Episode Overview

Episode Title: Jesus Longs To Answer Prayer, Part Two
Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne
Date: October 29, 2020
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Theme:
This episode centers on the profound desire Jesus has to answer the prayers of His people, emphasizing the importance of faith, a worry-free mindset, and obedience to God’s will. Pastor Nancy Dufresne draws from the testimony of Kenneth Hagin (“Dad Hagin”) and his supernatural experience with Jesus to illustrate key principles for receiving divine help and breakthrough.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jesus Longs to Answer Prayer—Faith Is Essential

• Drawing on Kenneth Hagin’s vision, Pastor Nancy recounts how Jesus expressed deep longing to help His children but explained that faith is a necessary condition for answered prayer.
• Quote (Nancy, 01:11):
  “Jesus said to Dad Hagin, ‘I’ve come to answer your prayers, meaning to rescue his wife from a premature death. … You don’t know how I long to do for my children if they would only ask me and believe. … I cannot answer their prayers unless they have faith because I cannot violate my word.’”

[03:35]

• Our faith "gives Jesus permission" to act in our lives.
• Jesus tells us how to "let" Him help:
  1. Take Him at His Word: Believe Scripture over circumstance.
  2. Bring Him Your Problems: Don’t rely on people or venting—bring it to God.
  3. Trust Him to Undertake: Rest and trust in Him.

2. The Danger of Worry—Why Worry Blocks Help

• Worry is defined as a sin because it counters faith and prevents us from releasing problems to God.
• Quote (Nancy, 08:00):
  “So many people don’t really recognize that worry is a sin. They think it’s an option, but it’s a sin. Why? Because Jesus said, ‘Take no thought for your life.’”
• Personal story: In St. Petersburg, Russia, after Nancy preached on 'the sin of worry,' a holy reverence came over the congregation. A minister reported seeing Jesus weeping, saying,

  “How I long to do for my people, but they won’t let me because they’re worried. And … worry is the primary reason that keeps people from receiving my blessings.” ([09:45])

3. Practical Guidance—How to Cast Your Cares

• Reference to 1 Peter 5:7: Cast all your anxieties "once and for all" on Him.
• When you pick the problem back up (by worrying or discussing it), you "keep it in your hands," blocking divine intervention.

[13:00]

• Analogy: If you want someone to fix a broken object, they can’t help until you give it to them. Same with Jesus and your concerns.

• Quote (Nancy, 13:55):
  “‘If you cast a care over on the Lord, the devil’s gonna tempt you with that worry to take it back. So what do you do? You have to answer that and say: No, I put it in His hands and He’s working on it.’”

4. Prayer Initiates Divine Intervention

[16:00]

• Jesus’ intervention in the Hagin family was triggered not by need alone, but by prayer.
• Quote (Nancy, 16:31):
  “Jesus didn’t show up because he had a need. Jesus showed up because Dad Hagin talked to Him. … He said, ‘I’ve come to answer your prayer.’ He didn’t say, ‘I’ve come to answer your need.’”
• Many suffer unmet needs because they talk to everyone but God—only prayer and faith bring change.

[18:25]

• “Don’t just accept things as they are. Sometimes they can be changed, if you’ll talk to God about it. … Our faith will work further than we ever dreamed.”

5. The Role of Obedience and a Clear Conscience

[20:14]

• Dad Hagin pleaded his case before God, referencing his obedience and service.

• Isaiah 43:26: “Put me in remembrance: let us plead together… declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”

• Quote (Nancy, 20:55):
  “If we’re in disobedience, it’s gonna be real hard to plead your case with God when you have a need, if you don’t really care what God’s will is for your life. … Faith will work when you’re in obedience, not when you’re in disobedience.”

• Story: Dad Hagin’s son was spared in the military because of his father’s obedience and prayer; God said, “If you had not obeyed my will, I could not have intervened.” ([22:25])

• Faith is weakened by a guilty conscience—success requires a heart aimed at pleasing God.

6. Hearing and Following Specific Guidance

[24:35]

• In Hagin’s story, Jesus instructed that his wife should have the operation and assured, “She will live and not die.”

• The lesson: Follow the guidance God gives, not your own preferences. Their faith was “for survival through the surgery,” not an immediate miraculous healing.

• Quote (Nancy, 25:54):
  “Don’t try to change what you have in your heart that He’s telling you to do. … When the Spirit speaks specifically to you and tells you what to do, He is showing you the outcome in advance, you will have to hold to that outcome so that you will not be swayed by what you’re going to face.”

• Though doctors were concerned, the Hagins had joy knowing the outcome in advance (26:42).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jesus, to Kenneth Hagin:
  “I’ve come to answer your prayers … You don’t know how I long to do for my children if they would only ask me and believe.” ([01:31])
• Nancy Dufresne:
  “Venting is not faith. … When you take it to God, you leave it there and say, ‘He’s working on it.’” ([06:32])
• On worry:
  “Worry is a sign that you’re not letting Him help you.” ([09:14])
• On obedience:
  “How are you going to come boldly and say, ‘I need my…’ I believe you for my body to be healed, … when you know you’re in disobedience? Your own conscience will cause you to draw back.” ([21:49])
• On God’s answers:
  “He will show us things to come. … You hold to what the Holy Spirit shows you.” ([26:20])

Important Timestamps

• 00:09 – Story of Kenneth Hagin’s prayer for his wife and Jesus’ appearance
• 03:35 – Key steps to “letting Jesus help”
• 08:00 – Teaching on worry; story from Russia and Jesus weeping
• 13:00 – Casting your cares; analogy about letting someone help
• 16:00 – Jesus answers prayer, not just need; power of petition
• 20:14 – Importance of obedience and a clear conscience
• 24:35 – Jesus’ instruction to have the operation; holding to God’s Word about outcomes
• 26:20 – Pastor Nancy prays for listeners

Conclusion: Engaging Takeaways

• Jesus’ desire to help is hindered not by His unwillingness but by a lack of faith and by worry.
• Obedience and a clear conscience empower bold faith and effective prayer.
• Take your problems directly to God, leave them with Him, and maintain an attitude of praise—not repetitive request.
• Listen for and obey the specific guidance of the Holy Spirit.
• Don’t give up—even when it appears nothing is happening. Prayer and faith activate divine intervention.

If you take away one thing from this episode: Jesus is willing, ready, and longing to help, but faith, obedience, and a worry-free mindset are the keys that open the door to answered prayer.