Podcast Summary: The Goodness Of God | Nancy Dufresne | Campmeeting 2024 | Monday PM
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Host/Speaker: Nancy Dufresne
Date: June 4, 2024
Episode: The Goodness Of God – Campmeeting 2024 (Monday PM)
Overview
In this heartfelt episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne explores the theme of the goodness of God. She encourages believers to recognize, trust, and respond to God's goodness, especially during correction, trials, or when facing self-doubt and condemnation. Through scripture, personal stories, and practical examples, Pastor Nancy illustrates how God's goodness is perpetual, that correction is part of His mercy, and that our response to His goodness determines our ability to flourish in fellowship with Him.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Scriptural Foundation of God’s Goodness
- Pastor Nancy begins by emphasizing that scriptures declaring God’s goodness are not merely poetic—they are God directly speaking to us. She cites:
- 1 Chronicles 16:34 and Psalm 118:1: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endures forever.” (00:45)
- God’s goodness is inherent; He doesn’t just do good, He is good.
- “Any dealing with God with you is a good dealing, because anything he’s involved in can’t be anything but good, because he is good.” (02:00)
2. God’s Goodness in Correction
- Even correction from God is an extension of His goodness and mercy.
- Reference: Nehemiah 9:27 – God’s manifold mercies include sending people (pastors, leaders) as 'saviors' (lowercase ‘s’) into our lives to deliver and correct us with His Word. (04:15)
- “The pastor God sends to your life is the mercy of God being good to us… they are a flow of God’s mercy to our life.” (05:30)
- Our response to correction should be gratitude, not embarrassment or offense.
3. Proximity and Revelation – The Example of John
- The story of John, the disciple, illustrates that the level of revelation and enjoyment of God’s goodness is determined by how closely we 'lean in'.
- At the Last Supper, John was physically leaning on Jesus, which placed him in a position to receive deeper revelation (11:15).
- “John took a position. He took a place and reclined on him… I can’t tell you the number of times… the only place of rest I could find was, I’m just going to lay here and lean.” (13:51)
- Others could have pressed in but did not; proximity is a choice.
4. God's Goodness and Space to Repent (The Example of Judas)
- Even towards those who would betray Him (i.e., Judas), Jesus extended continual goodness and opportunity to repent.
- “For three years, he’s giving him opportunity, space to repent… The mercy of God that makes Him so good to someone who’s going to betray Him.” (16:55)
5. Choice in Responding to Trials and Correction
- Trials and corrections can either make us hard-hearted or more tender before God.
- Being sincere in wanting to please God is essential, but excessive introspection can open the door for the enemy to foster anxiety and fear.
- Nancy shares how she experienced a season of persistent correction and the struggle to differentiate between divine correction (accompanied by the anointing) and the devil’s accusations (accompanied by fear and anxiety). (24:00)
- “When God speaks to you, don’t you sense his presence? …But when the devil accuses you, he also sends an influence. It’s fear, it’s panic, anxiety.” (21:03)
6. Self-Condemnation vs. Righteousness in Christ
- Difficulty in forgiving oneself can become a barrier to receiving God’s goodness.
- Personal testimony: After repenting for the same thing repeatedly, Jesus appeared to Nancy and assured her,
- “You have failed many, many times…but I never have. So I share my success with you.” (30:05)
- The righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not due to our merit but His accomplishment.
7. Responding Properly to God’s Presence
- Defensive reactions or shame in God’s presence reveal wrong thinking—likened to Adam and Eve hiding after listening to the serpent.
- The posture should be openness and gratitude, not cowering:
- “Since when have I ever been anything but good to you?” (36:30, God speaking to Nancy)
- Drawing back from God’s presence is often due to listening to the accuser, not to God Himself.
8. Receiving the Enjoyment of God
- The greatest gift of God’s goodness is deep fellowship and enjoyment of Him.
- Sin consciousness and self-accusation rob believers of fully enjoying God and His benefits (healing, provision, etc.).
- “The number one thing God wants you to have in this life is the enjoyment of Him. Everything flows out of that fountain.” (48:35)
9. Testimonies of God’s Goodness in Provision
- Guest David (57:00) tells stories about his father, a pastor, who repeatedly turned down God’s attempts to bless him (i.e., cars, television opportunities, land), due to old religious mindsets or feelings of unworthiness.
- Even without a prosperity focus, God’s goodness persisted—but our response determines what we receive.
- Nancy stresses that limiting how we receive God’s goodness – whether through poor self-worth or religious thinking – can cause us to miss out on blessings.
10. Magnifying and Thanking God for His Goodness
- Testimony about Jesse and Kathy Duplantis, who openly acknowledge and testify about God’s goodness as a habit and revelation—encouraging others to do likewise.
- “People think he’s just dropping catchphrases, he’s dropping revelation. He’s speaking out that he realizes it’s not because I’m a good preacher… It’s the goodness of God.” (55:50)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On responding to correction:
- “We need to give thanks when we’re being corrected, because that’s proper response to goodness.” (03:30)
On intimacy and revelation:
- “John heard something because of his proximity. John took that place. It wasn’t that Jesus just offered him something different. John took something more.” (18:25)
On the devil’s accusations:
- “When God speaks to you, I send an influence called the anointing. The devil sends an influence called fear.” (23:20)
On the righteousness of Christ:
- “You don’t succeed because you’ve done it right. You succeed because I did it right, and I gifted you my rightness.” (31:50, Jesus speaking to Nancy)
On responding to God’s presence:
- “Since when have I ever been anything but good to you?” (36:30, God challenging Nancy)
On enjoying God:
- “If you’ll stop accusing yourself, you will start to have an enjoyment of God you’ve never realized before.” (50:28)
On missing God’s goodness:
- “Even in ignorance, goodness still works…God tried over and over again to bless my dad and for some reason he couldn’t take. But I can.” (58:07, David)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Scriptural foundation: God’s goodness & mercy | | 03:30 | Correction as an expression of God’s goodness | | 11:15 | Proximity to Jesus: The example of John | | 16:55 | God offers space to repent—even to betrayers | | 21:03 | Differentiating God’s anointing vs. Satan’s accusation | | 30:05 | Jesus’ assurance: “I share my success with you” | | 36:30 | Responding to God’s presence; defensive postures | | 48:35 | The enjoyment of God is paramount | | 55:50 | Testimony: Jesse Duplantis magnifies God’s goodness | | 57:00 | Testimony: David shares about missed blessings | | 62:43 | Nancy’s conclusion: “What’s been an obvious miss in our life?” |
Conclusion & Call to Action
Main Takeaways:
- God is always good—correction, provision, and even delay, are expressions of His mercy.
- We are called to lean in, trust, and magnify God’s goodness, letting go of shame and self-accusation.
- Recognizing, thanking, and honoring the vessels God sends (pastors, teachers) invites more of His goodness into our lives.
- The highest form of God’s goodness is enjoying fellowship with Him; all other blessings flow from this place.
Exhortation from Nancy:
“Father, I give you thanks because you’re always so good to me and your goodness won’t lead me where I’ve been.” (End)
To learn more, share your testimony, or connect with Dufresne Ministries, visit dufresneministries.org.