Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: The Dealings Of God | Chris Cody | Tuesday AM | Campmeeting 2021
Date: June 8, 2021
Host/Speaker: Pastor Chris Cody, with introduction by Nancy Dufresne
Main Theme:
Understanding and cooperating with God's dealings in our lives—how to live ordered, fruitful Christian lives by aligning ourselves with God's plan, learning from correction, and avoiding disorder, confusion, and aimlessness.

Episode Overview

Pastor Chris Cody delivers a passionate and practical message on discerning and responding to the dealings of God. Drawing from personal experience, scripture, and prophetic words, Pastor Cody exhorts believers to examine their lives, reject vague or thoughtless living, and embrace a journey of accuracy, preparation, and obedience to God’s unique plan. The episode is rich with insights into the pitfalls of spiritual aimlessness, the importance of spiritual order, and the blessing of humility and self-examination.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Personal Testimony: From “Nothing and Nowhere” to God’s Purpose

• Chris Cody begins with humor and humility, recognizing any good in him comes from God, referencing his roots and the transformative power of God’s calling. (00:23)
• Memorable quote:

  “If you see anything good in me, it’s the God in me.” — Chris Cody (00:23)

2. Learned Lessons About Prosperity and God’s Dealings

• Shares about hitting a season where he felt he had “arrived” in prosperity, only to immediately be challenged, leading to revelation: prosperity is not based on circumstances but on God’s provision at the point of salvation. (03:40)
• Pastor Nancy’s prophetic word to “learn the lesson in the stretch” during tight seasons.
• Memorable quote:

  “Never again, son. Define your prosperity or your condition by an outward circumstance, good or bad.” — Chris Cody, recalling God’s instruction (07:15)

3. Discerning Failure and Progress in Christian Life

• Cody reflects on why many Christians and ministers live frustrated, not advancing as they should: introspective honesty is needed rather than blaming opposition or circumstances. (10:30)
• Learning not to blame lack of progress on the devil or people—everyone faces opposition, including Jesus and Paul.
• Memorable quote:

  “Faith is not designed to operate while you stand on the ground of rebellion.” (35:41)

4. Observations on Spiritual Stagnation and Studentship

• It’s possible to be in the right church and still miss what God has; the issue is often being a "bad student."
• God is the author of peace (well-being, wholeness, prosperity). Chronic confusion and disorder signal we are out of God’s order. (20:38)
• Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33 (“God is not the author of confusion but of peace”)
• Disorder/confusion is contrasted sharply with God’s peace and order.

5. The Importance of Prayer, Listening, and Preparation

• Quoting Kenneth Hagin: The reason for a lack of spiritual manifestations and fruit is that people don’t “take time to hear from Me.”
• Quote:

  “People who pray know. People who don’t guess. Guessing your way through life as a Christian is a recipe for failure.” (27:40)

• God expects every believer to know His will and live intentionally—not guessing, not coasting.

6. Self-Examination: The Biblical Pattern

• 1 Corinthians 11:28—“Let a man examine himself.” Regular self-examination is crucial—not self-condemnation, but honest appraisal and re-alignment.
• “None of us are going to arrive at our God ordained end by ourselves.” (53:25)

7. God’s Dealings Are Often Meticulous

• Pastor Cody recounts receiving a prophetic word about God dealing with him “meticulously.” (01:04:10)
• The higher the call, the more God deals with you on small details, preparing you for future responsibilities.

8. The Dangers of Aimless and Disordered Living

• Cautions against living like a billiard ball—simply reacting to life rather than living proactively and purposefully under God’s guidance.
• Calls believers to “be accurate”—which means living “free from failure.”

9. Ephesians 5 and Living Purposely

• Ephesians 5:15–17—Live “purposefully, worthily, and accurately.”
• Contrasted with three warnings from the Amplified Bible:
  • Don’t be vague (wandering, unsettled, unfixed)
  • Don’t be thoughtless (heedless, careless, neglectful, even “stupid”)
  • Don’t be foolish (void of understanding/sound judgment)
• God’s will is not unknowable; diligence in prayer, study, and obedience reveals it.

10. Practical Obedience: A Personal Example

• Pastor Cody shares how God challenged him to get up at 6am, six days a week—a discipline designed to “gain mastery over my flesh.” He resisted, but God “paused” progress until he obeyed. (01:16:00)
• Memorable moment: His confession of needing accountability, even arranging for a church member to text him daily to help obey.

11. Prophetic Encouragement to Fellow Ministers

• Addresses specific prophetic encouragement to Pastor Jay and others: a coming season of “great acceleration, advancement and promotion… the hidden are about to be revealed.” (01:48:45)
• Urges all to “enjoy the ride” and value preparation seasons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On prosperity:

  “You became the prosperous at the very same moment you became the righteous.” (07:15)

• On misalignment:

  “There is nothing safe about your plan… You have no expectation from the Word that God will involve Himself at all in your plan.” (41:16)

• On spiritual drift:

  “It’s not good to live your life like a billiard ball on a pool table... You can’t let life happen—you have to make life happen.” (01:10:15)

• On knowing God’s will:

  “People who pray know. People who don’t guess—and they guess wrong.” (27:40)

• On the call to accuracy:

  “The word ‘accurate’ means something that’s free from failure. If I’ll get more accurate, I’ll have less failure.” (01:29:05)

• Encouragement to the audience:

  "Enjoy the ride. Enjoy preparation time... Get all you can." (01:53:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:23 — Chris Cody introduction; acknowledging his roots and God’s grace.
• 03:40 — Lessons on prosperity; recounting a word from Pastor Nancy.
• 10:30 — Addressing spiritual frustration and the need for honest self-examination.
• 20:38 — The meaning of “confusion” and God’s nature as author of peace/order.
• 27:40 — The importance of prayer over guessing; Hagin’s principle.
• 35:41 — Faith and obedience: “faith does not work on the ground of rebellion.”
• 41:16 — Dangers of following “your plan” versus God’s plan.
• 53:25 — The necessity of mentors and spiritual oversight—“none of us arrive alone.”
• 01:04:10 — God’s “meticulous” dealings and phases of preparation.
• 01:16:00 — Personal story of God disciplining Pastor Cody to rise at 6am; practical obedience.
• 01:29:05 — Ephesians 5: living purposefully, worthily, accurately; dangers of vagueness.
• 01:48:45 — Prophetic word to Pastor Jay on coming acceleration/promotion.
• 01:53:00 — Final encouragement: “Enjoy the ride… Get all you can.”

Actionable Takeaways

• Develop a disciplined, purposeful walk with God—avoid vague or thoughtless living.
• Embrace seasons of stretching—they’re opportunities for growth and learning, not signals of abandonment.
• Regularly examine your life and ministry; seek correction and order, not just comfort.
• Prosperity, fruitfulness, and peace come from aligning with God’s order, not from circumstances.
• Don’t live life by reaction; proactively seek God’s will and be humble, correctable, and teachable.
• Preparation and self-mastery are essential—God’s dealings might be “meticulous,” especially for those with greater callings.

Closing Encouragement

Pastor Cody’s message is a rally to live skillfully under God’s direction, to allow God to deal with us even in the small things, and to refuse spiritual mediocrity. The prophetic charge is to enter into the upcoming season prepared, humble, and determined to walk accurately before God—for His glory and our fullest blessing.

For more information or to access resources, visit dufresneministries.org.