Podcast Summary: Resisting Gets You Into Receiving, Part 1
Speaker: Stephen Dufresne
Event: JTH Crusades 2025, Paducah, Kentucky, Monday AM
Release Date: May 27, 2025
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode, led by Stephen Dufresne, focuses on a transformative message for healing and the spiritual dynamic between resistance and receiving. Speaking at the Jesus The Healer Crusade, Stephen emphasizes that true receiving, especially regarding healing, requires the active resistance of doubt, comfort, and passivity. Attendees and listeners are challenged to move beyond seeking a feeling or a sign, and instead to stand steadfast in faith, persistently rejecting unbelief, in order to fully receive what God has already promised.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Faith Over Feelings: Healing Happens by Belief, Not Sensation
- (02:16) “This week, I am receiving the knowledge to receive my healing and keep my healing. I am leaving here completely healed, even if I don’t feel healed, because I don’t go by feeling, I go by faith.” — Stephen
- The danger of relying on physical sensations as evidence of spiritual healing.
- Example of people attending church or healing services but leaving unchanged due to lack of true engagement or belief.
2. Miracles in the "Impossible": God's Power is Not Limited
- (03:13–05:03) Testimonies about praying for children with Down syndrome and autism.
- Stephen shares a powerful story of a man with Down syndrome whose life and even physical features transformed through meditating on the Word.
- “Sickness is an evil spirit... when you see it as an evil spirit, that means you can talk to it. And when you can talk to it, you can cast it out.” — Stephen (05:03)
3. Scriptural Example: The 25-Mile Walk of Faith (John 4)
- (06:01–13:58) The faith journey of the nobleman whose son was at the brink of death.
- Walking 25 miles with only Jesus’ words as assurance.
- The relentless battle of resisting doubt along the way.
- “He’s got to resist the urge to speak doubt and unbelief.” — Stephen (09:33)
- “As long as you resist the urge to doubt, you’re going to receive. It’s biblical.” — Stephen (11:43)
4. Effort Required: Don’t Wait for a Sensation, Act on Faith
- (14:12–16:28) The futility of waiting for a physical feeling before acting in faith.
- The healing pool of Bethesda: people had to “arise” or act to receive their healing.
- “The receiving is in the try. That’s where your miracle happens. There’s a sliver in there from the Word to manifestation, and you gotta try.” — Stephen (16:11)
5. Abundance Mindset: The Lesson of ‘Seepage’ (John 6)
- (16:38–21:28) The feeding of the 5,000 and the principle of provision replenishing as it’s used.
- “Seepage” as a metaphor for believing God’s provision and healing are never exhausted; every action of faith draws more.
- “Anytime provision is removed, it is seeped back into your bag... you have to believe every time you reach inside that bag to remove something, that seepage is happening in your life.” — Stephen (20:49)
6. Resisting Discomfort and the Familiar
- (21:55–24:06) “Sickness must be put into a place of discomfort, even at the expense of your own discomfort. Most people like to be comfortable... but sickness is an invasion in your body that must be put out aggressively.” — Stephen (22:07)
- Testimony of a woman healed of tuberculosis by acting according to what the Bible says about wholeness, instead of waiting for a feeling.
- The importance of occupying the “property” of healing and not letting doubts (or comfort) reclaim the ground won by faith.
7. Resisting Rewrites Your Destiny
- (26:57; 27:07) “Resisting rewrites your destiny.” — Stephen
- The importance of not seeking repeated confirmation/prayer for the same thing but standing firm on a single point of contact.
- Analogy: “I don’t go up and get born again because I don’t feel born again... at the end of the day, I am married whether I feel like it or not. It’s the same thing with healing.” — Stephen (30:08)
8. Persisting in Obedience: The Blind Man’s Journey (John 9)
- (31:56–36:49) The man born blind, instructed to go and wash before he could see — an act requiring trust without immediate evidence or comfort.
- “He’s got to resist the urge to quit, to what? To receive.” — Stephen (35:14)
9. Healing Requires Readiness for Work, Not Idleness
- (38:51–41:33) “Healing is not for the lazy... Healing takes you out of idleness and puts you to work.” — Stephen (41:06)
- Even Lazarus, once resurrected, was expected to return to daily work.
10. Application & Assurance: Faith, Not Sensation
- (43:04–44:31) “The sensation of what you feel in your body has nothing to do with faith.” — Stephen (43:10)
- Challenge to internalize the Word and stand ready for a single moment of prayer — not looking for repeated or progressive feelings, but a single, decisive act of faith.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Healing by Faith, Not Feeling:
“If you start going by feeling, it won't be long before you feel bad again. But faith people gotta stand up and say, it don't matter what I feel. It only matters what I believe. And I believe that I'm healed.” — Stephen (02:16) -
On Resisting Doubt:
“So what’s he got to do? He’s got to resist the urge to speak doubt and unbelief. He’s got to resist that urge, because he’s got time now... what you gotta do? You gotta resist to receive.” — Stephen (09:33) -
On Provision and ‘Seepage’:
“Anytime provision is removed, it is seeped back into your bag... Every time you reach inside that bag to remove something that seepage is happening in your life.” — Stephen (20:49) -
On Acting Amid Discomfort:
“Sickness must be put into a place of discomfort, even at the expense of your own discomfort... because the Bible says you need to do something besides just laying there.” — Stephen (22:07) -
On Standing Firm:
“Resisting rewrites your destiny.” — Stephen (26:57) “I don’t go up and get born again because I don’t feel born again... It’s the same thing with healing. At that moment, there was a covenant made. You have to stand on that time.” — Stephen (30:08) -
Bernie Sanders Comic Relief:
“I got old. I'll be like, Bernie Sanders, I am once again asking for your financial support.” — Stephen (26:20) -
Application—Closing Encouragement:
“All those people had to resist something to receive something. So I encourage you today, as the week goes on, meditate on what I’ve said. Correct your life now from what I’ve said. Apply the word, what I told you today. Get ready for it. Because healing belongs to you.” — Stephen (43:52)
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- Faith vs. Feeling, Receiving by Belief: 02:15–05:03
- Resisting Doubt—Nobleman’s Journey (John 4): 06:01–13:58
- Called to Act; Examples from Healing Lines: 14:12–16:28
- The Principle of Seepage & Provision: 16:38–21:33
- Aggressive Resistance Brings Healing: 21:55–24:06
- Resisting Rewrites Your Destiny: 26:57–27:07
- Point of Contact & One-Time Faith: 27:07–30:58
- The Blind Man (John 9), Healing through Obedience: 31:56–36:49
- Healing Not for the Lazy—Expectation of Work: 38:51–41:33
- The Sensation of Healing vs. The Reality of Faith: 43:04–44:31
Tone & Style
Stephen’s delivery mixes scriptural teaching, personal stories, humor (including playful ribbing about women and snacks), and practical faith challenges. The atmosphere is casual, energetic, direct, and at times, lighthearted, but always with an underpinning of scriptural seriousness and urgency regarding the promises of God.
Actionable Takeaways & Application
- Prepare your mind and faith before prayer—receive the Word beforehand.
- Refuse to base your faith or healing on whether you feel different.
- Resist doubt, comfort, and idleness; act promptly on what the Word says.
- Stand on a single moment of faith; avoid “double-mindedness” by seeking repeated confirmations.
- Healing is for those ready to get up and move forward—not for staying idle.
Listeners are left with the assurance:
“Healing belongs to you. It is a biblical promise that you will walk away from here healed.” — Stephen (44:31)
End on encouragement and expectancy for the rest of the crusade week.
