and practical message on the importance of loving what God loves, with a focus on how this affects our financial prosperity, personal growth, and relationships. The central thread running throughout the sermon is the call to become more like God by giving, loving selflessly, seeking God's wisdom, and letting go of the things that hold us back from fully committing to Him. Using scripture, personal stories, and honest reflection, Stephen encourages listeners to examine their motives, develop genuine love for God, and live a life that can be a vessel for God's blessings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Biblical Prosperity and Qualification

• Financial prosperity isn't a random lottery from God but is linked to one's heart, motives, and willingness to give and be used by Him (00:55).
• Key Quote:

  "To have an abundant harvest, you have to be qualified. God is very specific in who He's financially blessing because it can mess people up very badly." – Stephen Dufresne (02:24)

• Insight: God is looking for people who won’t hoard blessings but will be conduits for generosity.

2. Becoming Like God Through Giving

• Christ and God’s nature is fundamentally giving.
• Giving is not merely a command but a transformative act that makes us more like Him (06:57).
• Key Quote:

  "Every time you give your finances, what are you doing? You become more like Him. Less of us, more of Him." – Stephen Dufresne (07:15)

• Evaluate motives—are we giving out of obligation, or out of love for God?

3. Total Surrender – Putting All on the Line

• Surrendering life to God means everything—money, house, family—belongs to Him (09:40).
• Key Quote:

  "If your life is His, then that means all your money is His...everything you possess...all that is mine, it is no longer mine." – Stephen Dufresne (10:32)

• God is looking for people who will follow His promptings to give selflessly.

4. Developing a Love for People

• Honest confession: Stephen shares he didn’t always like people, but asked God for help to love them, as people are what God is taking to heaven (18:19).
• Quote:

  "If you don't like people, you need to ask God to help you like people. What's God taking to heaven? People. He's taking souls." – Stephen Dufresne (18:55)

• Insight: Ministry and prosperity are tied to readiness to love and help others, not just self-gain.

5. Narrowing Path of Maturity

• As we grow, God expects more: "Your path gets narrower and narrower...you can't do the things you used to do" (27:21).
• Quote:

  "As you go further in God, your path gets narrower...and the things you used to do, you cannot do anymore. Why? Because you are becoming more like Him." – Stephen Dufresne (27:36)

6. The Role of Diligence and Correction

• Diligence in seeking God daily is necessary for enduring riches and inheriting God’s promises (38:18).
• Scripture Highlight: Proverbs 8:17-21 – "Those who love me inherit wealth" (41:44).
• Correction: Being always “correctable” and open before God is vital (01:06:55).

7. Freedom from the Love of Money

• The story of the Rich Young Ruler (Luke 18:18-23) illustrates someone who obeyed commandments but could not let go of wealth.
  • Quote:

    "When money has you, God can't use you." – Stephen Dufresne (50:25)

• Christians are called to be willing to give up anything (not always required to, but ready if God asks).

8. Obedience over Ritual; Sacrifice over Show

• Serving in small ways (e.g., cleaning) is just as important as preaching (58:45).
• Quote:

  "Nobody else is doing it, so I do it...Why are you doing that, Brother Stephen? Because it needs to be done." – Stephen Dufresne (59:51)

9. Loving God vs. Liking God

• Many "like" God—doing the minimum or being Sunday Christians—but real love is life-altering and sacrificial (33:22).
• Quote:

  "Most people don’t love Me. They like Me." – (Stephen quoting God, 33:40)

10. Challenges from the World and Religious Culture

• The world (and sometimes religious people) will mock or oppose deep commitment to God (01:16:00).
• Stories of ridicule and misunderstanding, similar to Jesus before Pilate, are reminders to stand firm in faith.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giving Like Christ (04:15):

  "What did he (Jesus) do? From the time he was of age, he gave and he gave and he gave and then he gave some more." – Stephen Dufresne

• On Total Surrender (11:05):

  "When I give my life, I give all that is mine. It is no longer mine. I give it to you. And I ask you, what would you have me do with everything I have?" – Stephen Dufresne

• On Maturity and Correction (01:08:32):

  "If you just think you’re right, you’re probably wrong. When you’re always correctable, God can use us in mighty ways." – Stephen Dufresne

• On Peter’s Restoration (01:23:30):

  "Peter, do you love me? …then feed my sheep. It is so important...we don’t forget why we’re here." – Stephen Dufresne

Important Timestamps

• 00:55 – Introduction to biblical prosperity and the need to qualify for abundance
• 06:57 – Giving makes us more like God
• 09:40 – Surrender: “All your money is His”
• 18:19 – Importance of loving people
• 27:21 – The path of spiritual maturity narrows
• 33:22 – Loving God vs. liking God
• 38:18 – Diligence and daily pursuit
• 41:44 – Proverbs 8: “Those who love me inherit wealth”
• 50:25 – When money has you, God can’t use you
• 58:45 – Serving in unseen ways
• 01:06:55 – Always be correctable before God
• 01:16:00 – Handling mockery and misunderstanding
• 01:23:30 – Peter’s restoration: “Do you love me?...then feed my sheep”

Conclusion

Stephen Dufresne’s message is an earnest call for every believer to move beyond religious ritual and surface-level service, to a life marked by wholehearted love for God—a love seen in what we value, how we give, and how we treat others. God’s blessings and prosperity are not only for our comfort but to equip us to serve, love, and give like Christ.

"We’re here for a reason. We’re not here for God to consume us with His wealth—He will do that. But as you give out…He wants you to be fishers of men." – Stephen Dufresne (01:25:00)