Podcast Summary: "Hear From God" | Nancy Dufresne | Prayer Conference 2024 | Wednesday PM (April 12, 2024)

Overview

In this Prayer Conference 2024 message, Pastor Nancy Dufresne teaches on the importance, process, and results of truly hearing from God. She challenges believers to move beyond merely superficial spiritual routines, emphasizing that spiritual safety, guidance, and fruitfulness depend on correctly discerning and acting upon God's voice. The session is infused with practical wisdom, scriptural backing, and personal experience, and closes with a time of ministry, worship, and prophetic encouragement.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. True Spiritual Connection and Relationship

• Pastor Nancy opens by referencing Pastor Craig’s sermon, highlighting a common misconception in churches: many people think they're connected simply because they know where they should be or who should be their pastor (01:40).
• She uses the analogy of a car's engine—having all the parts present isn't enough; everything must be properly connected for the engine to run smoothly.
• Superficial or “token” connections, such as watching services online or claiming a church as your own, are not substitutes for genuine, God-ordained proximity and engagement (05:24).
• She warns against letting convenience or finances dictate spiritual connection: “You can never let money decide how close your proximity is...your money is first and foremost for the plan of God” (08:50).

Notable Quote

“Many think that they’re connected just because they know where they’re supposed to be connected. That’s not connection.”
— Nancy Dufresne, (02:30)

2. God’s Invitation: ‘Come, Let Us Reason Together’

• Drawing from Isaiah 1:18–20, Nancy explains that God invites us not only to speak but to hear, and that life, blessing, and victory are only possible when we both listen and obey (13:43).
• She emphasizes that refusing to come and fellowship with God, to “reason together,” exposes believers to opposition and loss (15:50).

Notable Quote

“Because hearing Him changes the outcome if you act on what you hear.”
— Nancy Dufresne, (17:18)

3. Hearing on the ‘Mount’ and Not Consulting Those Outside

• Referring to Exodus 25, she urges believers to follow God’s pattern exactly—what He shows you “on the mountain.”
• She shares a sobering story: a young man hears God tell him not to marry someone but is persuaded otherwise by those who did not receive the same revelation, leading to years of difficulty (26:05).
• The priority: “Don’t be influenced by people who didn’t hear what you heard on the mountain.”

Notable Quote

“If you do, you get in trouble with God because He knows what you heard. And you have to not let even your own reasonings sway you away from what you heard just because you no longer feel His presence...”
— Nancy Dufresne, (28:36)

4. Faith Must Be Anchored in Hearing

• Citing Romans 10:17, Nancy teaches that faith only comes by hearing from God, not simply by good ideas, logic, or following others’ steps (31:21).
• She warns that presumption—acting without hearing—is both dangerous and fruitless.
• Personal testimony: Through seasons of hardship (specifically after her husband’s passing), hearing from God anchored and sustained her (34:15).

Notable Quote

“You don’t have the faith for what God didn’t say. You can’t barrel your way into…”
— Nancy Dufresne, (34:59)

5. Wisdom is the Principal Thing—Pursue Hearing Above All

• Proverbs 4:7 and James 1:5 are employed to teach that wisdom (God’s word, His instructions) is the top priority—above even “moving in faith.”
• “Many times people are moving ahead: ‘I’m just going ahead in faith,’ and they haven’t heard. That’s not faith, that’s presumption” (36:20).
• She illustrates, using humorous anecdotes (Bubby’s “ask” story at 38:45), that “asking” God means waiting to hear an answer.

6. Waiting to Hear: Wisdom and Safety in Decision-Making

• Nancy underscores the ripple effects of decisions—how leaders’ choices affect not just themselves, but families, staff, and entire congregations (41:01).
• She encourages patience: accuracy matters more than pace; it's better to be slow with certainty than fast with mistakes (45:00).
• Key advice: “Being adamant is not faith...If you have to be overly vocal to convince others, it’s not faith.”

Notable Quote

“To move ahead without having God’s mind, the only thing you’re left with is your mind. And that’s … a disadvantage.”
— Nancy Dufresne, (45:50)

7. Application: Daily Life, Ministry, and Major Decisions

• Even in “redemption package” truths (healing, prosperity, etc.), Nancy urges listeners not to randomly pick scriptures but to listen for which ones the Holy Spirit highlights in each situation (49:05).
• She shares her discernment about taking free media airtime—“I don’t just accept it because it’s free; free time to the wrong connection is not free” (52:30).
• Example from George Mueller—a man known for waiting months on God for major new ventures.

8. Dangers of Rushing and Self-Made Plans

• Proverbs 19:2–3: “It is dangerous and sinful to rush into the unknown. … To be over hasty is to sin and miss the mark” (54:46).
• She reminds listeners that God allows us to ‘learn the hard way’ if we ignore the need to hear first, but He is always willing to give us fresh wisdom if we humble ourselves (58:00).

9. Ministry and Prayer: Standing Only On What You’ve Heard

• Nancy shares a story about praying for someone facing a terminal situation. She could only have confidence if she heard from God for their situation (“set your house in order”)—otherwise, standing in blind agreement is foolish and damaging to faith (61:00).
• She emphasizes that you cannot force God to say what you want; you must be open to His sovereign voice (64:05).

10. The Reward of Attentive Hearing

• Matthew 13:10–15—Jesus says it is those who “have ears to hear” who will receive more.
• Nancy warns that insensitivity, dullness, or routine religiosity will make us miss out, even if we “hear” sermons constantly (66:15).

Notable Quote

“Our hearing is up to us, not up to God. If we grow dull of hearing, how do we move ahead?”
— Nancy Dufresne, (67:05)

11. Prophetic Ministry and Application

• Worship and prophetic exhortation follow the message (72:40–81:01), including:
  • A spontaneous song changing “I surrender all” to “I will listen, I will follow.”
  • If your life feels hard or a situation is always a “struggle,” that’s an invitation to hear (73:49).
  • A prophetic word (Pastor Noel, 78:13): "They that wait upon the Lord...will always have joy, always have peace, your steps will always be right..." (79:00).
  • Pastor Nancy summarizes: “One hearing, one thing unravels everything…hearing unravels complicated situations” (82:04).
  • Waiting on God involves worship, the Word, and prayer ("primarily in the Spirit")—she cautions not to neglect any aspect lest you become unsound (87:01).

12. Practical Encouragement and Final Exhortations

• The skill to hear takes time, especially if your mind and life are “loud” with clutter. It’s a discipline and a practice (88:00).
• Don’t worry or become anxious about “missing God”; the way forward is through patient, attentive hearing, not anxious striving (94:30).

Notable Quote

“You don’t worry your way into the plan. You hear your way.”
— Nancy Dufresne, (94:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• True Spiritual Connection: 01:40–06:30
• God’s Invitation — Come, Let Us Reason Together: 13:43–17:18
• Obeying What You Hear “on the Mount”: 26:05–28:36
• Faith by Hearing; Danger of Presumption: 31:21–36:20
• Wisdom Is the Principal Thing: 36:20–41:01
• Safety in Waiting to Hear: 41:01–45:50
• Application in Major Ministry Decisions: 49:05–52:30
• Dangers of Rushing, Value of Waiting: 54:46–58:00
• Praying for Others: Hear First: 61:00–64:05
• Receiving More by Hearing: 66:15–67:05
• Worship & Prophetic Ministry: 72:40–81:01
• One Hearing Unravels Everything: 82:04–87:01
• Practical Tips on Waiting/Listening: 88:00–94:30

Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Many think that they’re connected just because they know where they’re supposed to be connected. That’s not connection.” – Nancy Dufresne (02:30)
• “Because hearing Him changes the outcome if you act on what you hear.” – Nancy Dufresne (17:18)
• “If you do, you get in trouble with God because He knows what you heard.” – Nancy Dufresne (28:36)
• “You don’t have the faith for what God didn’t say. You can’t barrel your way into…” – Nancy Dufresne (34:59)
• “To move ahead without having God’s mind, the only thing you’re left with is your mind. And that’s…a disadvantage.” – Nancy Dufresne (45:50)
• “Our hearing is up to us, not up to God. If we grow dull of hearing, how do we move ahead?” – Nancy Dufresne (67:05)
• Prophetic Word: "They that wait upon the Lord, they that wait upon what He will say...you will run and not be weary, you will walk and not faint…your steps will always be right." – Pastor Noel (79:00)
• “You don’t worry your way into the plan. You hear your way.” – Nancy Dufresne (94:30)

Conclusion

Pastor Nancy Dufresne’s teaching is a thorough, heartfelt invitation to develop spiritual sensitivity and discipline in hearing from God. Her message underscores that spiritual maturity, leadership, and destiny hinge on this skill, and that God is eager and faithful to lead those who prize His voice. Through scriptural truths, real-life applications, warnings, and encouragement, she urges every believer to make hearing from God the cornerstone of their walk and work.

For anyone feeling spiritually “stuck,” unnerved by decisions, or longing for clear direction—this message is a practical and faith-inspiring roadmap to move forward, rooted in hearing, following, and remaining connected to God and His Word.