Podcast Summary

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Taking-In In Prayer, Part One | Noel Ramos | Prayer Conference 2022
Date: April 7, 2022
Speaker: Noel Ramos
Location: World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA

Episode Overview

This episode features guest minister Noel Ramos teaching at the 2022 Prayer Conference, focusing on the concept of "Taking-In in Prayer." Ramos explores what it means to receive from God in prayer before presenting requests—a shift from a needs-driven approach to prayer, toward abiding, taking in the Word, and being filled with the Spirit as the true source of effective prayer and spiritual fruitfulness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Foundation: Abiding in Christ (John 15)

• Scripture Focus: John 15: "I am the vine, you are the branches..."
• Abiding Is Essential: Just as a branch cannot bear fruit without remaining in the vine, believers must remain in Christ to bear spiritual fruit.
• Pruning in Prayer: God, as the "husbandman" or farmer, prunes both our lives and our prayers. We must allow Him to prune away ineffective habits or approaches (05:30-08:00).

  "Our prayer life needs pruning. There are some things I used to pray, I don't do that anymore." – Noel Ramos (07:30)

2. The Importance of "Taking In"

• Take In First, Then Ask: Ramos stresses that effective prayer begins by taking in God's Word and Spirit, not by leading with our list of problems (09:39-14:47).

  "Most prayers are trying to get what's going on in the world, but Jesus says we take in the word...Before we ask on those lists, we have to take in first." – Noel Ramos (09:39)

• Receiving Before Releasing: "You can't give out what you haven't taken in." He warns against trying to bless others or pray for needs when we are spiritually empty (19:51-20:13).

  "There's no taking in. You're giving out something you don't have inside of you." – (19:51)

3. Personal Stories: Applying the "Take In" Principle

• Ramos describes struggling with worry and needs, praying from a place of anxiety (13:39-14:47).
• Shares a "pruning" revelation in a grocery store when God reminded him, "You are not the father of your household. I am." (16:36-17:55)

  "He said to me...why don't you cast it all to me, son, and I'll take care of it?" – Noel Ramos (17:55)

• Result: As he learned to "cast his care," God began providing in unexpected ways, strengthening faith (21:23-22:36).

4. Prayer Life as Spiritual Breathing and Eating

• Prayer is likened to breathing; taking in the Word is likened to eating. Both are essential (23:35-24:18).

  "Prayer is like breathing. If you don't pray, you stop breathing...but if you don't eat, you will stop breathing too. You have to do both." – Quoting Dad Hagin & Noel Ramos (23:36-24:18)

5. Prayers of "Taking In" in the Epistles

• Ephesians 1 & 3: Paul’s prayers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exemplify prayers that focus on receiving wisdom, revelation, and spiritual strength from God rather than just petition (24:49-39:03).

  "You don't have to guess what to say. It's all in here...Thanksgiving to God is taking in; worship is taking in." – Noel Ramos (24:49-31:50)

• Praying these prayers repeatedly brings revelation and transformation, as seen in the testimonies of Kenneth E. Hagin (41:10-41:50).

6. Overflow and Fullness: Ezekiel 47 Analogy

• Ramos explores Ezekiel 47—waters flowing from the temple, representing increasing levels of the Spirit.
• The deeper we go (from ankle to swimming), the more effortless it becomes to follow God’s plan, experience life, healing, and fruitfulness (44:44-54:38).

  "When the river subside, there’s no life... When the river overflows, many things God wants to do, we just pass it through because we’re not full." – Noel Ramos (52:59-54:09)

• The river heals, brings freshness, and supports abundance—mirroring the effect of being filled with the Spirit and the Word.

7. Corporate Application: Bringing Fullness to Ministry and Others

• Leaders are encouraged to "bring it home" (75:46)—to carry the fullness they receive to their congregations.
• Fullness leads to supply, healing, revelation, and effective ministry (52:01-76:59).

  "You will not leave this conference empty...You can't withdraw something we don't have...When we pray, he will fill us up." – Noel Ramos (56:01-59:15)

8. The Prayer for Freshness and Fullness

• The episode closes with corporate prayer for fullness, healing, provision, and a fresh flow in individual lives and the nation (59:28-76:59).

  "Freshness, freshness of that river...You will heal nations, Lord...for the word will be rich in us, Lord." – (60:17-73:16)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Pruning and Taking In
  "The one that prunes the tree is the Father...Our prayer life needs pruning...so we can bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.” – Noel Ramos (07:30-08:03)

• On Receiving Before Requesting
  "Before I pray, I gather all this worry...every need I gather in my head. So I don’t know how to pray. The Lord has to teach me how to prune my prayer life.” – Noel Ramos (13:39)

• On Authority and Needs
  "Remember, we have authority over our need… Jesus taught [Dad Hagin], the money is down here in the earth. Call it in.” – Noel Ramos (39:41-40:07)

• On the Flow of the River (Ezekiel 47)
  "You get so full of the Holy Ghost, you don’t care about the problem. You follow the leading of the Spirit, follow peace, love, and joy.” – Noel Ramos (48:28-48:49)

• On Bringing It Home
  "Bring it home to your congregation. The fullness of God. God is not done with you all yet...There’s still a revival, you need to get into it. Stay.” – Noel Ramos (75:46-76:59)

Important Timestamps

• Opening Prayer: 00:09–02:20
• Main Text Introduction (John 15): 02:20–09:37
• Abiding, Pruning, & the "Take In" Principle: 09:39–22:48
• Personal Testimonies of Pruning: 13:39–22:36
• Spiritual Breathing & Eating: 23:35–24:47
• Ephesians 1 & 3—Prayers as "Taking In": 24:49–39:03
• Authority in Prayer and Needs: 39:10–44:44
• Ezekiel 47—Levels of the Spirit: 44:44–54:47
• Freshness, Healing, and Overflow: 53:36–57:37
• Application Prayer and Declaration: 59:15–76:59

Conclusion

Tone: The episode is warm, conversational, and instructional, sprinkled with lighthearted moments and personal anecdotes. It emphasizes practical, spirit-led living and leadership.

Central Message: Effective prayer life starts with "taking in"—receiving from God through His Word, the Spirit, and abiding in Christ. Only then are believers and ministers able to bear fruit, move in authority, and minister overflow to others. The fullness we carry transforms not only our own lives, but also our families, ministries, and communities.

For further study: Refer to Ephesians 1 & 3, John 15, and Ezekiel 47 as highlighted in this teaching. Pastor Nancy Dufresne’s breakdown of the Ephesians prayers and Kenneth E. Hagin’s teachings on "The Believer’s Authority" come strongly recommended as companion resources.