Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Title: Developing The Skill Of Responding
Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Event: DM Miracle Crusade, Phoenix, AZ (March 11, 2020, Monday PM)
Theme:
Pastor Nancy Dufresne delivers a powerful message on the importance of developing the spiritual skill of responding—to God, to His Word, to the Holy Spirit, and within church services. She teaches that the flow of miracles in a believer’s life is not arbitrary but is strongly linked to how we respond when God leads us. The episode emphasizes that miracles, breakthroughs, and spiritual growth are tied to obedience and responsiveness rather than passive faith or ritual attendance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. It's Time for Miracles—Emphasizing the Season

• God declared to Nancy in September: “It’s time for miracles.”
• “When he says it’s miracle time, it’s because we need to emphasize miracles, believe for them, study them, call for them, become skilled at receiving and ministering miracles.”
• Miracles are not solely for personal benefit; believers are called to become vessels for others’ miracles.

2. Faith Goes Both Ways: Receiving and Ministering

• Faith is not just for personal gain:
  • “Faith goes two directions. It goes in the receiving direction and in the ministering direction.” (03:39)
• The spiritual life includes taking responsibility for others, sharing what God deposits in you.

3. Skill in Responding: The Key to God’s Flow

• God only uses those skillful in responding to Him:
  • “God can only use people that know how to respond to Him.” (05:31)
• Many believers fail to access God’s fullness because they don’t know (or refuse) to respond—whether that’s to miracle power, the Word, the Holy Spirit, or prophetic moments in church.

4. Breaking Old Habits: Church is Participation, Not Observation

• Candid personal stories show the transformation from “church as a spectator sport” to active, responsive participation.
  • Example: Nancy growing up in a tradition without hand-raising or outward response, overcoming discomfort:
    • “We never knew we had any part of response in church…we expected the pastor to do it all. …We got to the measure we responded.” (08:00-09:30)
• Tangible acts—raising hands, hugging, greeting—can be spiritual responses, not just personality quirks.

5. Flesh vs. Spirit: Learning to Step Over the Flesh

• Repeated emphasis: To respond spiritually, one must “step past your flesh.”
  • “If you’re ever going to live out of your spirit, you have to step over your flesh and put it down.” (16:30)
• Personal example: Learning to be welcoming as a pastor despite natural reticence.

6. Miracles Require Response, Not Just Faith

• Notable teaching:
  • “You can have faith and not ever respond to the faith that’s in you and still walk out sick. It’s not up to just faith. It’s up to response.” (27:51)
• The new birth, healing, prosperity—none come by simple exposure to the message but by response.

7. Biblical Case Study: Mary at Cana (John 2)

• Mary’s instruction at the wedding—“Whatsoever He says to you, do it”—is identified as the key to miracle manifestation.
  • “Whatsoever God says to you, do it. …This is the key to miracles.” (40:45)
• Miracles are released through human responsiveness, even when the response seems irrational or inconvenient.

8. Personal Testimony: Responding in Finances

• When God asked Nancy to sow a large offering she did not have, her response set a miracle into motion, eventually resulting in a larger, unexpected gift.
  • “If I hadn’t responded…if I would have responded wrongly, I would have eaten the fruit of my response and I would have struggled. But because I responded rightly, [the provision came].” (56:26)
• Delayed or wrong response can hinder breakthrough.

9. Miracle Flow is Unique—Don’t Copy Others’ Instructions

• Don’t try to apply someone else’s instructions or faith measure:
  • “Don’t take what [God] told you and counsel someone else with the counsel given you. …He’ll counsel everyone based on their measure of faith.” (1:02:20)

10. Responding Brings Prosperity and Peace

• Reference to Job 22:21 (Amplified):
  • “Acquaint now yourself with Him… agree with God… and show yourself to be conformed to His will… By that you shall prosper, and great good shall come to you.”
  • Inner agreement and prompt action draw provision and peace.

11. The Practice: Daily, Small Acts of Response

• Responding doesn’t always mean monumental tasks.
  • “Sometimes He could have prompted you to read a certain book…listen to a certain message…” (1:20:29)
• Obedient response in even minor directions opens the way for larger miracles.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Personal Change:
  • “If you’re ever going to live out of your spirit, you have to step over your flesh and put it in down.” (16:30)
• On Pastoring in the Spirit:
  • “I had to become what my flesh was not so that my spirit… would take its rightful place and say, not here you don’t.” (20:22)
• Key to Miracles:
  • “Whatsoever he says to you, do it. This is the key to miracles.” (40:45)
• On Faith and Response:
  • “You can have a bucket full of faith. But if you never open your mouth and respond, you’ll go down with a bucket full of faith on the inside of you.” (30:39)
• Obeying Despite Circumstances:
  • “God has told me to do things at the most absurd times in my life. …Because now you know you can’t do it and only He can.” (1:12:26)
• On Family, Ministry, and Obedience:
  • “If you want your home blessed, obey him, not people... Jesus had to do that.” (1:14:47)
• Nike Reference:
  • “Nike was not the first—just do it. Mary was the first: ‘Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.’” (1:18:36)
• Everyday Miracles:
  • “Remember what I said, quoting Oral Roberts: Every day, miracles are coming to you or going past you. Say this with me—today I take my miracle.” (1:26:45)

Key Timestamps

• 00:01 - 05:30 — Introduction about miracle season and God’s emphasis
• 05:31 - 09:30 — The necessity and definition of response in church and daily life
• 09:31 - 18:00 — Nancy’s personal struggles with responsiveness and fellowship
• 18:01 - 27:51 — The need to overcome flesh, faith vs. response
• 27:52 - 40:44 — Receiving vs. responding, working vs. appearing of miracles
• 40:45 - 51:45 — John 2 story: Mary and the miracle key
• 51:46 - 1:05:29 — Testimony of financial response, and teachings on “whatsoever He says”
• 1:05:30 - 1:20:28 — Unique miracle instruction, obedience vs. advice, Job 22:21 amplified
• 1:20:29 - End — Practical daily application, closing exhortations, impartation prayer

Actionable Takeaways

• Practice responding daily: Look for ways, big or small, to act on the Word or the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
• Get past the flesh: Recognize and surmount discomfort or habit that blocks spiritual response.
• Don’t copy others: Seek and follow God’s unique instructions for you—don’t mimic someone else’s directive.
• Immediate, cheerful obedience: Don’t delay action when God speaks.
• Value the hidden miracle process: Understand miracles may unfold step by step ("the working of miracles") rather than instantaneously.

Conclusion

“Developing The Skill Of Responding” is a deeply practical and inspiring teaching, re-framing the flow of miracles not as luck or sovereignty alone, but as the fruit of a responsive, obedient heart. Pastor Nancy’s candid stories, rich scripture references, and repeated call to “step over your flesh” drive home her point: what brings God’s supernatural into our lives isn't simply believing—it's acting on what we hear. “Whatsoever He says to you, do it” emerges as both mantra and map for a life marked by the miraculous.