Podcast Summary: "Ask Large, Part One" | Nancy Dufresne | Jesus the Healer Broadcast

Dufresne Ministries Podcast — July 2, 2020
Host: Nancy Dufresne

Overview:

In this faith-building episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores the theme of how believers should “ask large” and expand their desires to match the abundance God has promised. Drawing on scripture, personal anecdotes, and practical illustrations, Nancy urges Christians to lift the limits off their faith, highlighting the spiritual principle that God's provision is only constrained by our own desires and expectations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. God’s Promise of Abundant Life

• Scripture Focus: John 10:10
  • Jesus came “that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”
  • The life of God within the believer is meant to produce abundance in every area—spiritually, mentally, physically, materially.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 01:08):

    “That life in us will produce something…abundance. Amen.”

• Key Insight: The “thief” (Satan) wants to steal this abundance, but believers must recognize and pursue the fullness of what Jesus has provided.

2. The Power of Faith and Desire

• Scripture Focus: Mark 11:22-24
  • Discusses moving mountains by faith; importance of speaking to obstacles and believing in the outcome.
  • Four-step pattern in Mark 11:24: desire, pray, believe, receive.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 04:37):

    “What you desire, what you pray, what you believe, and then you'll receive.”

• Key Insight:
  • Many think they have “faith problems” but actually struggle with limited desire.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 05:59):

    “Many people think that they have faith problems, when really they have desire problems. They desire too little.”

3. Removing Limits from Our Thinking

• Common Pitfall: People tend to only desire what they grew up with or have seen, rather than reaching for all God has.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 06:36):

    “Too many times we desire only what we grew up with. We only desire what we've seen around us.”

• The Word of God reveals that heaven’s resources are available to believers now, not just in the afterlife.
• Scripture Focus: Ephesians 1:3
  • “Blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
  • Everything heaven enjoys is available to us on earth.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 09:02):

    “Everything that heaven is enjoying right now…to us. None of heaven has been withheld.”

4. Desire Precedes Faith and Receiving

• If you don't desire more, you can’t have faith for more, and God won’t override your limitation.

  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 12:00):

    “If we don't desire it, our faith won't reach.”

• Prosperity isn’t just about money—it’s a mindset:

  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 12:29):

    “Prosperity is not about what's in your checking account. Prosperity is about the way you think.”

5. Illustrative Story: The Food Network Cook

• Nancy recounts watching a cooking competition where an amateur had 10 minutes of help from a world-famous baker, but only asked her to cut up fruit.
  • Shows how, even with all of heaven’s expertise available to us, we often ask for only the simplest help.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 16:08):

    “She should have said, ‘Can you make it in 10 minutes?’…but she didn’t.”

• Spiritual application: The Holy Ghost is the ultimate expert living within believers, yet we ask Him for very little.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 18:23):

    “With this genius, this greater one on the inside of us, all we do is reduce him many times. ‘I’m just wanting enough to pay my bills.’”

6. Breaking Free From Past Limitations

• The Holy Spirit told Nancy that the greatest enemy to prosperity is often our past—our upbringing, our experiences, and our expectations.

  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 11:18):

    “The greatest enemy to your prosperity is your past.”

• Personal story of teaching prosperity in a third-world country; seeing people too conditioned by lack to receive more.

  • She realized that, in God’s view, even first-world Christians might be “living like a third-world country” because of limited desires.
    Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 21:00):

    “To Me, you look like a third world country…You are not believing to ask for more.”

7. Historical Inspiration: Smith Wigglesworth

• Quoting revivalist Smith Wigglesworth from 1927:
  • “The last days are a time for the true people of God to engage in extravagant asking.”
  • Christians should “begin to believe on extravagant aspects…when you ask large…you believe.”

8. Christian “Asking”—Limiting God

• Returning to the cooking story, Nancy emphasizes that asking for less than what’s available insults God’s provision and ability.

  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 25:23):

    “We are the only ones that can limit Him.”

• Many Christians only believe for “just enough,” which is not pleasing to God.

  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 25:33):

    “I'm only believing just enough to pay my bills—and it doesn't please God that we think small of His ability.”

9. Practical Application

• Begin with greater desires, not just enough to “get by.”
• Let your faith and asking reflect the abundance of heaven.
  • Quote (Nancy Dufresne, 26:22):

    “You need to begin with greater desires…because your [faith can] go beyond what you desire.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The life in us will produce abundance.” (01:08, Nancy Dufresne)
• “Many people think that they have faith problems, when really they have desire problems. They desire too little.” (05:59, Nancy Dufresne)
• “None of heaven has been withheld from us. We are to live there before we go there.” (09:31, Nancy Dufresne)
• “Prosperity is not about what's in your checking account. Prosperity is about the way you think.” (12:29, Nancy Dufresne)
• “You have a genius—the Holy Ghost—on the inside of you…and makes himself available.” (17:28, Nancy Dufresne)
• “To Me, you look like a third-world country…because you are not believing to ask for more.” (21:00, Nancy Dufresne)
• “The last days are a time for the true people of God to engage in extravagant asking.” (Smith Wigglesworth, quoted at 22:10)
• “We are the only ones that can limit Him.” (25:23, Nancy Dufresne)
• “You need to begin with greater desires.” (26:22, Nancy Dufresne)

Important Timestamps

• 00:08–01:18 — John 10:10 and abundance through God’s life
• 01:18–03:55 — Mark 11: Principles of desire, faith, and speaking
• 04:37–05:59 — Four steps of desire, prayer, belief, receiving—diagnosing why desires matter more than faith
• 06:36–08:20 — Overcoming limitation based on upbringing and reaching for heaven’s abundance
• 09:02–10:59 — Ephesians 1:3; all heaven’s blessings are available now
• 11:10–12:29 — The role of your past in limiting God’s prosperity
• 13:03–17:28 — Food Network story: asking less from abundance right at your fingertips
• 19:32–22:05 — Realizing our own limitations and a story about teaching in a third-world country
• 22:10–24:09 — Smith Wigglesworth on extravagant asking
• 24:09–27:17 — Application: limiting God through small desires; call to “ask large”

Takeaway Message

Pastor Nancy Dufresne passionately calls on believers to expand their vision and desires, urging them to ask boldly for all that God has already made available. The episode finishes with a challenge to refuse limits, think differently, and allow God’s abundance to manifest fully in every area of life.

Listen for practical encouragement and inspiration to set your sights higher—and to “Ask Large” for God’s glory and your good.