Podcast Summary: Healing School #23 | The Widow's Son

Host: Nancy Dufresne (Dufresne Ministries)
Date: August 12, 2021
Episode Theme:
This episode of Healing School focuses on the miraculous story of Jesus raising the widow’s son in the city of Nain (Luke 7:11-17). Pastor Nancy Dufresne unpacks the compassion of Jesus, the operative power behind miracles, and how believers can flow in that same compassion to witness God’s healing power in their lives and the lives of others.

Main Theme & Purpose

Pastor Nancy Dufresne delivers an in-depth teaching on the compassion of Jesus, using the biblical account of the widow’s son at Nain. The purpose is to illuminate how compassion—rather than just faith or expectation—served as the driving force for the miracle, and to encourage believers to develop compassion in their own spiritual lives for healing and miracles to manifest.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: The City of Nain and the Widow’s Loss

• Biblical Text Focus: Luke 7:11-17

• Significance of Nain:

  • Jesus entered Nain only once, a city 21 miles from his headquarters in Capernaum.
  • Notable because it was the only recorded visit, yet resulted in a significant miracle.

• The Widow’s Situation:

  • Her only son had died; she was already a widow.
  • “I want to say something to those who may be watching who are widows. The Word says that God is the husband to the widow...He will take better care of you than any man could have ever taken care of you. So don’t you ever be afraid.” (07:08)

2. The Compassion of Jesus

• Jesus’ Motivation:

  • Emphasized that Jesus' compassion was toward the mother, not merely the son.
  • “Now notice it didn’t say, when he saw the young man. He had compassion. He said, when he saw the mother.” (10:53)

• Compassion Defined:

  • Spiritual, not just emotional:
    “Compassion is a spiritual flow. It’s not a mental, natural, or emotional flow. It’s a divine flow out of our spirits.” (13:45)
  • True compassion compels action, not just empathy.

• Application for Believers:

  • Believers are called to be full of compassion, just as Jesus was.
  • “Compassion is the miracle flow. Compassion is the healing flow.” (19:42)
  • Yielding to divine compassion positions believers to see miracles and healings.

3. Miracle Initiated by Compassion (Not Faith Alone)

• No Record of Faith or Request:
  • “We don’t see anything about faith mentioned. We don’t see anything about expectation mentioned. No one sent for Jesus. He showed up and compassion initiated a miracle.” (16:45)
• Impact:
  • Miracles can be initiated by compassion alone, demonstrating that God’s heart for people can bypass human initiative.

4. John G. Lake Testimony: Modern Example of Compassion

• Story:
  • John G. Lake, a minister with a healing anointing, responds to a woman in pain by reading healing scriptures and, when she was in agony, runs to her, holds her as he’s moved by compassion, and she is completely healed. (21:03–24:05)
• Lesson:
  • Compassion drives a person to run toward need and results in miracles.

5. The Nature of the Miracle: Simplicity, Authority, and God’s Will

• Jesus’ Actions:

  • He simply touched the casket and spoke, “Young man, I say unto thee, arise.” (26:32)
  • “Seven words change an eternal destiny of this man. A life that’s going to be lived out, that wouldn’t have been lived out. Seven words.” (27:01)

• Authority Over Death:

  • “Faith talks to what’s dead because it knows who it’s believing.” (27:25)
  • Jesus did not pray a long prayer, shout, or even make a show—he spoke with quiet authority.

• God’s Heart for Life:

  • “God has no part in death. He did not create man for death. He created him for life.” (28:06)
  • The reversal of premature death is always in line with God’s will.

6. The Spiritual Gifts Involved in Raising the Dead

• Gifts Required:
  • Gifts of healing, working of miracles, and gift of faith must be in operation. (29:19)
• Spirit-Led Miracles:
  • Manifestations of these gifts are “as the Spirit wills, not as we will.” (31:17)
  • “You can turn your faith on and off...but these gifts of the Spirit, they’re gifts. We don’t own them.” (32:00)

7. Broader Applications—Miracles for ‘Dead Things’

• Faith for Restoration:
  • Expands the teaching beyond physical resurrection:
    “Miracles are for dead things. Dead marriages, dead businesses, dead finances, dead relationships, dead health, dead organs, dead limbs. Miracles are for dead things.” (36:13)
  • Encourages believers to believe for miracles in all areas of life where deadness or loss has occurred.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Attention to Widows:

  • “God will not be outdone by a man. He will not be outdone. He will take better care of you than any man could have ever…” (08:21)

• On Compassion as a Spiritual Force:

  • “Compassion is not a pity, it’s not just a sympathy saying, ‘Oh, I feel bad for you.’…Compassion means this, to suffer with another so that you seem to be afflicted in the same way they are.” (14:40)

• On the Simplicity of Miracles:

  • “It’s not long prayers, it’s not long laborings. When you spend time in the presence of God, when you know God’s love for people and his heart for people, it’s not found in how many words you say. Seven words changed this man’s future.” (27:01)

• On Compassion Yielding Action:

  • “Compassion drives toward needs. It doesn’t just treat needs as a casual thing.” (22:01)

• On God’s Purpose in Miracles:

  • “If it was God, he wouldn’t have reversed it. God had nothing to do with this young man dying prematurely. God has no part in death.” (28:09)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:08]—Purpose of Healing School explained; introduction to Luke 7:11-17
• [07:08]—God as the husband to widows
• [10:53]—Compassion moves Jesus to action for the mother
• [13:45]—Definition of true, spiritual compassion
• [16:45]—Miracle initiated by compassion, not faith or expectation
• [19:42]—Compassion as the miracle flow for believers today
• [21:03–24:05]—John G. Lake story: compassion in healing ministry
• [27:01]—Power of short, faith-filled words in miracles
• [29:19]—Three gifts of the Spirit essential for raising the dead
• [32:00]—Gifts of the Spirit operate as the Spirit wills, not as we will
• [36:13]—Application: Miracles are for every ‘dead thing’ needing resurrection

Flow, Tone, and Style

Nancy Dufresne’s approach is pastoral, compassionate, and faith-inspiring, focusing on scriptural truths and practical spiritual application. Her language is accessible, reassuring, and motivating, designed to instill hope and expectation of God’s present miraculous power.

Summary Takeaways

• Jesus’ compassion is the driving force behind miracles, not just human faith or requests.
• True compassion is a spiritual force rooted in divine love and best accessed through time in God’s presence.
• Believers are encouraged to yield to compassion, making themselves available for God to use them as conduits for miracles.
• Miracles are available for every area of life where loss, death, or lack has occurred—faith in God’s compassion can resurrect what seems irretrievably lost.
• Gifts of the Spirit operate at God’s discretion, reminding believers to be both expectant and Spirit-led.

Recommended for listeners seeking a deeper understanding of the connections between compassion, miracles, and faith, and for those needing encouragement for restoration in areas of life that feel ‘dead.’