Jesus the Healer w/ Nancy Dufresne Audio Podcast

Episode 129 | Discerning Your Part, Part 4

Date: December 29, 2022
Host: Nancy Dufresne
Theme: Understanding and Discerning Your Role in the Body of Christ for Spiritual Health and Growth

Episode Overview

Nancy Dufresne continues her teaching series on discerning one's part in the body of Christ, focusing on how spiritual health, healing, longevity, and maturity are intricately connected to understanding and fulfilling our role as members of Christ's body. Drawing primarily on 1 Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 4, Nancy explains both the spiritual and practical implications of being rightly connected and actively participating in the church community. Throughout, she maintains a tone of encouragement and gentle admonition, emphasizing growth, unity, and walking in love.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power of God’s Presence for Healing

• (00:10 - 01:50)
  • Nancy opens by reminding listeners that "there's enough power in every sick room and in every hospital room to raise up that sick one," emphasizing that healing power is ever-present and must be received by faith.
  • Quote: “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. Say, I receive that power. I receive it right now from the top of my head, the soles of my feet.” (00:14)

Communion & Discerning the Lord’s Body

• (01:50 - 07:10)

  • Nancy explores 1 Corinthians 11, which discusses communion’s deeper meaning: it’s more than a ritual—it’s connected to our health and well-being.
  • Makes clear Jesus’ body was broken for our wholeness, and his blood activated every New Covenant promise.
  • Quote: “Remember that my body was broken so yours could be whole. … His blood activated all that belongs to us in the New Covenant.” (02:35)

• Emphasizes the warning in the passage:

  • Failing to "discern the Lord’s body" can lead to weakness, sickness, and even premature death (v.29-30).
  • Quote: “Not discerning the Lord’s body—many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep or die prematurely. Jesus gave Paul a direct connection to not discerning the Lord’s body and people’s health and long life.” (06:40)

The Twofold Application: Physical and Spiritual

• (07:10 - 09:30)
  • First, discerning Jesus’ physical body and appreciating the full extent of His sacrifice, knowing that sickness, poverty, and torment were laid on Him.
  • “When you don’t discern that it was laid on Him, you’ll put up with it in your life.” (08:17)
  • Second, recognizing our role and responsibility in the spiritual body of Christ—God’s family—and honoring that unity.
  • “It matters how we treat the family. … For Him to have a family cost heaven everything … so we need to value the family and treat it as important.” (09:05)

The Necessity of Each Member's Function

• (09:30 - 13:10)
  • Using the analogy of body parts, Nancy stresses that every member has a God-appointed place and function, just as fingers play their unique roles.
  • Explains: If one part neglects its function, others must compensate, leading to imbalance.
  • “This finger cannot say, I don’t want to be a part today. No, you’re a part every day. Amen. … God set us there because we belong there.” (10:40)

Christ as the Head – The Flow of Divine Direction

• (13:10 - 15:45)
  • Christ is the head; believers are the body. The head gives direction; the body must agree and act.
  • The body cannot function fully unless each member responds to the head’s instructions.
  • Quote: “If a member says, ‘I’m not doing my part,’ they just told the head no. And for this cause, many are weak, sickly, and die prematurely because they refuse to bring their supply and their function.” (14:54)

Call to Spiritual Maturity

• (15:45 - 18:45)
  • God’s intention is for believers not to remain spiritual babies but to grow into full maturity, which increases our usefulness to the head (Christ) and benefits the entire body.
  • “A newborn draws the attention to itself, but a mature person brings attention to the whole family and brings a help and a supply to the family.” (17:36)

The Role of Five-Fold Ministry Gifts

• (18:45 - 20:55)
  • Ephesians 4: Jesus gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip (mature) the church for effective ministry, to prevent spiritual instability and susceptibility to error.
  • “Why do we want to grow? Because then we’re not susceptible to spiritual instability. … You’re stable, you’re fortified, you’re increasing and you’re growing as the body of Christ.” (20:28)

Supplying and Receiving Within the Body

• (20:55 - 23:30)
  • Nancy highlights Ephesians 4:15-16: Every joint supplies, and as we function in our God-given place, we both bring and receive life-giving supply.
  • The physical analogy returns: a disconnected finger can neither give nor receive life and will eventually die if separated.
  • “When we are in the place where God puts us, we fit there. … When people aren’t receiving a supply, are they bringing a supply? Because if you’re not sowing, you can’t reap. … It’s also true about the body.” (22:31)

The Importance of Love and Right Connection

• (23:30 - 26:30)
  • Not walking in love or neglecting your part causes harm not just to oneself but the entire church body.
  • “We honor one another. Because I fit with you, I’m not going to attack you. Because to attack you is to attack my body.” (24:10)
  • Disconnecting from the body cuts off the flow of health and strength.
  • “No wonder health isn’t flowing. No wonder strength isn’t flowing. Amen.” (25:31)

Self-Examination and Taking Responsibility

• (26:30 - End)
  • Encourages listeners to examine themselves—if there is weakness or lack, ask: Am I in my place? Am I bringing my supply?
  • “We are not authorized to do something that hinders the body, that holds back the body. … We’re authorized to grow.” (26:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Discerning the Lord’s Body:
  “Not discerning the Lord’s body—many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep or die prematurely.” (06:40)
• On the Body Analogy:
  “This finger cannot say, I don’t want to be a part today. No, you’re a part every day.” (10:40)
• On Unity and Love:
  “Because I fit with you, I’m not going to attack you. Because to attack you is to attack my body.” (24:10)
• On Spiritual Maturity:
  “God intends individually that we grow up, doesn’t he? … God doesn’t want us to stay spiritual babies.” (15:54)
• On Contribution and Receiving:
  “When we are in the place where God puts us, we fit there. … As we bring a supply, we receive a supply.” (22:31)

Key Timestamps

• 00:10—Opening encouragement on present healing power
• 02:00—Teaching on communion and its connection to healing
• 06:40—Warning about not discerning the Lord’s body
• 08:17—First application: physical sacrifice of Jesus
• 09:05—Second application: the spiritual family (body of Christ)
• 10:40—Body part analogies and individual function
• 14:54—Christ as head, necessity of following direction
• 17:36—Maturity and the family analogy
• 20:28—Danger of spiritual instability
• 22:31—Being in your place in the body—giving and receiving supply
• 24:10—Love for other believers as love for one’s own body
• 25:31—Consequences of disconnecting from body life
• 26:55—Call to responsibility and growth

Conclusion

Nancy Dufresne’s teaching in this episode is a passionate call for believers to recognize both the privilege and the responsibility of their place in the body of Christ. She emphasizes that the health, strength, and effectiveness of individuals—and the whole church—are connected to every member bringing their supply, maturing in faith, and walking in love toward each other.

Final thought: “We’re not authorized to hold the body back. We’re authorized to grow.” (26:55)

For more resources or past messages, visit dufresneministries.org.