Podcast Episode Summary

Dufresne Ministries Podcast

Episode: Sharing In Jesus' Success, Part Five | Nancy Dufresne | Jesus the Healer Broadcast

Date: January 2, 2020
Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne

Episode Overview

This episode, led by Pastor Nancy Dufresne, centers on the biblical foundation for experiencing and manifesting the success that Jesus has made available to believers. Specifically, Nancy unpacks Joshua 1:8, which details three steps for entering into this God-given success: speaking God's word, meditating on it, and acting in obedient faith as led by the Holy Spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Success Must Be Activated (“The success that is in us does not automatically dominate us.” - 00:19)

• Pastor Nancy underscores that the success Jesus put within His followers isn’t automatic; believers must actively engage and cooperate to see it manifest.
• Yielding to success involves responsibility in thought, speech, and action.

2. Step One: Speaking the Word (00:34-06:40)

Importance of the Word:

• The Bible as God’s Living Conversation to Us:
  “This book is the life of God. This book is the thoughts of God. This book is God's plan for humanity.” (00:44)
• Treating Scripture as sacred and recognizing it as God speaking directly to you.

Power of Words:

• God’s word holds inherent power, but it must be spoken by believers for the Holy Spirit to perform it.
• Illustration: Creation narrative in Genesis: The Spirit hovers, waiting for God’s word to act.
• Memorable quote: “He’s waiting for what? Waiting to hear words of God that he can perform. He doesn’t perform man’s word. He only performs God’s word.” (02:03)

What We Say is Performed:

• When God’s words are on your lips, the Holy Spirit works to fulfill them; contrary/confessing failure brings undesired results, not orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, but “the devil will help perform those.” (05:57)
• Practical example: Declaring financial provision ("My God shall supply all my needs...") versus anxiety or lack.
• Quote: “Don't let it depart. Don't let it leave your mouth. Don't go back to fearful words... The Holy Spirit can't perform any of that.” (07:00)

3. Step Two: Meditating on the Word (08:00-13:50)

What is Meditation?

• Speaking and muttering God’s word to yourself continually—not just reading or mental assent.
• Quote: “When we meditate on [the Word], it becomes a living thing in us... We move it from the mental arena down to our spirits.” (08:32)
• Meditation renews your mind and corrects limited or fearful thinking, resulting in spiritual enlargement and increased faith capacity.
• Personal Application: Nancy encourages meditating on prophetic words and God's promises (“It’s a new day for me. I agree with that. You said it’s a new day. I say it’s a new day.” - 08:57)

Meditation and Mind Renewal:

• Israel’s failure was rooted in a slave mentality; meditation is the “mental overhaul” needed for true transformation.
• Quote: “The meditation of the Word gives you a mental overhaul. And we need our minds overhauled. It's called renewing the minds.” (12:17)

4. Step Three: Acting on the Word (13:50-19:20)

Faith Requires Action:

• Speaking and meditating are preparatory; action makes faith complete. Confession is “no substitute for the doing of the Word.” (13:54)
• Actions must align with what God has said and with the Holy Spirit’s leading. Faith is not about forcing outcomes but yielding to God’s direction.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:

• The Holy Spirit will instruct you what, how, and when to act, according to your current level of faith.
• Real-Life Illustration:
  • Car Example: Testimony of a minister who gave away his car after the Spirit led him, receiving a new car in return. Students imitated the act without Holy Spirit leading and ended up in hardship (16:09-17:05).
  • Lesson: “When you're following what you think, faith doesn't work. But when you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, faith works.” (16:46)

5. Putting it All Together: A Personal Example (19:20-23:55)

Nancy’s Own Story:

• God spoke that He would give her a specific house. Rather than acting immediately, she spent time speaking and meditating, then was led by the Spirit to make an offer at the right time.
• Quote: “I didn't immediately act. I immediately started putting the word in my mouth. I immediately started meditating.” (20:58)
• Emphasis: “Don’t pull the trigger [on acting] until you’re full of it [the word and faith].” (22:55)

Timing and Patience:

• If the Holy Spirit hasn't instructed you to act, continue filling yourself with the word through speech and meditation.
• “The confession of the word is so that we will know what we should be doing. Faith is an act. It's not simply a confession.” (13:54)

6. Application to Daily Life and Final Encouragements

• Summarized Steps:
  1. Keep God’s word in your mouth.
  2. Meditate on the word.
  3. Then act as the Spirit directs.
• Quote: “The word always works.” (24:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This book is the life of God. This book is the thoughts of God. This book is God's plan for humanity.” (00:44)
• “He doesn't perform man's word. He only performs God's word.” (02:18)
• “The closer our words are to what God says, the more performance the Holy Spirit will do in our lives.” (04:06)
• “Anytime we act apart from the leading of the Spirit, it becomes a hardship.” (17:13)
• “Acting on the word does not give you faith. Faith comes by hearing.” (21:45)
• “Don’t pull the trigger until you’re full of it.” (22:55)
• “The word always works.” (24:40)

Major Takeaways

• Believers share in Jesus's success by applying the clear, biblical process outlined in Joshua 1:8: continual confession, meditation, and Spirit-led action.
• Success isn’t automatic—it requires diligence, mind renewal, and partnership with the Holy Spirit.
• Speaking God's word sets spiritual law in motion; meditation roots and transforms; obedient action brings manifestation.
• Bypass shortcuts. Acting prematurely or by imitation (rather than Spirit direction) leads to frustration, not blessing.
• Persist in preparation—when you’re “full,” the Holy Spirit will prompt action that brings forth God’s promised success.

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:19 — The non-automatic nature of success in Christ.
• 00:44 — The Bible as God’s living voice.
• 02:03 — The Holy Spirit’s role in performing God’s words.
• 05:57 — The consequences of negative confession.
• 08:32 — The nature and power of meditating on the Word.
• 12:17 — Meditation as a mental overhaul.
• 13:54 — Moving from confession to action; faith as an act.
• 16:46 — Imitation versus Spirit-led action.
• 20:58 — Nancy’s personal example of waiting for Spirit direction before acting.
• 22:55 — Importance of “being full” before acting.
• 24:40 — Closing affirmation: “The word always works.”