Podcast Summary: "Authority That Restrains"

Dufresne Ministries Podcast | Miracle Crusade 2021, Fredonia, NY
Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Date: August 21, 2021

Overview

This message from Pastor Nancy Dufresne, delivered during the Miracle Crusade 2021, explores the authority believers possess in Christ—especially its "restraining" power. She unpacks how Christians are called not just to walk in dominion, but to become skillful stewards of it, using their God-given authority to restrain the plans of the enemy in individual lives and the world. The tone is passionate and motivational, grounded in scripture, with practical examples and personal experiences underscoring her points.

Main Points & Insights

1. Understanding Our Authority in Christ

• Key Texts: Psalm 8:4–6; Matthew 18:18
• God created man “a little lower than Himself,” assigning dominion over His works.
• Adam lost this dominion, but Jesus restored it, making it the shared inheritance of believers.
• "It's our privilege and our responsibility to become skillful with the dominion that’s been made ours." (15:35)

2. Authority as Restraining Power

• Scriptural Examples: Exodus 14 (Red Sea), Numbers 21 (Fiery Serpents)
• The authority to "bind and loose" (Matthew 18:18) is a restraining force.
• Illustration: At the Red Sea, God’s power physically restrained Pharaoh’s advancing army, but Moses still had to exercise his authority (09:30–13:30).
• Fiery Serpents: The protection God restrains over believers is often unseen—complaining removed this restraint, exposing the Israelites to danger (16:00–18:30).

3. Obedience: The Key to Authority’s Effectiveness

• Obeying God keeps us within His protective boundaries.
• "Long life is connected to His plan. If we veer from His plan, no amount of broccoli, cauliflower, walking...will extend life. Long life is connected to His plan, first and foremost." (25:22)
• Authority doesn’t function properly outside God’s plan, regardless of personal effort.

4. The Role of Divine Connections

• God connects us with spiritual leaders ("voices of authority") who help restrain dangers or attacks beyond our own authority level.
• Personal Story: Pastor Nancy recounts how Brother Copeland’s declaration and prayer offered supernatural protection that she could sense (47:45–53:00).
• "It’s not just your authority that God made available to your life, it’s the authority of the ones He set you with." (52:15)

5. Practical Outworking of Dominion

• The authority of the tither, the value of honoring parents, and the unique authority exercised by pastors and spiritual parents are all outlined with real-life testimonies.
• Testimony: The son of a pastor, often blessed jokingly by a traveling minister, was miraculously healed after a car accident, recalling those blessings in his moment of crisis (61:30).
• Lesson: Use spiritual authority freely in your own household, workplace, and within your congregation.

6. The Church as the World’s Restrainer

• Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:3–8 (amplified)
• The church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is the restraining force that hinders the full manifestation of lawlessness and evil in the earth (68:00–71:15).
• Using our authority in prayer for those in civil and spiritual leadership directly affects the atmosphere of our nations (1 Timothy 2:1–4).

7. Consistency in Exercising Authority

• God instructs His people to be like "watchmen" (Isaiah 62:6–7), consistently declaring His promises and not staying silent.
• "Keep not silence. God invites your mouth, your words of authority, your words of dominion, your words, a promise in your mouth." (89:40)

8. Corporate and Personal Dominion

• Believers are called to restrain world events, political maneuverings, and attacks of the enemy through unified, faith-filled praying (78:45).
• The end-times will unfold on God’s calendar, not the enemy’s, as long as the church operates in its authority.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Heaven takes its cues from us in the exercise of our authority.” (07:55)
• “Restraint: They were present, but restrained. Our enemies are present everywhere, but not within. They're under our dominion.” (23:20)
• "The plan of God is our safe place to where things are perfectly restrained." (26:10)
• On spiritual relationships: “Pay attention to who God uses to rescue you...Not only do they have an anointing for your life, they have an authority for your life that will be a blessing…” (53:00–54:30)
• “It’s not my job to save money. I am not called to save money. I’m called to fulfill the plan.” (57:45)
• “The pastor is a parent of that congregation...you are authorized to lay your hands on them and bless them anytime.” (62:22)
• “The dominion of a higher anointing will bless you and some of that blessing [is] restraining something from your life that the devil had planned.” (59:33)
• “We were made for dominion. Made for it. Made for it.” (78:54)

Key Timestamps

• 00:29–03:10: Expressions of gratitude to hosts, staff, other ministers, and congregation
• 03:57–08:00: Introduction to topic of authority and dominion; Psalm 8:4–6 discussion
• 09:15–13:30: Restraining power in Exodus 14—the Red Sea narrative
• 16:00–18:30: Numbers 21—restraining power removed, fiery serpents released
• 23:20–27:10: Living "restrained but not removed"; importance of submission and alignment to God’s plan (James 4:7)
• 47:45–53:00: Brother Copeland’s intervention and its impact (“No, you don’t, Satan!”)
• 58:40–62:22: The pastoral office’s authority; testimonies of blessing, protection, and miracles
• 68:00–71:15: The church as the restrainer (2 Thessalonians 2)
• 75:00–79:54: Invitation to receive healing; authority in operation in the healing ministry
• 89:40–93:26: Watchmen and persistent prayer (Isaiah 62); prophetic encouragement from Pastor Noel

Tone and Language

Pastor Nancy’s message is both instructional and fervently exhortative. Repetitions like “Praise the Lord,” “Amen,” and rhetorical questions keep the mood celebratory yet focused, reflecting revival-meeting energy. She uses vivid imagery, stories, and specific scriptures to ground big concepts in relatable, actionable terms for her audience.

Conclusion

Pastor Nancy closes with a powerful challenge: take up your dominion in Christ—not only for yourself but for your church, city, and nation. She encourages the audience to become watchful, consistent in their authority, and sensitive to divine assignments and relationships that carry life-saving, destiny-altering restraint. The episode ends prophetically, with an emphasis on obedience, spiritual connections, and the continual, dynamic exercise of God-given authority.

To remember:
“I was made for dominion and I’m going to use it.” (96:38 – congregation repeat)