Podcast Summary: "What Are You Moved By?" — Morgan Dufresne at World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA (September 25, 2019)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, featuring Morgan Dufresne, explores the central question: "What Are You Moved By?" Through biblical examples and practical teaching, Morgan examines three primary influences on human action—emotions, desires, and knowledge—and contrasts them with living a life led by the Holy Spirit. Her aim is to encourage believers to recognize what drives their responses and decisions, and to prioritize the leading of the Spirit above all else.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction of the Three Influences (00:16)

• Morgan sets the stage by identifying three common things people are moved by: emotions, desires, and knowledge.
• Emphasizes that living by any of these, instead of the Spirit, causes us to miss God's leading.
• Quote:
  "It's not just about you putting down your emotions, it's about you missing the leading of God." (03:34)

1. Being Moved By Emotions (00:16–19:55)

Biblical Example: Peter Reacting to Jesus’ Arrest (Matthew 26)

• Peter’s instinctive, emotional reaction—drawing his sword—illustrates how acting on emotions can make us miss God's greater plan.
• Emotions often determine how people respond to circumstances, but these are the “carnal arena,” not the spiritual.
• Morgan humorously and candidly mimics common emotional reactions (“If you’re upset, just don’t be giving me no roller coaster ride... Just be straight with me.” 06:04) and encourages emotional stability.
• Emotional responses, if habitual, will spill over into all areas of life.
• Notable Teaching:
  "An emotion-driven life is a carnal life." (05:15)
• Peter's transformation: Only after being filled with the Holy Spirit did Peter overcome his impulsive responses.
• Morgan reassures listeners:
  "God is not looking for you to become a no personality... Our excitement, our passion comes from being full of the Spirit." (11:48)
• Key Insight:
  • Respond from your renewed, spiritual self—not your carnal emotions.
  • Living out of your emotions forfeits answers from God and the Holy Spirit’s direction.
• Memorable Quote:
  "To be moved by emotions is to forfeit the leading of the spirit. Your emotions will push down a leading." (15:47)
• Advice: When bad news comes, train your “quick response” to be spiritual:
  "I'm quick to say 'praise God, it’s gonna be all right.'" (13:46)

Additional Example: Moses and the Egyptian (19:14)

• Acting from emotional agitation, Moses kills an Egyptian, which leads to huge consequences.
• Sometimes it’s not the devil holding us back, but our own “carnal nature.”

Connection to Wisdom and Offense (20:58)

• Emotional people struggle to become wise, as they process life through circumstances instead of the Word.
• Avoiding offense is easier for believers rooted in faith and living by the Spirit rather than emotions.
• Notable:
  "Faith people are not easily offended because they're after their one thing: their miracle." (22:38)

2. Being Moved By Desire (24:14–32:44)

Clarification: Desire Isn’t Inherently Wrong

• Desires can be godly—many are authored by God—but trouble begins when we act to fulfill them out of impatience or without revelation.
• Abraham and Sarah’s impatience led to acting outside God's plan, causing problems.
• Critical Principle:
  "You cannot let your desire become stronger than your revelation." (27:09)
• Personal Example: Morgan shares about waiting six years for a home—not letting desire override revelation.

Impatience vs. Patience

• "God leads through patience. The devil leads through impatience." (29:36)
• Moving out of desire before getting direction and revelation decelerates progress, but God can accelerate when we finally align with Him.
• Desires should push us into prayer and deeper relationship with God, not hasty action.
• Practical Example: The disciples wanted to deliver a demon-possessed boy (Mark 9). They had desire and some knowledge, but lacked the full revelation—prayer and fasting were necessary.

Application

• Let the Word and the Spirit refine desires.
• "Let the desire for your own business drive you and stir you to getting into more of what God's word says." (33:52)
• Whenever a desire arises, pray it out before you attempt to act it out.

3. Being Moved By (Natural) Knowledge (32:46–41:00)

Analogy: Knowledge Without Spirit Is Like a Boat Without an Oar

• Getting a little knowledge can lead to hasty decisions without spiritual guidance, resulting in being “spun around” by circumstances.
• Good deals or decisions (even if logical) require the peace of the Holy Spirit.
• Example: Peter only cast down one net (Luke 5), obeying Jesus "within the context of his knowledge" instead of faith with revelation.
• "We obey, but within the context of our knowledge... trying to protect our time, our effort, our reputation." (38:33)
• Our limited knowledge can be a blessing, but it can also hold us back if we prioritize it over the Spirit's leading.

Practical Steps

• When faced with new knowledge (especially bad news), turn to worship and faith, not anxiety or analysis.
• "Instead of talking out of the knowledge you just gained, why don’t you turn your attention towards heaven?" (39:39)
• Knowledge can’t see the whole picture—God's perspective is eternal.

Conclusion: How To Be Moved Only By the Spirit (41:00–42:24)

• The goal is to be a faithful steward, letting the Holy Spirit guide.
• "Every time you act out of yourself, then Himself, the greater one... doesn't get to be Himself." (41:42)
• True fulfillment, blessing, and fruitfulness come when we let the Spirit lead, not the carnal self.
• Final Exhortation:
  "We're not going to be moved by desire. We're not going to be moved by emotions. We're not going to be moved by natural knowledge. We will only be moved by what the Word of God says and what the Holy Spirit leads us into. Amen." (42:13)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "An emotion-driven life is a carnal life." — Morgan Dufresne (05:15)
• "To be moved by emotions is to forfeit the leading of the spirit." (15:47)
• "You cannot let your desire become stronger than your revelation." (27:09)
• "God leads through patience. The devil leads through impatience." (29:36)
• "Instead of talking and thinking out of knowledge alone, learn when to shut that knowledge down and start worshiping and speaking out of the revelation that's in your heart." (39:39)
• "Every time you're too busy being yourself, the Holy Spirit doesn't get to be Himself." (41:42)
• "We will only be moved by what the Word of God says and what the Holy Spirit leads us into. Amen." (42:13)

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Title | Description | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | 00:16 | Introduction & Main Premise | The three things that move people | | 03:34 | Emotional Reactions: Peter’s Example | Peter’s impulsivity at Jesus’ arrest | | 13:46 | Shifting The Quick Response To The Spirit | How to retrain your “first reaction” | | 19:14 | Moses’ Emotional Response | Killing the Egyptian as a carnal reaction | | 22:38 | Faith, Offense, and Living by the Spirit | The Canaanite woman and avoiding offense | | 24:14 | Moved By Desire — Godly But Distracting | The Abraham/Sarah example; patience vs. haste | | 27:09 | Desire vs. Revelation | Why revelation must take priority over desire | | 29:36 | Patience: God’s Mode, Not Impatience | The enemy uses impatience to derail destiny | | 32:46 | Moved By Knowledge — Example & Analogy | Boat with no oar; Peter’s obedience by knowledge | | 39:39 | How To React: Not By Knowledge Alone | Worship and confession over carnality | | 41:42 | The Fruit Of Letting The Holy Spirit Lead | Letting the Holy Spirit "be Himself" in us | | 42:13 | Final Exhortation | Only be moved by the Word and Spirit |

Summary Takeaway

Morgan Dufresne's message is a call to spiritual attentiveness: What are you moved by? Emotions, desires, and natural knowledge are universal influences, but the victorious Christian life is marked by sensitivity and obedience to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Through practical examples, biblical narratives, and memorable moments, she lays out a path for moving beyond carnality to a fruitful, Spirit-led walk.