Podcast Summary:

Jesus the Healer w/ Nancy Dufresne Audio Podcast
Episode 122 | The Man With Dropsy | December 20, 2022

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nancy Dufresne delves into the account of Jesus healing the man with dropsy (Luke 14:1-6), exploring how this miracle exemplifies God’s will to heal, the importance of right thinking, and recognizing what belongs to believers in Christ. Emphasizing faith, the renewal of the mind, and the Holy Spirit’s role, Nancy guides listeners to become skillful in receiving and ministering healing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of God is Always Present

• Nancy opens by affirming that God's healing power is always accessible, no matter the situation or place:
  • Quote: "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, believe in what's not." (00:11)
• She encourages listeners to actively receive this power by faith and expect God to do something as they study the Word together.

2. The Purpose of Studying Jesus’ Healings

• Nancy notes that the Gospels record 19 specific healing miracles for detailed study:
  • These healings show both God's willingness to heal and instruct believers on how to receive and minister healing.
  • Quote: "We're studying them line by line, verse by verse, because we want to become skillful in this." (02:01)
• Teaching is vital, as Jesus' pattern was to teach, preach, and heal, in that order; understanding precedes receiving.

3. Setting the Scene: Jesus at the Pharisee’s House (Luke 14)

• Jesus is invited to dinner at the home of a chief Pharisee on the Sabbath, with a sick man (dropsy) seated directly in front of Him.
• Nancy speculates this might have been a setup to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath.
• She draws a parallel:
  • Quote: "Our body is the house of our Spirit, and the greater one is in us. Do we know who's in our house?" (03:28)

4. Understanding Dropsy and the Context

• Dropsy, Nancy explains, is not a modern term but refers to severe swelling from fluid accumulation, often easily visible.
• The man’s condition was obvious, yet he was mobile enough to attend dinner.
• Notably, there is no record that this man requested healing—Jesus initiates out of compassion and discernment.

5. Jesus Diffuses Opposition Before Healing

• Jesus asks: "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" (04:45)
• By engaging the Pharisees and lawyers with a question, Jesus is both addressing their faulty theology and preparing the environment for a miracle.
  • Quote: "It matters to have the crowd with you... and you get the people with you by teaching them." (07:43)
• Jesus challenges the notion that healing is “work,” reaffirming that all that flows from God, including healing, is holy.

6. The Healing Miracle and Its Meaning

• The Pharisees remain silent when questioned, so Jesus heals the man in their midst.
• Nancy illuminates that:
  • The healing was instant and visible.
  • Jesus further teaches by comparing healing a man to rescuing an animal trapped on the Sabbath.
  • Quote: "Sickness is a pit that will swallow up the life of its victim. And we should pull them out. Amen." (13:40)
• Healing is presented as a rescue from a pit, immediate and necessary, just as one would rescue a valuable animal.
• The value God places on humans is highlighted—"What determines the value of the human? The price paid for it. Jesus’ blood was the price." (14:28)

7. The Tragedy of Missing the Moment

• The Pharisees and legal experts could not counter Jesus’ logic and the evidence of healing.
• Nancy remarks on their blindness to who was truly at their table, focusing on fault-finding rather than receiving.
  • Quote: "Let us learn to recognize... the Greater One, the Healer, the deliverer, the Provider, the Redeemer. Amen. He's in us. Let's not trip up over what's not important." (16:49)
• Listeners are urged to recognize and honor the presence of God and the Word—whether in their own lives or in gatherings.

8. Applying Paul’s Prayer in Ephesians 1

• Nancy pivots to Ephesians 1:17-19, unpacking Paul’s prayer for believers to:
  1. Receive wisdom and revelation about who they are in Christ.
  2. Know what they have as their inheritance in Christ.
  3. Understand the exceeding greatness of God’s power for those who believe.
• Right thinking is essential. Wrong thinking, Nancy stresses, can hinder faith and the ability to receive from God.
  • Quote: "Wrong thinking will injure your faith. Wrong thinking hinders faith. Wrong thinking keeps your faith from working as it ought." (24:21)

9. The Call to Live in Light of What’s Already Ours

• Rather than striving to get what has already been granted in Christ, believers are urged to “draw on the well already made ours.”
  • Quote: "It is our privilege to live as rich as we are. Let's learn to live as rich as we are, instead of trying to get something that has already been made ours." (26:01)

10. Concluding Prayer and Activation

• Nancy closes by leading a prayer for healing and deliverance from sickness, fear, depression, and distress.
  • Quote (Prayer Segment): "I speak for the healing power of God to go into every part of your need, that your body be whole in Jesus' name, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet." (26:35)
• She encourages listeners to agree in faith, receive healing, and contact the ministry with testimonies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Power is present. That power is there to do a work, believe in what's not. Try to get something, but notice that he's already made it yours. It's present right where you're at." — Nancy Dufresne (00:12)
• "Do we know who's in our house? Amen." — Nancy Dufresne (03:28)
• "Anything that flows from God is holy because he is a holy God. And nothing but holiness can flow from him." — Nancy Dufresne (08:59)
• "Jesus was pulling that man out of the pit of sin sickness that day. And that was a holy act because of the value of the human." — Nancy Dufresne (13:53)
• "Let us learn to recognize ... the Greater One ... Let's not trip up over what's not important. And let's receive of the greater one that's on the inside. Amen." — Nancy Dufresne (16:55)
• "Wrong thinking hinders faith... These men that were sitting at that lunch table that day ... were hindered by their wrong thinking. Amen. ... So we pray for them, for it to dawn on their spirits..." — Nancy Dufresne (24:24)
• "It is our privilege to live as rich as we are. Let's learn to live as rich as we are..." — Nancy Dufresne (26:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:10–00:41 – The ever-present power of God and preparation for the study.
• 02:00–03:30 – Why the study of Jesus’ 19 recorded healings matters.
• 03:28–04:40 – The story setup: Jesus, the Pharisees, and the man with dropsy.
• 07:43–08:59 – The necessity of right teaching and Jesus' method of diffusing opposition.
• 13:40–14:30 – Human value in God’s eyes and the immediacy of Jesus’ healing.
• 16:49–17:59 – The tragedy of missing the divine presence due to wrong priorities.
• 22:42–24:24 – Praying from Ephesians 1; Paul’s prayer for spiritual revelation.
• 26:09–26:01 – Living in what is already ours in Christ.
• 26:35–27:05 – Prayer for healing and deliverance.

Takeaways for Listeners

• God’s healing power is always accessible, and believers are encouraged to receive what God has already provided.
• Right teaching and thinking are prerequisites for receiving and ministering healing.
• All that flows from God is holy, including healing; believers must recognize the value God places on humanity.
• Recognize who is among you (God’s presence and anointed teachers), and draw on what has already been given in Christ.
• Pray Paul’s prayers for wisdom and revelation, and walk in the light of what’s already yours.
• Faith should move from merely asking to boldly taking what God has already made available.

For further study or testimonies, listeners are invited to connect with Dufresne Ministries.