Podcast Summary

Dufresne Ministries Podcast

Episode: Stephen Dufresne | Holy Ghost Meetings 2026 | Thursday AM
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Nancy Dufresne
Speaker: Stephen Dufresne

Overview

This episode features a dynamic and practical sermon by Stephen Dufresne, focusing on the connection between faith, action, and perseverance. Stephen challenges believers to examine where they may have "given up" without realizing it, emphasizing that true faith requires not just words but tangible, physical acts. Through scripture, personal anecdotes, and a direct, humorous tone, he urges listeners to bridge the gap between vision and execution, and to be honest with themselves about the true state of their faith.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Advancement Through Praise and Action

• Nancy Dufresne opens with the example of the Hebrews:
  • "When the Hebrews advanced through the Red Sea, then they danced, and you notice that's the last time they ever danced. And that's the last time they ever advanced." (00:15)
  • The importance of praise, dancing, and not remaining in a place of grief or passivity after receiving a bad report.
  • Personal reflection on finding clarity and instruction in times of loss through praising God rather than grieving.

    "When you get a report, you better dance your way past that report. Shout your way." (03:06)

  • Faith requires action and expression—prayer is vital, but faith manifests in praise, dancing, and positive movement.

2. The Deception of 'Giving Up' While Speaking Faith

• Stephen Dufresne addresses the issue of giving up on dreams or goals while still maintaining the language of faith:
  • The phenomenon of having a "voice of faith" but actions that betray resignation.

    "You can have a voice of faith with an action of giving up." (06:23)

  • Anecdotes about unfinished projects (especially men's cars in backyards) as metaphors for unfulfilled vision in spiritual or personal pursuits.
  • Excuses vs. honesty:

    "You won't say that. Always something you can come up with to excuse getting it done." (09:02)

  • Applying the same scrutiny to hobbies and other areas: Excuses are a universal tendency.
  • Direct challenge to self and others:

    "I'm sober enough to say, Steven, you're a loser and you're lazy. Why don't you get up and do it? Quit making excuses." (11:33)

3. Scriptural Case Studies: Faith in Action

• Moses (Numbers 20:8–12):
  • Moses acted but did not do exactly as instructed (speaking to vs. striking the rock), revealing a subtle form of unbelief and "giving up."

    "He did an action of faith, but he didn't believe his words would carry through." (14:50)

• Zacharias (Luke 1:18):
  • Though praying and speaking faith for a son, internally he had given up, lacking genuine expectation.

    "He's believing with saying, but not believing it in here. So what has he done? He's given up." (18:10)

• Lesson: True faith requires the heart and actions to align with declarations.

4. Faith Demands Movement—No Matter How Small

• The need for tangible steps towards a vision, however minor:

  "Movements must be made, even if it's very small." (24:37)

  • Stephen shares a personal story of motivating himself to complete small, postponed tasks and the positive effect on his self-perception and productivity.
  • Ministry example: Hiring a pilot before owning a plane as an act of faith—taking steps before everything is visibly in place. (28:25)

5. Excuses, Delay, and Self-Deception

• Distinction between actual faith and self-convincing slogans:
  • “Giving up can be deceiving. It can be cloaked with positive words.” (32:13)
  • Unrealistic conditions—waiting for "when such and such happens" to act—are often signs of resignation.
  • Challenge to business owners: Are you truly building a business or just creating a job for yourself?

6. Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:2) and Endurance in Faith

• Success comes through continuous effort and refusal to quit:
  • "It takes somebody with enough unction and say, I'm not giving up." (36:38)
  • Empowerment, especially to women in the audience, to act and persist.
• Kenneth Hagin's example: Acting healed as an expression of faith, even when bedridden.

7. Practical Faith and Self-Accountability

• Faith without action is dead—if you’re believing for healing, do something physical to demonstrate it:
  • “If you believe what you say, why don't you do it?” (41:37)
  • Don’t let delay and procrastination undermine your progress or condition you into passivity.
• Story about finally buying a car lift after years of indecision, illustrating breaking the cycle of giving up.

8. Avoiding the Trap of ‘Fixing to’ and ‘Getting Ready’

• The language of perpetual preparation is exposed as an enemy of faith.

  "There's two words I hate. Fixing and getting ready. ...Get ready. How about now? It's a dismissal of faith." (47:38)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Nancy Dufresne:

  "When you get a report, you better dance your way past that report. Shout your way...Can I say this? You can't just pray your way out. You better faith your way out." (03:04)

• Stephen Dufresne:

  "You can have a voice of faith with an action of giving up." (06:23)
  "Unfinished projects are unfinished… Because there's something why I can't do it. Whether it's money, time, whatever, and it's excuses. At the end of the day, you had a vision, you brought it in, you started on it, and then you rolled it to the back of the property." (08:52)
  "Giving up can be cloaked with positive words. The meaning of cloaked means hidden or disguised. It's disguised as faith." (32:13) "God will let you have whatever you want. If you want to talk all that faith and do no acting, you can have that." (39:13) "Your faith speaking should result in faith acting. It should have results." (44:09) "There are two words I hate. Fixing and getting ready. ...How about now? It's a dismissal of faith because it puts no responsibility on you." (47:38)

• Closing by Nancy Dufresne:

  "Our public faith needs to match our private faith. We don't want our public faith and our private faith to be different. They have to be one and the same." (48:48) "My greatest problem is me, not the devil, me... my greatest difficulty has been to live what I preach. Because he refused to say something that he wasn't doing." (49:15)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:15–03:30 — Nancy Dufresne on the power of praise, dancing, and keeping a faith focus even after bad news.
• 05:00–13:00 — Stephen Dufresne illustrates how people maintain the veneer of faith while actually giving up; the car project analogy.
• 14:50–19:30 — Examination of Moses and Zacharias as biblical examples of “half-faith.”
• 24:07–28:28 — Faith requires even small actions; story of small daily tasks and ministry’s plane.
• 32:13–36:38 — Self-deception in faith, business, and excuses.
• 36:38–42:12 — Persistent faith, women’s empowerment, and lessons from Kenneth Hagin and physical healing.
• 44:09–47:38 — Honest self-accountability; buying the car lift and being honest in pursuit.
• 47:38–48:41 — Stephen’s closing challenge: Act now, not just "fixing to"; call for healing.
• 48:48–End — Nancy Dufresne’s closing: Aligning public and private faith; the challenge to live what you preach.

Final Takeaways

• Faith is an Act: Speaking positive words is empty if not accompanied by corresponding action.
• Honesty Over Excuses: Recognize when you’re rationalizing inaction—self-deception is the enemy of progress.
• Persistent Movement: Success comes from constant, even small, steps toward your God-given vision.
• No More ‘Getting Ready’: Faith makes a move now, not at some undefined time in the future.

This episode delivers a direct challenge: Evaluate your faith, get honest with yourself, and let your actions catch up with your words. Don’t just talk faith—walk it out in every area of your life.