Podcast Summary: "The Measure of Faith, Part One"

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Episode: Jesus the Healer Broadcast
Date: February 25, 2021

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores the crucial subject of faith—specifically, understanding “the measure of faith.” Speaking from her ranch in Colorado, Pastor Nancy focuses on faith’s vital role in the believer’s life, emphasizing that faith is both God’s way of doing business with us and is the only pathway to please Him. She shares scriptural insights, personal experiences, and practical advice for applying and growing one’s measure of faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Faith: God’s Way of Operating (00:45)

• Faith is Vital:
  • Pastor Nancy begins by reading Hebrews 11:6 (“Without faith, it is impossible to please God”) and explains that faith is not just a spiritual accessory but the foundation for receiving from God.
  • “When we need something from God, the way we conduct business with Him is on the basis of faith. He can only work for us when we're in the flow of faith.” (02:10)
• God’s Satisfaction:
  • She clarifies a common misconception, stating that God is not displeased out of anger, but because He wants to help us but cannot operate apart from faith.
  • “He’s not pleased when He can’t work for us and supply the things we need in this life. That’s why without faith it’s impossible to please Him.” (03:15)

Faith Is a Lifestyle, Not a Moment (04:10)

• Everyday Living:
  • Nancy references Hebrews 10:38 (“The just shall live by faith”), emphasizing that faith needs to be a daily, lived-out reality.
  • “It’s to be our lifestyle every single day that we learn to have faith thoughts, speak faith words, have faith actions.” (05:12)
• Faith Over Good Works:
  • Good works alone, she says, are insufficient without faith.
  • “You can have all the good works in the world, but without faith, we still won’t be pleasing to God.” (06:12)

Faith is of the Heart, Not the Mind (07:10)

• Believing from the Spirit:
  • She distinguishes between mental assent and heart faith. Overthinking or mentally analyzing what God’s going to do leads to overwhelm.
  • “You cannot believe God with your mind… you have to let your heart believe what your mind cannot understand.” (08:00)
• Illustration:
  • Nancy compares faith to sitting confidently on an airplane despite not understanding aerodynamics, underscoring the necessity of heart-trust over mental understanding.

Victory Is Tied to Faith (10:45)

• Scriptural Basis:
  • 1 John 5:4 is quoted: “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”
  • “Your victory is waiting for your faith to show up. When your faith shows up, victory is the result.” (11:40)

How Faith Comes and Is Released (12:10)

• Acquiring Faith:
  • Romans 10:17: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
  • Faith doesn’t come by praying for it or wishing; it comes from feeding on and acting on the Word.
  • “Faith comes by hearing, but faith is not released by hearing.” (13:03)
• Using Faith:
  • Faith is released by speaking and acting on the Word. Hearing brings faith, but using it is what activates it (“turn your faith loose”).

The Measure of Faith: Receiving and Growing (14:08)

• A Starting Measure:
  • Romans 12:3 declares God gives “the measure of faith” to every believer at salvation.
  • Growth is the believer’s responsibility:
    • “Once He gives us that measure of faith, it is up to us as to the condition of that faith—whether it will grow, be dead, or inactive.” (15:30)
• Faith is Measurable and Dynamic:
  • “Faith never is stationary. It’s either growing or diminishing. You’re not just floating in neutral.” (16:40)
  • She likens faith to ingredients in a recipe—if the correct measure isn’t used, the outcome is unsuccessful.
  • “Faith can be measured, and we have to apply the correct measure of faith to our situations.” (18:15)

Testimony: Medication and Growing Faith (19:00)

• Personal Story:
  • Nancy shares about a time early in her walk when she faced a health issue. Despite wanting divine healing, she sensed her faith was overwhelmed and not at the needed “measure” yet.
  • The Holy Spirit told her:
    • “‘Go on the medication, but while you’re on the medicine, continue to feed your faith. When your faith reaches full measure, then I’ll tell you when to come off the medicine.’” (20:55)
  • After three months of feeding and exercising her faith, she was able to stop the medicine with no negative side effects.
• Key Takeaway:
  • “What displeases God is if we won’t use faith… It’s faith that pleases God, not withholding things.” (22:30)

Faith, Medical Treatments, and Condemnation (23:45)

• Wisdom and Faith:
  • She encourages believers not to fall into condemnation if they need medical assistance, but not to neglect using their faith alongside it.
• Holy Spirit Leads by Your Measure:
  • “The Holy Spirit won’t lead you based on someone else’s faith… He’ll guide you today based on the measure of faith you possess today.” (25:20)

Counseling Others: Matching Their Faith (27:10)

• On Counseling:
  • She stresses the danger of counseling or agreeing with others at a faith level they don’t actually possess.
  • Example from Kenneth Hagin:
    • He learned to help people apply their faith where they actually are, not where someone wishes them to be (29:50).
• Prayer of Agreement:
  • “If I’m praying for someone to receive divine healing but they’re just praying to be able to find the right doctor—that’s not agreement. What can they believe for?” (33:10)

Jesus’ Approach to Faith (36:49)

• Never Criticized Measures:
  • “I noticed this about Jesus… He never rebuked someone for their measure of faith. What He did rebuke them for was not using the measure of faith they had.”
  • Maturity is knowing where you— or another—actually are and working with God from that place.

Memorable Quotes

• “Faith is our part. Then we become more skillful at cooperating with God, cooperating with His power, cooperating with heaven.” (02:45)
• “I’m not going to let my mind go there. I’m just confident it’s going to arrive. And that’s the same confidence we need to show God.” (09:05)
• “Faith is measurable. The Bible speaks of weak faith, strong faith, growing faith, increasing faith, dead faith. All of these are measures.” (17:50)
• “The Holy Spirit will never lead you beyond your measure of faith. If you get out beyond your measure of faith, you’ll fail. If you stay within, you’ll succeed.” (25:40)
• “It’s not my job to invoke my faith on them. It’s my job to join my faith with their measure of faith. That’s what the prayer of agreement is.” (34:15)
• “God will never criticize you over your measure of faith. It’s when we don’t use it that He’s displeased.” (37:10)

Important Timestamps

• 00:45 — Introduction to the episode and faith as God’s system.
• 04:10 — Faith as daily living, not a moment.
• 07:10 — Faith is of the heart, not the mind.
• 10:45 — Faith gives victory (1 John 5:4).
• 12:10 — How faith comes—by hearing, and is released—by speaking and acting.
• 14:08 — God gives every believer “the measure of faith.”
• 19:00 — Testimony: growing faith to receive healing while using medicine.
• 23:45 — Wisdom and peace in mixing faith with medicine.
• 25:40 — Holy Spirit leads according to your level, not others.
• 27:10 — Matching faith in counseling and prayer agreements.
• 36:49 — Jesus’ attitude toward using the measure of faith.

Final Thoughts

Pastor Nancy concludes by reiterating the importance of recognizing and using the measure of faith you have, growing it through the Word and action, and extending grace to yourself and others in the process. She promises to continue this theme in the next episode, encouraging listeners not to miss it.