Podcast Episode Summary

The Flow of the Kingdom

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: The Flow Of The Kingdom | Nancy Dufresne | Campmeeting 2024 | Tuesday PM
Date: June 5, 2024

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth teaching on "The Flow of the Kingdom" by Nancy Dufresne and various Dufresne Ministries leaders, including Pastor Billye Brim, Pastor Candice, and Pastor Debbie. The core message centers on understanding the Kingdom of God as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, and learning to operate in these divine forces in daily life regardless of external circumstances. Through scripture, personal testimony, and practical insight, listeners are invited to practice and become skillful in the flows of heaven—living out "days of heaven on earth."

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Identity in Christ and Kingdom Living

• Value of Our Position in Christ
  • The episode opens with reminders from Dad Hagin about feeding on "in Him" scriptures to discover who we are in Christ. This elevates one’s perspective from self-condemnation to royal identity.
  • Quote: "Why would we talk of something lower? Why would we focus on something less?" —Pastor Billye Brim (00:17)
  • Emphasis: Accepting accusations and diminishing thoughts is forgetting our true identity in Christ (01:08).

2. Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Heaven

• Scriptural Foundation: Romans 14:17
  • "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." —Romans 14:17 (04:47)
  • Distinction: The "kingdom of heaven" as a place and the "kingdom of God" as the government or way of operating (05:14).

3. The Flow: Righteousness, Peace, and Joy

• Defining the Flow
  • The kingdom's flow is not imitation or outward spirituality, but authentic, uninterrupted righteousness, peace, and joy (06:04).
  • These are not emotions but divine forces: "Peace and joy are forces. They are not feelings." —Pastor Candice (11:38)
• Living the Flow Despite Circumstances
  • Peace and joy do not depend on favorable scenarios but are drawn from within because the kingdom is inside the believer.
  • "Circumstances do not have to offer us peace and joy because righteousness is manifesting it." —Pastor Candice (08:32)
• Skill and Practice
  • God told Pastor Candice: "All I want you doing is practicing peace." (13:12)
  • Practicing the kingdom flow requires intentionality because the world's flow is default and does not require choice (13:44).

4. Practical Outworking: Choice and Responsibility

• We Choose Our Flow
  • "The devil had nothing to do with that. He offered the circumstance, but you make the choice." —Pastor Billye Brim & Pastor Candice (14:41–14:48)
  • Developing skill in choosing peace and joy is crucial, especially under pressure, as highlighted in the story of Brother Hagin reacting with, "Isn't Jesus wonderful?" in the face of criticism (20:21).
  • Quote: "No circumstance, no person, no economic problem, no political ordeal takes your choice from you." —Pastor Candice (21:08)
• Stirring Up the Kingdom Flow
  • "Everything God has put in you has to be stirred. And no one else holds the stick but you." —Pastor Candice (31:03)

5. Testimony and Illustration

• Personal Testimonies
  • Pastor Candice shares about overcoming grief and sorrow with peace and joy following her husband's homegoing. (12:12, 34:58)
  • The story of a church member who relapses into old patterns illustrates the importance of personal responsibility in maintaining the right spiritual flow (24:48–29:02).
  • Lessons: Talking about and magnifying wrong flows or negative circumstances entrenches them; instead, focus on righteousness and the kingdom flow.

6. Spiritual Authority and Inner Fellowship

• Fellowship as the Purpose of Righteousness
  • The highest purpose of righteousness is fellowship with God—not just gaining peace or joy, but union and oneness (51:10, 56:10).
• Prioritizing Fellowship over Outcomes
  • Many seek fruits of the faith (peace, joy, financial breakthrough) without prioritizing fellowship, but true outflow comes from communion with Him (52:32, 55:13).
  • Quote: "People are trying to get the outflow of Him but bypassing Him." —Pastor Candice (52:32)

7. Practical Spiritual Strategies

• Renewing the Mind
  • For persistent joy and peace, start with establishing yourself in righteousness—renewed mind and focus on "in Him" scriptures (49:03–49:53).
  • Stop trying to improve the "old man" in the flesh; fully embrace identity in Christ.

8. Victory Redefined

• Victory Is Inner Dominion, Not Outer Calm
  • "Victory is you being untroubled right in the midst of any circumstances, any opposition, and you don't even notice." —Pastor Candice (39:23)
  • Referenced Psalm 91: becoming "yourself inaccessible"—untouchable by circumstance because you are rooted in the secret place and kingdom flow (41:03–41:46).

9. Obedience and Hearing God

• The importance of consulting God before decisions—having the "witness of the Spirit" arms you against opposition and provides a ready answer (43:09–46:09).
• The deeper you go in peace and joy, the less accessible you become to the enemy's thoughts (46:09–48:17).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Identity in Christ:
  “Why would we talk of something lower? Why would we focus on something less?”
  —Pastor Billye Brim (00:17)

• Kingdom Flow:
  “The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. That is how heaven flows, and that’s how we are to flow on earth.”
  —Pastor Candice (06:04)

• Choice and Skill:
  “The flow has to be practiced because the flow of the world is all around you and it doesn’t have to be practiced...but God’s flow has to be chosen.”
  —Pastor Candice (13:19)

• Responsibility:
  “The devil had nothing to do with that...You make the choice.”
  —Pastor Candice (14:46–14:48)

• Peace in Adversity:
  "Grief and sorrow was no match for peace and joy."
  —Pastor Candice (12:12)

• Self-Image:
  "One of the greatest enemies to people is a poor self-image that comes because their minds not renewed to who they are in Christ."
  —Pastor Candice (50:01)

• Fellowship over Function:
  “The whole purpose of righteousness is not peace and joy. That's the outflow of it. The purpose of righteousness is so we're one with the Father.”
  —Pastor Billye Brim (51:10)

• Victory:
  “Victory is not the devil leaving you alone. Victory is you being untroubled right in the midst of any circumstances, any opposition, and you don’t even notice.”
  —Pastor Candice (39:23)

• Skillful Practice:
  "If we can't on purpose repeat it, we're not skillful."
  —Pastor Candice (34:13)

• Final Exhortation:
  “People are trying to get the outflow of Him, but bypassing Him. It’s Him. It’s Him... If you will tend to your fellowship with Him, everything else gets watered.”
  —Pastor Candice (52:32, 55:13)

Key Timestamps

• 00:17 — The importance of focusing on who we are in Christ
• 04:47 — Romans 14:17: Defining the kingdom flow
• 06:04–08:26 — The flow: righteousness, peace, and joy; not dependent on circumstances
• 13:12–14:48 — Skillfully choosing the kingdom flow over worldly flows; choice and responsibility
• 20:21–21:13 — Brother Hagin choosing his flow in adversity
• 24:48–29:02 — Testimony: Responsibility, choice, and spiritual authority over circumstances and thoughts
• 31:03–31:23 — Stirring up the kingdom within; personal agency required
• 39:23–41:46 — Redefining victory; being inaccessible to trouble (Psalm 91)
• 43:09–46:09 — Hearing from God and maintaining spiritual authority
• 49:03–50:38 — Practical application: Renewing the mind and rejecting self-condemnation
• 51:10–56:10 — Righteousness, oneness, and the centrality of fellowship with God
• 59:04 — Practical response: Turning adversity into prayer and refusing to exit the kingdom flow

Conclusion

This episode is a multi-voice, spiritually rich call to cultivate skill in living out the kingdom flow—righteousness, peace, and joy—not as fleeting emotions but as stable, divine forces available through conscious practice, obedience, fellowship, and a renewed mind. Listeners are left with the challenge and encouragement to choose their flow daily, draw from the heavenly resources within, prioritize fellowship with God, and experience true inner victory regardless of external storms.