Podcast Summary: "The Work of Believing, Part Two"

Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Host: Nancy Dufresne
Date: January 30, 2020

Overview

In this episode of "Jesus the Healer," Pastor Nancy Dufresne continues her exploration of "the work of believing," building upon principles of faith for experiencing God's miracles, provision, and fullness. She centers her teaching on the divine process given to Joshua in Joshua 1:8 and unpacks how believers can translate God's promises into manifested reality by engaging their mouth, mind, and actions in alignment with God's Word.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding the Work of Believing

• Theme Verse: John 6:29—"This is the work of God that you believe." (00:19)
• The crowd asked Jesus, "What must we do to work the works of God?"—they were seeking to see miracles.
• Jesus responds that belief—active faith—is the foundational “work” for miracles.

Notable Quote

"When you do the work of believing, that's when God does his work of manifesting." (00:39)
– Nancy Dufresne

2. The Divine Prescription: Joshua 1:8 (00:59)

A. The Power of the Mouth

• "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth."
• The journey to healing, prosperity, or any of God’s blessings begins with what the believer continually says.
  • “Prescription number one for arriving at the fullness of what God has provided... you’re going to have to deal with your mouth." (01:45)
• It's not about momentary faith statements but a lifestyle of speaking God's Word.

"The work of believing begins in your mouth." (02:18)
– Nancy Dufresne

• Negative talking (complaining, doubt) disqualified the first generation of Israel. Right speaking qualifies us to receive.

B. Speaking the Word—Beyond Confession

• Answering the devil (“Devil, you take your hands off that”), calling provision in (“Money, you come”), and worship are all ways of keeping ‘the word in your mouth.’ (03:19)
• Right speaking is not just rote confession; it is speaking aligned with God’s Word in every situation.

C. Meditate Day and Night—Your Thought Life (05:10)

• Meditation deals with the thought life and attention, not just verbal statements.
• Merely parroting faith language is not enough if the mind is not aligned.
  • “If we’re around the Word of Faith camp enough, we can learn proper lingo... but the lingo needs to be backed up by the right thoughts or it is just lingo.” (06:05)
• Meditation drives the spoken Word into your spirit where faith actually resides.
• People who say the right words but experience little change often lack genuine meditation.

"Meditation helps you process everything through the word and not through your feelings." (07:55)

• Meditation anchors you; it makes you consistent. A double-minded man (James 1) is unstable and doesn’t receive from God.
• Consistency is a true indicator of faith life. Meditation produces consistent, unshakable believers.

Memorable Story:

Nancy shares a personal battle following her husband Ed’s passing, meditating on “It’s the truth and no lie” (10:47) in the face of a business trial—showing how persistent meditation sustained her through months of challenge.

D. Spirit-Prescribed Meditation

• The Holy Spirit will prompt the specific part of God's Word you need for your moment. Don’t randomly pick verses—wait for His guidance (18:45).
• “If He prescribes one verse, don’t you go find seven. The devil would love to give you seven verses... to get you away from the one the Spirit prescribed for you.” (19:52)

E. The Third Step: Observe To Do (21:00)

• “...that you may observe to do according to all that’s written.”
• Obedience and corresponding actions come after filling the mouth and mind with the Word.
• Don’t act presumptuously or try to prove faith by “works” not led by the Spirit.
  • Examples: Stopping medication or giving away money outside faith and Spirit’s leading.
• Proper order: Word in mouth → meditation → Spirit-led action.

"It’s not acting that gives you faith... Spirit-led actions hit the target. This is the work of believing." (24:55)

Illustrative Analogy:

Nancy compares the process to loading and firing old muskets:

• Load gunpowder and bullet = putting the Word in your mouth.
• Packing with the rod = meditation, packing it into your spirit.
• Firing = Spirit-directed action.

3. The Principle Illustrated: Jesus' First Miracle (29:35)

• At the wedding in Cana, Mary tells the servants: “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
• The miracle came not by calculation or discussion, but by simple obedience to what Jesus said.

"Whatever He says to you, do it. That’s the work of believing... Not whatever you can figure out, calculate, or afford—but what He says." (32:03)

4. A Call To Enter the Miracle Flow (34:20)

• Now is the time for miracles. It requires daily, diligent engagement in "the work of believing."
• Miracles are accessed by faith, not passivity—listening, aligning, and acting.
• “Power meets movement. We don’t wait for everything to be in place before we move.” (39:12)
• Be responsive to the Spirit; don’t get stuck in tradition or assumption.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Works is everything, baby!" (03:01)
• “It’s a lifestyle of saying right... The word is filling our mouth, because circumstances are going to fluctuate, but the word never changes.” (03:29)
• "Meditation anchors you. It keeps you from drifting with everything that opposes you." (08:53)
• "You know someone's faith life by their consistency of life." (09:15)
• "All we have to know to arrive at success is: What did God say?” (13:10)
• "It's a joy to work when you know exactly what's expected of you. This is the work of believing: We know what's expected." (15:45)
• "Spirit-led actions hit the target. This is why people say faith stuff doesn't work: it doesn't work for empty people." (24:53)
• "The Holy Spirit will prescribe for you the verse that fits what your life needs.” (19:02)
• "Let the Spirit define the way... Don’t assume it’s got to be this way." (37:20)
• "Power meets movement. The more we move on what He says, the more the power flows to fulfill what He says." (40:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro to Work of Believing – 00:20
• Prescription from Joshua 1:8: Mouth, Meditation, Action – 01:00 to 22:00
• Power of Meditation and Mind Renewal – 07:00 to 12:00
• Personal Example on Meditation – 10:47
• Spirit-Prescribed Meditation – 18:45
• Three Steps of Believing (Musket Analogy) – 21:00 to 27:40
• Mary at the Wedding – “Whatever He Says, Do It” – 29:35 to 33:00
• Call to Engage and Let Spirit Lead – 34:20 to end

Final Encouragement

Nancy emphasizes that the season is ripe for miracles, and experiencing them is not a random event but the result of diligent, Spirit-led believing. Believers are called to fill their mouths with the Word, meditate continually, and act only at the Spirit’s leading—ushering in God’s best with accuracy and power.