Podcast Summary: Dufresne Ministries – "Prosperity: How To Succeed In Reaching"

Guest Speaker: Chris Cody
Event: Campmeeting 2019 | World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA
Release Date: June 21, 2019

Episode Overview

This episode features Pastor Chris Cody, delivering the offering message at Campmeeting 2019. Pastor Cody explores the biblical concept of prosperity, emphasizing that true prosperity involves ongoing movement, spiritual stretching, and the willingness to be led by God into uncomfortable or challenging places. His message draws on personal testimony, scripture, and prophetic words, encouraging listeners to embrace the "stretch" as part of the journey toward abundant living and kingdom-minded giving.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Biblical Foundation of Prosperity

• Scripture Reference: 3 John 2 (“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”) [02:45]
• Pastor Cody highlights that true prosperity is both spiritual and practical, encompassing material well-being and health, as God desires believers to "enter into and then enjoy ongoingly prosperity and divine health."
• Insight: Prosperity is meant to be a sustained state—not just for a season. [03:40]

2. The Fourfold Meaning of “Prosper”

• Drawing from Strong’s Dictionary, Cody breaks down "prosper" as follows: [05:33]
  • Help on the road: God’s help comes "on the road," requiring that believers are moving in God’s direction—not stagnant.
    • “Notice it did not say help on the couch… If you’re going to prosper God’s way—help on the road.” (Chris Cody, 06:05)
  • Success in business affairs: Affirming practical and financial prosperity as part of God’s plan.
  • A prosperous journey: Life’s journey is meant to be prosperous, not just the destination.
  • To succeed in reaching: God wants believers to stretch and reach beyond comfort zones.

3. “The Stretch” – Succeeding in Reaching

• Cody focuses on the fourth definition: “to succeed in reaching.” [07:30]
  • "God’s going to put a stretch on you to succeed in reaching. Here’s why a lot of people don’t prosper ongoingly: They press up to a certain level and then they’re comfortable and they don’t like the feeling of the reach." (Chris Cody, 08:31)
• Personal testimony: In 2018, Cody experienced consistent prosperity, but by June faced uncomfortable “stretch” seasons. [10:10]

4. Learning Through Prophetic Encouragement

• Cody shares a prophetic word from Pastor Nancy, received during a challenging season: [11:20]
  • “It is light and easy. When there comes the temptation that pressure tries to bring, you say, ‘No you don’t!’ His yoke is light and easy. There’s no pressure. The yoke he places on us, lifts us. It does not bear down upon us.” (Pastor Nancy via Chris Cody, 12:08)
• Insight: God allows believers to be in “stretch” places not as punishment, but as training in trusting Him and developing skills for abundance.

5. The Lesson of the Stretch

• Cody stresses that prosperity is not about present conditions but about following God daily, especially through times of lack or challenge. [13:40]
  • “When it looks like there’s nothing, tapping into the leading of the Lord, moving forward with him in pace… that is the flow of abundance.” (Chris Cody, 14:30)
• Memorable Moment: Citing the miracle of Jesus feeding the multitudes, Cody illustrates acting in faith with what may seem insufficient allows God’s abundance to manifest.

6. Practical Application: Giving in the Stretch

• Listeners are encouraged to let the Holy Spirit lead in generosity—giving in faith, not remaining in comfort with generosity. [15:56]
  • “If $100 has gotten easy for you, you need to put yourself in a reach place. Put $150 on there. If a thousand is easy for you, you need to reach because your foot’s on the gas pedal, not God.” (Chris Cody, 16:15)
• The goal: Learn the lesson of the stretch so that abundance can be handled well when it comes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Prosperity Being Ongoing:

  • “We’re not supposed to have seasons of prosperity. You’re not supposed to have a season of health and three years of trial… God wants us to enter into and then enjoy ongoingly financial, material prosperity in every way and divine healing and health.”
    — Chris Cody [03:40]

• On Spiritual Stretching:

  • “God’s going to put a stretch on you to succeed in reaching. Here’s why a lot of people don’t prosper ongoingly: They press up to a certain level and then they’re comfortable and they don’t like the feeling of the reach.”
    — Chris Cody [08:31]

• On Giving and Reaching:

  • “If $100 has gotten easy for you, you need to put yourself in a reach place. Put $150 on there… If a thousand is easy for you, you need to reach because your foot’s on the gas pedal, not God.”
    — Chris Cody [16:15]

• On Prosperity and the Leading of the Spirit:

  • “We cannot separate prosperity from being led by the Spirit.”
    — Chris Cody [18:12]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:45] – Introduction to 3 John 2 and God's desire for ongoing prosperity.
• [05:33] – Breaking down the fourfold meaning of “prosper.”
• [07:30] – Emphasis on “to succeed in reaching” and living beyond comfort.
• [10:10] – Cody’s personal account of a “stretch” season in 2018.
• [11:20] – Sharing prophetic word from Pastor Nancy about the “stretch.”
• [13:40] – Distinguishing external circumstances from true prosperity.
• [15:56] – Applying “the stretch” principle to financial giving.
• [16:15] – Direct challenge for listeners to step out and “reach” in generosity.
• [18:12] – Prayer and closing exhortation.

Conclusion

Chris Cody’s message on prosperity challenges listeners to redefine success and abundance, not by comfort or temporary increase, but through faithful movement, obedience, and stretching beyond personal limits. Prosperity, as Cody unpacks, is a continuous journey of faith, marked by “help on the road,” practical results, ongoing journeys, and the daily willingness to “succeed in reaching” for God’s purposes. Listeners are encouraged to embrace seasons of stretching as essential for spiritual and material growth, always remaining sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.