Podcast Summary: Joel & Amy Siegel | Monday AM | Fredonia, NY | Miracle Crusade 2021

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Date: August 21, 2021
Speakers: Joel & Amy Siegel (Guest Ministers), Pastor Nancy Dufresne (Host, brief)
Event: Miracle Crusade 2021, Fredonia, NY

Episode Overview

This Miracle Crusade session with Joel and Amy Siegel focuses on the call for believers to mature in their prayer lives, particularly as it pertains to the current era often referred to as the "end times." Through teaching, humor, and practical illustrations, Joel Siegel encourages listeners to pray from a place of spiritual authority, move beyond self-centered prayers, and actively participate in the unfolding plan of God. The episode transitions from exhortation to a time of corporate Spirit-led prayer, emphasizing alignment with God's will, the importance of maturity, and perseverance in faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Honoring the Meeting & Spiritual Atmosphere

• Joel expresses deep gratitude for being in Western New York and participating in the Miracle Crusade.
• Sets a tone of expectation: "How many know that a full Christian is the one who's in position to be used? ... You need to be more interested in being a miracle than seeing a miracle." (06:07)

2. The End Times & the Posture of Prayer

Scriptural Foundation: 1 Peter 4:7

• Theme: "But the end of all things is at hand. Be therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
• Emphasizes that the time is now for believers to partner with God's plan through "sober-minded" and effective prayer, not fear:

  "The end of all things is at hand... There's some assignment in this verse... Be sober and watch unto prayer." (06:39)

• Sober-mindedness is defined as aligning one's thoughts with God's thoughts, not being distracted or in "fantasyland."

3. Maturity in Prayer: ‘Bedtime’ vs. ‘End Time’ Prayers

• Contrasts "bedtime prayers" (self-oriented, childlike) with mature, purpose-driven prayers that cooperate with God’s plans:
  • "If you will make his plan your passion, I want you to know you're going to be okay yourself." (22:15)
  • Uses the metaphor of the Ginsu knife commercial, illustrating that in Christ, “there’s always more”—but the focus must shift from self to God’s larger purposes.
• Notable Quote:

  "If you think wrong, you'll pray wrong... To be sober minded means your thoughts are aligned with God's thoughts." (13:50)

4. The Danger of Spiritual Fantasy & the Need for Discernment

• Warns against being swayed by conspiracy theories, political fantasies, or voices not grounded in God's Word:

  "You can tell how well the body of Christ keeps their minds renewed by how they handled Covid and everything else... you could tell people were in a reality of their own choosing, which is called fantasy." (23:32)

  • Calls out the phenomenon of Christians chasing political prophecies:

    “I called my dear friend here and I said, did I miss something in the New Testament? Is there a New Testament Office of Political Profit? ... We’ve searched and haven’t been able to find it.” (29:54)

  • Advocates returning to a Word-based life: "We say what God says, and if we say what God says, we have what we say." (34:01)

5. Our Position in Christ & Praying from Authority

• Sharing an anecdote about a missionary who learned that praying from a place of spiritual authority pleases God, while praying as a "worm" or "beggar" does not (39:50).
  • Holy Spirit: “Don't let them pray about things like their nation until they understand who they are in me... My blood has made them worthy and given them a seat to pray and command things to be right in their nation.”
• The shift from pleading to declaring—the difference between Old Covenant and New Covenant prayer.

6. Effective Prayer: Power to Move & Change Things

• Reference to James 5:16: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
• In the Amplified: "the earnest, continued, heartfelt prayer... makes tremendous power available."

  “What do you need great strength for in prayer? Move things to change things. Glory to God.” (45:00)

• Praying in tongues is presented as a tool to move beyond our natural understanding to cooperate with God’s specific will in this era.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On spiritual growth:

  “If you get a little older and you’re still doing toddler stuff, then something’s wrong... The same holds true as a believer.” (09:50)

• On shifting focus in prayer:

  “You need to be more interested in being a miracle than seeing a miracle.” (06:12)

• On sober-mindedness:

  “When you say things and speak things that are not grounded in God’s reality... that doesn’t help. And what the body of Christ does... when it doesn’t come to pass is we immediately sweep it under the rug and say, we’ll try again next time. The only thing is you have weakened your spirit.” (32:53)

• On praying from authority:

  “They know nothing about their position in me... Said ‘Don’t let them pray about things like their nation until they understand who they are in me.’” (Missionary anecdote, 41:33)

• On effective prayer:

  “The effective kind of prayer will cause things to change, cause things to move, cause things to turn. It’s exciting, isn’t it?” (45:13)

Timestamps – Important Segments

• 00:08–02:09: Welcome, setting spiritual atmosphere, humor, and gratitude for being in Western NY.
• 06:07–06:39: Introduction of 1 Peter 4:7; call for believers to "be a miracle."
• 13:50: Teaching on being sober-minded; how thoughts determine prayer effectiveness.
• 23:32–29:54: Critique of fantasy thinking, conspiracy chasing in the church, and misapplied prophecy.
• 34:01: Importance of speaking realities grounded in the Word.
• 39:50–43:14: Story about authority in prayer and the necessity of understanding one’s position in Christ.
• 45:00: Explanation of “effectual fervent prayer” and prayer in the Spirit for God’s plan.
• 49:11–55:18: Transition into a time of corporate prayer for the nations and the end-time plan.
• 56:05–59:59: Prophetic flow: declaration of restoration and the coming of signs, wonders, and clarity.
• 60:10–66:22: Encouragement to discern leading of the Spirit, assurance of God’s presence, and closing with thanksgiving and worship.

Spiritual Flow: Prophetic Prayer & Declarations (49:11–66:22)

• The congregation enters corporate prayer, led by Joel and Amy, praying in known language and then in tongues.

• Key prophetic declarations:

  • “That which was stolen must be restored.” (56:11–56:37)
  • Thanksgiving for supernatural “signs, wonders,” and “clarity” being released.
  • Word of knowledge regarding discerning the true voice of God:

    "How do I know that that's God and not just me? ... Knowing the Holy Spirit, fellowshipping with Him helps you know when it's him. But then if you still don't know who's your pastor ... Make sure before you do it." (60:11)

• Final segment is an extended time of worship and thanksgiving, culminating the episode in unity and praise.

Summary Takeaways

• Believers must mature from self-focused, “bedtime” prayers to authoritative, end-time prayers aligned with God’s plan.
• Keeping one’s mind “sober”—in alignment with God’s thoughts according to the Word—is vital for effective, faith-filled prayer.
• The body of Christ is exhorted to avoid spiritual fantasy, stay rooted in Scripture, and be discerning amid cultural and political distractions.
• Effective prayer—especially Spirit-led prayer—brings God’s power on the scene to advance His purposes in these days.
• Prayer moves from begging for God to act to declaring and enforcing what Christ has finished and promised, leading to both personal breakthrough and global spiritual impact.

Recommended Next Step:
Engage with the Dufresne Ministries resources or listen to further Miracle Crusade sessions for additional teaching and corporate prayer experience.