Podcast Summary
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Jesus Longs To Answer Prayer | Nancy Dufresne | 5.24.20
Date: May 27, 2020
Host: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Overview
In this Sunday service episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores the divine desire of Jesus to answer prayer, focusing on the need to ask in faith, not just out of emotion or desperation. Through personal stories, scriptural teaching, and a detailed recounting of Kenneth E. Hagin’s supernatural experience with Jesus, she emphasizes the importance of testimonies, faith-filled prayer, and relinquishing worry. The message is structured as both teaching and ministry time, encouraging listeners to let Jesus help them by trusting, not worrying.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Vital Role of Testimonies
- Testimonies carry answers for others:
- “Testimonies are so important because...the Word is a record of testimonies. What about the woman with the issue of blood? It was her testimony of healing that became God's Word.” (02:05)
- Sharing personal and others’ testimonies strengthens faith and provides revelation for new challenges.
- It’s a command, not a suggestion:
- Citing Psalm 78:1-7, Nancy teaches that passing on stories of God’s faithfulness is described as a law for God’s people.
- Rehearsing testimonies invites repeat miracles:
- “God said something to me years ago: ‘What you rehearse, I repeat.’ So if we will tell it, he will repeat it.” (10:15)
2. Kenneth E. Hagin's Vision: Jesus Longs to Answer Prayer
- Nancy reads extensively from chapter five of Hagin's I Believe in Visions, where Jesus personally responds to Hagin's persistent prayer for his wife’s life during her health crisis.
The Key Statement from Jesus (~16:45, 33:20, restated multiple times)
“I did this, son, just because you asked me to. You don't know how I long to do for my children if they would only ask me and believe me. Many times they beg, they cry, and they pray, but they don't believe. And I cannot answer their prayers unless they have faith, because I cannot violate my word… if they would only let me by taking me at my word and bringing me their problems, trusting me to undertake for them.” (Direct Hagin quote, repeated and emphasized by Nancy throughout.)
Breakdown & Insights
- Jesus’ longing & our cooperation:
- Jesus is deeply interested in every aspect of our lives, not just the ‘big’ things.
- “His longing to do for us shows his depth of interest...if it pertains to you, Jesus is interested in it.” (38:00)
- Asking is necessary:
- God knows our needs, but He waits for us to ask in faith; He never intrudes uninvited.
- “Just because He knows what we need, does not mean He has your permission to help… As James said, ‘You have not because you ask not.’” (45:50)
- Faith, not emotion, moves God:
- Prayer that is merely emotional (begging, crying) without faith does not move the hand of Jesus.
- “You can feel really strongly about something. But just because you cried doesn't mean he heard you. You have to have faith.” (54:00)
- Faith is believing power is working, even when you feel nothing.
- Faith is the permission for God to act:
- “Our faith is simply us giving Him permission to work.” (1:10:00)
3. Letting Jesus Help: Trust, Don’t Worry
- Venting or continually sharing problems isn’t faith:
- “Venting means you haven’t taken it to God yet. When you take it to God, you leave it there and say, He’s working on it.” (1:18:30)
- Worry blocks God’s help:
- Nancy recounts a powerful moment in Russia where a minister saw Jesus crying:
“How I long to do for my people, but they won’t let me, because they are worried. Worry is the primary reason that keeps my people from receiving my blessings.” (1:28:30)
- Nancy recounts a powerful moment in Russia where a minister saw Jesus crying:
- Casting cares means not picking them back up:
- Quoting 1 Peter 5:7, Nancy urges listeners to “cast the whole of your care” on God once and for all, meaning do not take back what you’ve put in His hands through worry or anxiety.
4. Receiving Answers: Obedience and Boldness
- Be in obedience for faith to work:
- “If a need shows up, double-check: Am I obeying God’s will for my life? Because faith will not work where there’s disobedience.” (1:45:40)
- Pleading your case before God:
- Drawing from Isaiah 43:26, Nancy illustrates how Hagin was able to present his obedience as his boldness before God, strengthening his prayer for his wife.
5. Accepting Divine Guidance Over Human Will
- Don’t decide how God must help:
- When Jesus told Hagin to have his wife operated on (not heal her instantly), obeying that leading was key.
- “If He said, tell her to be operated on, she will live and not die…that’s what needed to be done; we have to do it the way Jesus tells us, not the way we want.” (1:58:30)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Testimonies:
- “Testimonies are so important...Because somebody else is going to hear their help in that story.” (03:45)
- Summing Up Jesus’ Heart:
- “He longs to help you. He longs to. Years ago...Jesus was standing there at the stairway. He said, ‘How I long to do for my people, but they won’t let me, because they are worried.’” (1:29:10)
- On Faith Over Feeling:
- "Power doesn't have to be felt. Power can be unfelt. Just believe it. The moment you believe, power immediately starts working every time, every time, every time you release your faith." (2:15:00)
- On Obedience:
- "When you're walking in line with the Word of God, you have a right to have the benefits of that Word moving in your life." (1:47:00)
Important Timestamps
- [02:05] – Pastor Nancy on the power of testimonies in Scripture.
- [10:15] – “What you rehearse, I repeat.” – God’s instruction about testimonies.
- [16:45] – Start of the Kenneth E. Hagin vision story reading.
- [33:20] – Jesus’ statement to Hagin about longing to answer prayers.
- [38:00] – Deep dive into Jesus' interest in even the ‘small’ needs of our lives.
- [45:50] – The absolute necessity of asking God in faith.
- [54:00] – The difference between emotional praying and faith-filled praying.
- [1:10:00] – Letting Jesus help requires our faith—giving permission.
- [1:18:30] – The futility of venting rather than casting cares on God.
- [1:28:30] – Jesus weeping over His people’s worry preventing His help.
- [1:45:40] – Self-examination and the link between obedience and effective faith.
- [1:58:30] – Following God's specific direction, not just general desire for help.
- [2:15:00] – Power of God at work: faith is the switch, not feelings.
Ministry & Activation
- [2:02:00+] – Nancy leads a faith-filled prayer for all listeners:
- She encourages them to voice their need, release their faith, and trust God to act.
- Words of knowledge for healing (neck, knee, elbow, throat, hips, etc.) and breaking fear.
- Listeners are urged to act on their faith by moving and testing their bodies, trusting in God’s power at work—regardless of immediate feelings.
Conclusion: Main Takeaways
- Jesus is intensely interested and longs to answer every believer’s prayer—but He waits for us to ask and believe.
- Faith, not just need or emotion, authorizes God to intervene in our lives.
- Sharing and recalling testimonies is not just remembering, but creating a channel for repeated miracles.
- Worry and continual venting keep us from releasing our needs truly to Jesus.
- Obedience and a clear conscience embolden our faith and prayer.
- Be led by the Spirit, not just by your preference, in how you receive your miracle.
- Acting in faith—even when you don’t feel power—releases divine help.
This message is a deeply encouraging call for believers to bring their challenges and requests to Jesus in faith, cease worrying, and trust that His power works, often in ways we don’t expect, but always for our good.
