Podcast Summary: Jesus the Healer w/ Nancy Dufresne – Episode 098 | The Holy Spirit Performs Our Words
Introduction and Context
In Episode 098 of the "Jesus the Healer" podcast, hosted by Dufresne Ministries, Nancy Dufresne delves into the profound relationship between our words and the work of the Holy Spirit. Released on November 16, 2022, the episode centers on the theme: "The Holy Spirit Performs Our Words." Nancy emphasizes the importance of faith, healing, renewing the mind, and cultivating a deeper connection with the Holy Spirit to access what belongs to believers in Christ.
The Power of Prayer and Praise
Nancy begins by highlighting Kenneth Copeland’s insightful statements on prayer and praise. She references Copeland's idea that:
“[When you] pray, you lay hold of things. Thank God for that. And every time we pray, we should lay hold of something. But when you praise, you win battles. [00:10]”
This distinction underscores the transformative power of praise in overcoming opposition. Nancy explains that while prayer helps in claiming what is already ours, praise shifts our focus beyond immediate challenges, positioning believers on the victorious side against opposition.
Teaching from Brother Norval Hayes
Nancy pays homage to the late Brother Norval Hayes, a revered minister known for his healing ministry and teachings on faith. She shares a pivotal revelation Brother Norval received:
“God said to Brother Norval Hayes, my children basically love me, but they live in poverty, sickness and defeat. How many of you know that's not the flow he authored? He redeemed us from those things.” [04:00]
Contrary to this foundational truth, Hayes identified the lack of sufficient worship as a barrier preventing believers from fully experiencing heaven’s blessings. Nancy clarifies that it’s not about worshiping to earn blessings but about maintaining a continuous flow of praise that invites the anointing to manifest and break yokes of oppression.
Maintaining Faith Through Worship and Praise
Nancy emphasizes the necessity of being taught how to respond to adversity through worship and praise. She outlines practical steps to avoid falling into fear or doubt when faced with challenges:
“We have to be taught not to flip, to worry at a time of opposition. ... You have to know this is that the enemy is always endeavoring to pull you out of the plan of God.” [06:01]
By fostering habits of praise and worship, believers can maintain their focus on God’s promises and resist the enemy’s attempts to derail their spiritual progress. Nancy stresses that continuous praise keeps the Holy Spirit active within, ensuring that faith continues to flow and thwart hindrances like addictions or bad habits.
The Role of the Holy Spirit as a Performer
A significant portion of the episode explores the Holy Spirit’s role in performing God’s words. Nancy references Genesis 1:1-2 to illustrate this dynamic:
“The Spirit of God was moving. He was not yet moving to perform words because words hadn't come yet. ... He is a performer. He's a performer of God's words. ... [12:05]”
Drawing from the Amplified Bible translation, Nancy explains that the Holy Spirit was in motion, ready to act upon God’s spoken commands during creation. This analogy extends to believers today, where the Holy Spirit waits for our words of faith to execute God’s promises in our lives.
The Importance of Specific Speaking in Faith
Nancy underscores the necessity of being specific in our declarations of faith. She warns against vague affirmations, advocating instead for precise statements that align with God’s word:
“We need to be specific. ... If we just generally believe God. Then you get generally nothing. ... [14:22]”
By articulating clear and specific declarations, believers provide the Holy Spirit with precise directives to perform His work, ensuring that faith is not just a passive belief but an active, speaking faith that directs divine intervention.
Worship vs. Praise
Nancy delineates the nuanced differences between worship and praise, illustrating how each plays a distinct role in the believer’s spiritual walk:
“Worshiping of God is honoring and reverencing and magnifying him for who he is. But praising is laying hold of and becoming a partaker of what he's already made ours. ... [20:10]”
While worship focuses on honoring God’s character and sovereignty, praise is about claiming and partaking in the blessings and promises already secured in Christ. This duality reinforces the believer’s position in both adoration of God and affirmation of their faith in His provisions.
Continual Praise and Speaking Faith
Referencing Psalm 34:1, Nancy emphasizes the importance of maintaining a continual flow of praise:
“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” [20:27]
She explains that having praise perpetually on our lips ensures that the Holy Spirit remains active and responsive, continually performing and manifesting God’s promises. This persistent praise acts as an ongoing invitation for the Holy Spirit to work in alignment with our spoken declarations of faith.
Personal Testimony and Call to Action
Towards the end of the episode, Nancy shares her personal experiences growing up in a church that lacked teachings on worship and praise. This absence led to missed opportunities for salvation and healing within her community:
“I grew up in a precious denominational church. ... For 17 years in that church, I never saw an altar call. ... We never heard him referred to as healer. ... [24:15]”
This testimony underscores the critical role that intentional worship and praise play in activating the Holy Spirit’s work. Nancy concludes by inviting listeners to deepen their understanding through her book, "Worship," available at daufrainministries.org, encouraging them to embrace a lifestyle of continual praise to unlock their spiritual inheritance.
Conclusion
Episode 098 of "Jesus the Healer" with Nancy Dufresne offers a comprehensive exploration of how the Holy Spirit operates through our words of faith and praise. By distinguishing between prayer and praise, emphasizing the necessity of specific declarations, and illustrating the dynamic role of the Holy Spirit as a performer of God’s word, Nancy provides listeners with actionable insights to enhance their spiritual walk. The episode serves as a powerful reminder that continuous worship and praise are not merely acts of devotion but strategic moves to align with God’s promises and experience His miraculous work in our lives.
Notable Quotes:
- [00:10] “When you pray, you lay hold of things. ... But when you praise, you win battles.”
- [04:00] “He redeemed us from those things.”
- [06:01] “We have to be taught not to flip, to worry at a time of opposition.”
- [12:05] “He is a performer of God's words.”
- [14:22] “We need to be specific.”
- [20:10] “Worshiping of God is honoring and reverencing ... praising is laying hold of and becoming a partaker of what he's already made ours.”
- [20:27] “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
- [24:15] “We never heard him referred to as healer ... what we don't say he can't perform.”
Further Resources:
To deepen your understanding and practice of worship as taught by Nancy Dufresne, consider obtaining her book, "Worship," available through dufrainministries.org. Engage with additional teachings and resources to enhance your spiritual journey and experience the transformative power of continual praise and worship.