Podcast Summary: Knowing Him, Part One | Nancy Dufresne | Jesus the Healer Broadcast

Dufresne Ministries Podcast – April 23, 2020
Host & Speaker: Nancy Dufresne

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne shares a heartfelt message focusing on the centrality of truly knowing Jesus—the Healer—in the context of revival, ministry, and daily faith. Rather than just learning and applying spiritual principles, she urges believers to center their lives and ministries on a personal relationship and fellowship with Christ Himself. Nancy draws from Scripture, personal anecdotes, and ministerial wisdom to highlight why keeping Jesus—the miracle worker—at the heart of everything is vital for authentic spiritual fruit, lasting revival, and a fulfilling Christian life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Essence of Last Day Revival

• Nancy opens by reflecting on her late husband’s thoughts regarding the Last Day revival:

  • It will be “all previous revivals wrapped up into one,” with unprecedented power and manifestations ([00:19]).
  • The fivefold ministry and nine manifestations of the Spirit will operate at full, unhindered potential.

• However, her main emphasis is that this revival is not merely about miracles or principles:

  • “We present healing to the people not based on healing principles, but based on the healer.” ([01:28])
  • Focus must remain on Jesus, not just outcomes or spiritual gifts.

2. Principles vs. Personal Relationship

• Nancy gently warns against reducing Christianity to a formula:
  • “Thank God for the principles…so we can hand these truths to people. But...we’re not just presenting miracles…we’re presenting the miracle worker to people.” ([01:53])
• She stresses it's possible to pursue ministry, do great works, and yet neglect intimacy with Christ—the Author behind it all.

3. Illustration: Absorbed in the Presence of God

• Nancy recounts a story of a renowned minister seen sitting for hours in deep contemplation on a ship:
  • When asked what he was seeing, he replied, “Nothing but God.” ([04:00])
  • She uses this to encourage “sitting still” in God’s presence instead of always being busy with ministry.

4. A New Year’s Prayer—Experience, Not Just Sermons

• Nancy shares her own consecration for the new year:
  • “I long not to only bring God’s Word...but to bring the experience of God to the people.” ([05:12])
  • She desires services where people tangibly sense God’s love, compassion, and interest—not just hear about Him.

5. Centering on the Person, Not Just Attributes or Outflows

• “Miracles aren’t the center—they’re the outflow of Him. Healings aren’t the center—they’re the outflow of Him.” ([07:16])
• She emphasizes the importance of daily waking up mindful of God Himself, not just our needs (healing, provision, miracle, etc.).

6. Knowing God vs. Knowing About God

• Nancy draws parallels to marriage and parenting:
  • Knowing all the “right principles” is not enough if you don’t know the person.
  • “You can read marriage books…but if you don’t know your spouse, it doesn’t matter what the book says.” ([10:42])
  • Similarly, there is no one formula for raising children—“if you don’t know that child, your book just needs to probably be put up on the shelf.” ([11:22])
• She likens this to faith: “If we’re not careful, we just know steps and not Him.” ([12:26])

7. The Price of Missing Personal Fellowship

• Nancy expresses concern over ministers used mightily by God who didn’t finish well—not because they lacked skill, but because they drifted from intimacy with God ([13:26]).
• “We don’t want to just get in the flow. We want to finish. And He is the beginning. He is the end. It’s all about Him.” ([14:07])

8. True Prayer Life: Beyond Requests

• “Don’t cheat yourself by getting answers but not knowing the answer giver, because He’s the reward, He’s the joy.” ([15:33])
• Nancy underscores the need for quiet, word-centered fellowship beyond merely presenting requests or working principles ([16:20]).

9. Scripture Emphasis

• John 17:3 (Amplified):

  “This is eternal life: it means to know, to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand Him, the only true and real God…and Jesus as the Christ…” ([17:07])

• John 5:39, where Jesus reprimands religious leaders for searching Scriptures yet missing the person they point to:

  • “You search the scriptures…because you suppose...you have eternal life...The scriptures, they testify of me…But you reject me because you like the scripture work…You left me out of it and you missed me.” ([24:48])

10. Illustration: The Lame Man at Bethesda

• She recounts the healing at Bethesda (John 5), highlighting that the man’s return to the temple set him up for crucial further instruction from Jesus ([19:28]).
• The importance of continual fellowship and seeking—not just receiving a one-time miracle.

11. Be Still and Know

• Nancy draws on the biblical command: “Be still and know” ([16:40]).
  • “There are some things that only become known in stillness.”

12. Ministry from Overflow, Not Performance

• She quotes Pastor John Osteen’s approach to sermon prep:

  “I just spend the week filling up and then go out and pour out…We want people to want more of Him…not be awed by the people He used.” ([18:19])

• If people walk away wanting to know the minister more than God, “that sermon was a fail.”

13. Final Exhortations

• Staying centered on Jesus ensures faith is never a struggle:

  • “If they get Him, they get it all.” ([09:25])
  • Faith flows naturally out of relationship rather than self-effort.

• The Vine and the Fruit:

  • “The branch cannot get impressed with itself for producing fruit without recognizing if it weren’t for the vine.” ([29:23])
  • Miracle and prosperity are right, but “the center is the vine.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We’re not just presenting miracles to people. We’re presenting the miracle worker to people.” – Nancy Dufresne ([01:52])
• “Miracles aren’t the center, they’re the outflow of Him.” – Nancy Dufresne ([07:16])
• “Don’t cheat yourself by getting answers but not knowing the answer giver.” – Nancy Dufresne ([15:33])
• “Be still and know. Some people don’t know some things as they ought in here because they’re not still enough to know.” – Nancy Dufresne ([16:40])
• “If people walk out talking more, wanting to know you better than knowing Him better, that sermon was amiss.” – Nancy Dufresne ([18:52])
• “You search the scriptures…they testify of me…But you reject me because you like the scripture work…You left me out of it and you missed me.” – Nancy Dufresne paraphrasing Jesus (John 5:39, [24:48])
• “If we’re not careful, we can be using our faith for things…and miss Him.” – Nancy Dufresne ([25:48])
• “The branch cannot get impressed with itself for producing fruit without recognizing if it weren’t for the vine.” – Nancy Dufresne ([29:23])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:19] – Introduction to the Last Day revival and her husband’s vision
• [01:28] – Shifting focus from principles to the person of Jesus
• [04:00] – Ship story: “Nothing but God”
• [05:12] – Nancy’s new year consecration prayer
• [07:16] – Miracles/outflows vs. the Center: Him
• [10:42] – Marriage and parenting analogies: knowing principles vs. knowing the person
• [13:26] – Concern for enduring ministry and finishing well
• [15:33] – The reward of prayer is God Himself
• [16:40] – “Be still and know”
• [17:07] – John 17:3, knowing God as eternal life
• [18:19] – John Osteen quote: Ministering from overflow
• [19:28] – Story: The lame man at Bethesda (John 5)
• [24:48] – John 5:39: Knowing the Word but missing Him
• [29:23] – Analogy of the branch and the vine, the real source of fruit

Closing Thoughts

Nancy Dufresne’s message is a stirring call to refocus on knowing Jesus deeply and personally—abiding in Him as the source of every blessing, miracle, and spiritual experience. All true and lasting spiritual fruit, she contends, emerges from this continual, intimate fellowship. As she challenges listeners to “slow down,” remain mindful, and make Christ the daily center, her words ring as both a gentle warning and an inspiring invitation to a faith that flows from relationship, not ritual.

For more on Dufresne Ministries, visit dufresneministries.org