Podcast Summary: Boldness | Nancy Dufresne | Sunday’s Online Service | 5.10.20

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast

Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Air Date: May 22, 2020

Episode Overview

This episode, led by Pastor Nancy Dufresne, explores the theme of boldness—not as a natural personality trait, but as a vital, spiritual force that must accompany faith. Nancy connects boldness to moving in the power of God, stepping into God-given assignments, and acting on what He says (especially in the face of adversity). She draws from scripture, personal testimonies, and classic revival examples to illustrate that boldness is both necessary and available to every believer.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Boldness as a Divine Flow, Not Personality

• Key Insight: Boldness isn’t about being extroverted or forceful. It’s a spiritual fruit—an “outflow of a person of faith” (02:30).

  • “Boldness is evidence that the Word has taken root in you. It’s not a personality thing.” — Nancy Dufresne [03:42]

• Clarification: Boldness does not mean being rude or unkind. It never operates outside of love.

2. Boldness Unlocks the Power of Faith

• Scripture: Hebrews 13:6 (Amplified): “We take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear...’” [06:25]
• Illustration: Like a trained boxer who faces an opponent with confidence—not timidity—believers must anchor themselves in God’s Word and boldly confront opposition.
  • “Boldness makes my footing sure.” — Nancy [09:16]

3. Personal Testimony: Boldness in Unfamiliar Situations

• Nancy recounts navigating financial challenges after her husband’s passing, including negotiating with bankers for $400,000 she didn’t know how to procure. [15:01]
  • She acted not on expertise but on what the Holy Spirit told her—boldly presenting the divine plan multiple times until it was accepted.
  • “It wasn’t enough that God gave me a plan. I had to go in and boldly present the plan. God puts faith in us, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the boldness to act on the faith.” [23:53]

4. Scriptural Case Study: Joshua

• Setting: Joshua is told to lead Israel after Moses’ death—a “congregation of millions who practiced disobedience” [31:18]

• Exhortation: God tells Joshua repeatedly to “be strong and very courageous”—i.e., bold. Courage, Nancy argues, is a synonym for boldness.

  • “If it was all up to God, why would Joshua need to be strong and courageous? There’s a courage called for on our part.” [36:55]

• Application: God’s instructions are often bigger than our means, so obedience requires bold, faith-filled steps that disregard intimidating circumstances.

  • “Your future is waiting for your boldness to arrive.” [44:25]

5. New Testament Model: Boldness in Acts

• Case: Peter and John heal the lame man (Acts 3–4). They act boldly, get called before religious leaders, and speak fearlessly.

  • “The anointing meets boldness. The bolder you are, the greater the anointing will flow.” [49:02]

• Religious leaders note the “boldness of Peter and John… and took knowledge they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Their boldness was a visible, spiritual force born out of relationship with Christ, not education.

• Definition: “Boldness is not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger or rebuff. It’s daring—beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action.” [53:05]

6. Boldness in Prayer and Spiritual Operations

• Scripture: Hebrews 4:16—come “boldly to the throne of grace…”

  • Boldness in prayer demonstrates victory over sin-consciousness, shame, and accusation [1:04:30]

• Practical Outflow: When praying, God may ask you to act—warn someone, help financially, or encourage them directly. It takes boldness to follow through (e.g., warning a pastor to change his church board).

7. Boldness is Transferable and Cultivated

• Personal Example: Dr. Lester Sumrall’s encounter with Smith Wigglesworth imparted boldness to him, illustrating that boldness can be caught by association and by being filled with the Spirit [1:00:32].

• “If you get full, all fear is washed out. Boldness is the outflow of divine confidence.” [1:02:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Presence and Boldness:
  “Our courage flows from who’s with us and not our own ability.” — Nancy [41:14]

• On Responding to God:
  “Miracles, healings, blessing, increase are all on the other end of boldness. Not just on the other end of faith, but boldness.” [1:14:50]

• On Obedience and Correction:
  (Describing correcting a pastor about his board)
  “It took boldness not just to pray, but to obey. The Holy Ghost is looking for people who will obey God and act in boldness on what God tells them to do. The motivation behind boldness is always love.” [1:12:30]

• On Limiting Ourselves:
  “We refuse to let our personalities limit us, but step into the flow of the divine characteristics of God flowing in us and blessing those around us.” [1:16:45]

Key Timestamps & Sections

• 00:00–08:00 – Introduction, definition of boldness, connection to faith (Hebrews 13:6)
• 08:01–14:00 – Illustration with boxing, boldness versus personality, personal banking story
• 14:01–26:00 – Testimony: negotiating with banks; the process of sticking to what God said
• 26:01–35:00 – Joshua’s call to courageous/bold leadership (Joshua 1)
• 35:01–47:00 – Stepping out in business, ministry—boldness required to act on God’s command
• 47:01–58:00 – Acts 3–4: Peter and John’s boldness; boldness increases the flow of God’s power
• 58:01–1:09:00 – Boldness in prayer (Hebrews 4:16); obeying God when He gives specific instructions
• 1:09:01–1:14:55 – Practical challenges in boldness, correction, and concluding admonitions

Final Takeaways

• Boldness is God’s expectation for every believer: It’s required not just to receive, but to activate the faith and gifts God has placed within us.
• It is rooted in love and certainty of God’s Word: “The only people safe to be bold are people who love.” [1:13:41]
• Boldness is spiritual and transferable: It increases by being filled with the Spirit, associating with bold people, and praying for it.
• Results, breakthroughs, and miracles are on the other side of bold steps.

For more resources, testimonies, or to engage with Dufresne Ministries, visit dufresneministries.org. Boldness for the believer is not an option, it's a necessity to fulfill God’s plan and walk in the fullness of His provision.