Podcast Summary: “Worship: An Act Of Faith”

Podcast: Jesus the Healer w/ Nancy Dufresne Audio Podcast
Episode: 101 | Worship: An Act Of Faith
Release Date: November 21, 2022
Host: Nancy Dufresne, Dufresne Ministries

Episode Theme Overview

In this episode, Nancy Dufresne teaches on the vital spiritual principle that worship is not just an expression of gratitude or a religious ceremony, but a powerful act of faith. She unpacks how worship shapes the believer’s mindset, keeps one anchored in victory, and sets the stage for miracles and the manifestation of God’s blessings. The focus is also on the attitude with which believers approach God, emphasizing reverence, gratitude, and establishing daily habits that keep faith active and attentive.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Power and Purpose of Worship and Praise

• Worship as a Lifestyle:
  • Worship and praise are not reserved only for times of trouble; they are meant to be the ongoing lifestyle of every believer. (03:40)
  • They “hold us mindful of Him” and keep our focus on God rather than difficulties.
  • “As we live a life of worshiping God and praising God, it helps hold us mindful of Him. It does so much for us to keep our thoughts off the difficulties, off the opposition, and hold it on the mountain mover Himself.” (04:36)
• Mixing Faith with the Word:
  • Drawing from Hebrews, Nancy highlights that the Word benefits us only when mixed with faith. Worship is a way of actively believing and responding to the Word. (02:54)

2. Victory through Praise

• Quote (attributed to Kenneth Copeland):
  • “When you pray, you lay hold of things, but when you praise, you win battles.” (05:06)
  • Worship enforces the reality that victory is already won in Christ; believers are to act as “victory enforcement officers” (06:05)

3. Difference and Unity of Praise and Worship

• Praise: Focuses on thanking God for what He has done, His blessings and works (08:08).
• Worship: Centers on God’s character—who He is (love, mercy, compassion)—and maintaining gratitude for His nature as much as His acts. (08:30)

4. Testimony and the Power of Worship

• Nancy shares a personal observation: people often struggle to receive healing or provision, but when they shift to worshipping who God is (the Healer, the Provider), receiving becomes easier. (09:12)

5. Teaching from Norvel Hayes and Kenneth Hagin

• Norvel Hayes’ Revelation:
  • God said to Hayes, “My children basically love me, but they live in poverty and sickness and defeat. They don’t live in heaven’s blessings because they don’t worship me enough.” (10:23)
  • Nancy clarifies “enough” as worshipping until “the anointing comes into manifestation and destroys the yoke.” (11:12)
• Quote:
  • “You need to worship me more and you need to teach my people to worship me more. I’m their God and they’re my children. If you’ll teach my children to worship me more, I will do great and mighty things for them.” (11:40)
• Teaching from Kenneth Hagin:
  • “When reverence and honor are restored...there will be a restoration and a multiplication of the miracle power of God.” (15:55)

6. The Essential Ingredient: Reverence

• Reverence is critical in receiving God’s blessings. Disrespect hinders the flow of blessings. (13:12)
• Personal anecdotes underscore that respect was key in her upbringing and in raising her own children—and it’s the same with God. (13:18)
• Faith cannot flourish where there is dishonor or disrespect; faith grows in an atmosphere of honor. (16:26)

7. Proper Approach to God: Gratitude and Thanksgiving

• Using Psalm 100:4, Nancy explains the biblical “protocol” for approaching God:
  • “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.” (17:58)
• The “worried approach” is not the biblical way; gratitude and praise are. (19:32)
• Gratitude is a spiritual safeguard: “No one can steal from you what you’re grateful for.” (22:24)

8. Prayer and Praise: The Bookends of Effective Prayer

• She enumerates nine types of New Testament prayer, highlighting praise and worship as the “highest type of prayer,” because all other prayers must be accompanied by praise. (24:24)
• “You can’t even approach the throne without the prayer of praise and worship.” (24:51)
• End your prayers and daily life “with thanksgiving”—making it a spiritual habit that strengthens faith. (25:30)

9. Personal Testimony

• Nancy recounts a story of a woman who had been healed of cancer and, from then on, always stood to worship Jesus when He was mentioned as Healer—demonstrating how continual gratitude prevents the enemy from stealing blessings. (26:33)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Power Present in Every Place:

  • “There’s enough power in every sick room and in every hospital room to raise up that sick one... Power is present. That power is there to do a work. We’re not trying to get something, but notice that He’s already made it yours.” (00:10)

• Victory Enforcement Officers:

  • “We’re victory enforcement officers over our own life. Because the victory has been provided for us and we’re enforcing that.” (06:15)

• Receiving through Worship:

  • “If you just learn to worship the healer, who He is, many times people struggle toward prosperity. Worship the provider. See, healing is an outflow of who He is.” (09:10)

• God to Norvel Hayes:

  • “‘My children basically love me, but they live in poverty and sickness and defeat… because they don’t worship Me long enough for the anointing to come into manifestation and destroy the yoke.’” (10:23)

• On Reverence and Miracles (Kenneth Hagin):

  • “When reverence and honor are restored, there will be a restoration and a multiplication of the miracle power of God.” (15:55)

• On Gratitude:

  • “No one can steal from you what you’re grateful for.” (22:24)

• Praising as an Act of Faith:

  • “Praising and worshiping God is an act of faith.” (23:45)

• Habit of Praise:

  • “…it doesn’t have to be off in a room by yourself… you can do it while you’re driving the car to work, while you’re cleaning the house, while you’re running errands, put in place a habit of praise and worship.” (25:39)

Important Timestamps

• 00:10 – Power present for healing and wholeness
• 03:40 – Worship and praise defined as lifestyle
• 05:06 – Kenneth Copeland quote on praise and battle
• 06:15 – Victory “enforcement officers” analogy
• 08:08 – Difference between praise and worship
• 10:23 – God’s message to Norvel Hayes on worship
• 13:18 – Reverence and respect through family anecdotes
• 15:55 – Kenneth Hagin on reverence restoring miracles
• 17:58 – Psalms 100:4—proper approach to God
• 22:24 – “No one can steal from you what you’re grateful for”
• 24:24 – Nine types of prayer; worship as highest form
• 25:39 – Developing habits of praise throughout the day
• 26:33 – Story of the healed woman’s continual praise

Final Takeaways

• Worship is more than a song—it’s a continual act of faith and the right posture that aligns us to receive God’s blessings.
• Honor, reverence, and gratitude are essentials for an effective spiritual life and for the manifestation of God’s power.
• Establishing habits of praise and worship keeps believers rooted in victory and blocks the enemy from stealing what God has done for them.

Recommended Resource from the Episode:
Nancy Dufresne’s book Worship: An Act of Faith—for further teaching on cultivating an atmosphere of heaven through worship.
(Order at dufresneministries.org)

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