Podcast Summary: Sharing In Jesus' Success, Part One

Host: Nancy Dufresne, Dufresne Ministries
Episode: Jesus the Healer Broadcast – December 5, 2019

Episode Overview

In this uplifting episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores what it means to share in the success of Jesus rather than depend on our own abilities. She draws on personal experience and the biblical account of Joshua to reveal how true spiritual success comes by aligning our hearts and minds with God’s ways and His Word. The episode is encouragingly practical, guiding listeners on moving past limitations, embracing transitions, and stepping confidently into God’s plan.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Learning from Failure and Jesus’ Response

• Personal Confession and Vision:

  • Nancy opens up about struggling with regret over things left undone—what she calls the “sin of omission” ([00:25]).
  • She shares an intimate spiritual encounter:
    • Jesus tells her, “You have failed many, many times. But I never have.”
    • Nancy notes, “If God brings up your failings first, you’re probably close to getting in trouble,” but God always comes first with help when we acknowledge our failings ([01:00 – 02:10]).

• Shifting Focus from Self to Christ:

  • Nancy reflects on Jesus’ message:
    • “If we keep looking at us, we’re gonna keep looking at failure… But he gave me a better place to look. He said, ‘But I never have [failed].’” ([02:30])
  • True success is found not by scrutinizing our shortcomings, but by focusing on Christ’s perfection.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jesus (Nancy Dufresne sharing):
    • “So I share my success with you.” ([03:20])
  • “You don’t have to keep missing it… There is a path of success that he [Jesus] offers.” ([03:35])

2. How to Partake in Jesus’ Success

• Learning by Example:

  • “Do what He did. Follow the example of success that He left for us.” ([04:10])
  • Jesus said, “Learn of me… My yoke is easy, My burden is light.” which means, Nancy says, to “learn how I did it. Learn how I walked. Do what I did.” ([04:30 – 05:00])

• It’s Through Him, Not Our Abilities:

  • “Because we are created in Him. We’re one with Him. It’s by Him, His ability in us. It’s not by human natural abilities.” ([05:30])
  • Human ability fails at spiritual things; His strength enables supernatural success.

• Success Is Unlimited:

  • Nancy illustrates this using the story of Jesus multiplying bread and fish—“They took as much as they wanted… the more they took, the more it just multiplied… Jesus is saying to us, I offer you my success. It’s up to us to take it.” ([06:00 – 07:30])

3. God’s Definition vs. Human Definition of Success

• Divine vs. Earthly Success:
  • “What man calls success has nothing to do with the divine definition of success.” ([07:55])
  • God offers the “highest flow of success any man can ever partake of… and it’s ours for the taking.” ([08:10])

4. Transitioning with God: Lessons from Joshua

• Shifting Mentalities in Seasons of Change:

  • Nancy narrates the transition of Joshua from Moses’ assistant to leader ([09:10]).
  • She draws parallels to our lives, noting how critical mindset shifts are in seasons like adolescence, marriage, parenthood, and spiritual callings ([10:40]).
  • “Life is full of transitions.” ([11:20])

• “Second Man” Mentality vs. Leadership:

  • Joshua’s 40+ years as Moses’ helper required selflessness and loyalty ([09:30 – 10:40]).
  • “You can’t lead with a second man mentality.” ([12:10])

5. Breaking Free from Limiting Patterns

• Israel’s Failure Rooted in Thinking:

  • The first generation out of Egypt never entered their promised land because they carried a “slave mentality”—complaining and limited thinking ([13:15 – 14:50]).

• Parallel to Modern Christians:

  • “So many Christians are allowing what they used to live in, what they used to have as a standard… to limit them from going in and living the abundant life.” ([15:00])
  • “Old things have passed away, all things have become new. You better bring that mentality into that.” ([15:30])

• Transition Complete in Mind and Words:

  • Despite walking out of slavery healthy and wealthy, Israel’s limiting words and attitudes kept them wandering ([16:15]).
  • “God sent them to a place where they couldn’t spend a dime of it… Your money will not get you in to what God’s authored for you.” ([18:10])

6. The Key to Lasting Success: Joshua 1:8

• A Simple Solution to 40 Years of Failure:

  • Nancy highlights how God gives Joshua just “one verse” as the solution:
    • “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.” ([22:00])
  • The secret isn’t complicated—success and prosperity hinge on what we do with God’s Word.

• Success Is Within Our Reach:

  • “Notice this: God’s not mentioned in your prosperity. Notice the devil’s not mentioned as withholding your prosperity. In this verse… Our success is hinging on what the individual’s going to do with the word.” ([24:00])

• Not Laying-on-of-Hands, Not Meetings, but the Word:

  • “I don’t care who’s laid hands on you… That will never substitute for the success you can only find in the word.” ([25:30])
  • The episode concludes with the reminder:
    • “The book. Your success. The book. Your success. Amen. So what we do with the word determines whether or not we arrive into God’s fullness for us.” ([26:30])

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Nancy, quoting Jesus:

  • “You have failed many, many times. But I never have… I share my success with you.” ([02:00 – 03:20])

• On divine success:

  • “We don’t become more effective by looking at what we’re doing wrong. We become successful by looking at the one who succeeded.” ([02:40])

• On taking God’s supply:

  • “We will have as much success as we’ll take… There’s never an end to the measure that he offers us.” ([07:20])

• On shifting mentality after Egypt:

  • “They carried slave talk to their free land… They walked out healed, they walked out rich. But their thinking stayed the same and their words stayed the same.” ([13:15 – 16:15])

• On the centrality of God’s Word:

  • “This book—not your IQ, not your education… We must value the word. If we don’t value his word, we can’t have the success that’s connected to it.” ([24:50])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Regret, repentance, and Jesus’ visitation: [00:20 – 03:35]
• Sharing in Jesus’ success; learning from Him: [03:35 – 07:55]
• Joshua’s transition from servant to leader: [09:10 – 11:30]
• Slavery mentality vs. promise mentality: [13:00 – 16:10]
• How thoughts and words shape destiny: [16:10 – 18:25]
• God’s simple plan: one verse, Joshua 1:8: [22:00 – 26:30]
• Emphasis on the supremacy of God’s Word: [24:45 – 26:30]

Takeaways

• Jesus’ success and victory are available to all who will receive and walk in them.
• Transition in life requires a mindset shift to match new roles and opportunities in God’s plan.
• True, lasting success comes from valuing, meditating on, and acting on God’s Word.

Nancy’s message is clear: No matter your starting point or past missteps, aligning thought, speech, and action with God’s Word is the key to stepping into the success Jesus has secured for you.