Podcast Summary: Steps of Faith, Part One | Nancy Dufresne | Jesus the Healer Broadcast

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Host: Nancy Dufresne
Date: April 27, 2022

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne lays a foundation for the series "Steps of Faith," emphasizing that true faith is not hard, but it requires knowledge of the steps involved. Pastor Nancy details the essential actions and attitudes that make faith active and effective, warning listeners against “getting stuck” on just one part of the process—especially confession—without practicing the full counsel of faith. She interweaves biblical teaching, practical examples, and personal testimony, all designed to stir listeners to examine and strengthen their own faith walk.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Faith Is Not Hard, But Requires Knowledge (00:26)

• Faith is simple when you understand the process, but problems arise when we focus on just one part.
  • “Faith is not hard. But you do have to have knowledge about what's involved.” (00:06)

2. Step One: Faith Hears (01:13 – 06:27)

• Faith begins with hearing the Word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
  • Hearing is not passive; it includes listening to God both through Scripture and by His Spirit.
  • “When we pick up our Bible, God's speaking to me when I'm reading—this is God speaking to me. Don’t just treat it as a book.” (01:40)
• It’s not enough to know scriptures; you must hear God’s strategy for your situation.
  • Don’t throw Bible verses at a need without hearing God’s approach.
  • “He may lead one person on one avenue and another person down another avenue. And you have to know which is your avenue.” (03:29)

3. Personal Testimonies: Different Avenues of Receiving (04:07 – 05:53)

• The path God uses for deliverance or healing may vary each time.
• “He will not rut you into only one way of receiving … Because as you grow up and mature spiritually, He puts greater demand on your faith.” (05:27)

4. Look Inward First (06:28 – 08:23)

• Before acting, listen for the Spirit’s guidance.
• Repetitive “doing what you know” without results indicates something is missing.
  • “If you're keeping on doing something over a period of time and getting no results, mm, something's missing. You're hopping on one foot and not arriving.” (08:18)

5. Step Two: Faith Meditates (10:18 – 14:55)

• After hearing, meditate on God’s Word until it becomes part of you.
• Meditation is a lifestyle, not a quick fix.
• Use your imagination as you meditate on the promises and see yourself in possession of them.
  • Nancy shared how she meditated on God’s promise about Amy’s castle, visiting and visualizing herself owning it, planning renovations. (13:37)
    • “If you’re believing for a house, get out and look for one. … You go when you're driving through there—that’s a form of meditation. You're putting that in front of you.” (14:24)
• “Confession is a form of meditation. You're speaking that over and over and over. You're driving that word into your spirit.” (17:27)

6. Step Three: Faith Acts (18:00 – 24:41)

• Once you’ve heard and meditated, then act on what God has said.
• Acting prematurely (without hearing or meditation) often leads to no results.
• Action includes standing your ground and praising God.
  • “When you know what God said and you anchor that on the inside of you, something's going to come to try to push you off that. And you're going to have to decide whether or not you're going to be swayed.” (20:53)
• Confession, standing, and praising are all important, but must be joined to hearing and meditating.

7. Warning Against Confession Alone (24:42 – 30:10)

• Many think just confessing Scripture is enough, but confession without hearing and meditation is ineffective.
  • “Confession is the lazy man’s way that some take. They don’t want to hear, they don’t take time to meditate … they just think, ‘I fulfilled it, I confessed it.’” (26:20)
• Faith-lingo and “talk” are not substitutes for the inward reality.
  • Memorable moment: Nancy recounts a conversation with a woman claiming to be “believing for children,” then realizing honestly, “I haven’t been believing, I just want them.” (32:45)

8. Faith Is Not Waiting—It’s Active (34:11 – 38:34)

• Passivity masquerading as faith (just waiting for provision) is a mistake.
• “People sit back and just want to confess in their victory… but they're missing it because they're trying to hop around on an insufficient application.” (37:49)
• Faith turns you into an action-taker, not a passive “waiter.”
  • “Faith will turn you into the hardest worker on the job. Faith will turn you into the best giver. Faith will make you all in.” (38:05)
• Stop waiting for opportunities, money, or blessings to fall into your lap—faith is an act.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. He’s telling you what to hear—the Word of God.” (01:20)
• “Your first action should be looking inward. What's the Spirit saying to me about this need? How is He telling me to address this need?” (06:43)
• “You have to anchor and settle yourself down on that word. … Meditation turns the impossible into possible only as long as that word finds its home in your heart.” (11:24, 12:40)
• “Faith is not just a healing line. Thank God for healing lines. Faith is not just a confession. Faith is hearing. Faith is meditating.” (29:44)
• “If someone were to ask you today, what verses are you standing on for your need, and you would not have some at the tip of your tongue, you're not meditating.” (30:20)
• “Let's not be okay with nothing changing. If nothing is changing, we gotta change.” (34:35)
• “Faith will make you all in. And people who sit back and just want to confess in their victory, confess in their prosperity, confess in money—they're missing because confession is part of it, but it is not all of it.” (38:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introduction & Purpose of Faith: 00:00 – 01:12
• Step 1: Faith Hears: 01:13 – 06:27
• Personal Testimonies about Healing & Divine Direction: 04:07 – 05:53
• Looking Inward for God’s Prescription: 06:28 – 08:23
• Step 2: Faith Meditates: 10:18 – 14:55
• Using Imagination & Confession in Meditation: 13:37 – 17:27
• Step 3: Faith Acts & Importance of Action: 18:00 – 24:41
• Warning on Confession Alone: 24:42 – 30:10
• Memorable Story about Faith Lingo: 32:45 – 33:47
• Faith Is Not Waiting – Call to Action: 34:11 – 38:34

Conclusion

Pastor Nancy Dufresne calls believers to examine their faith walk, emphasizing that faith operates best when all steps—hearing, meditating, and acting—work together. Hearing from God is the foundation, meditation roots His promises in our hearts, and action brings manifestation. Simply confessing the Word is not enough; faith is a living, dynamic process meant to stir us into confident, Spirit-led action.