Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:07] Speaker B: Welcome back to the show, everyone. Today we're going to be doing a deep dive into Pastor Glenn Blakeney's sermon, Kingdom Credentials Part 2.
[00:00:16] Speaker A: Oh, I love this one.
[00:00:17] Speaker B: I was really excited about this one.
[00:00:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:00:19] Speaker B: Just all about, you know, the power of the Holy Spirit. And, you know, it's not just something we talk about. It's something we should see in action.
[00:00:27] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:00:28] Speaker B: Even today, you know, and it's like.
[00:00:30] Speaker A: Pastor Blakeney is saying, okay, we believe in the Gospel.
[00:00:33] Speaker B: Right.
[00:00:34] Speaker A: But where's the proof in our lives? Where's the power?
[00:00:36] Speaker B: Exactly. And he uses this phrase, kingdom credentials.
[00:00:40] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: And it really caught my attention.
[00:00:42] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:00:42] Speaker B: What do you think he means by that?
[00:00:43] Speaker A: Well, he points out how in the Bible, miracles weren't just random events. They were like God's seal of authenticity on the message and the messenger.
[00:00:53] Speaker B: It's like a stamp of approval.
[00:00:55] Speaker A: Yes, exactly. There were credentials showing that the person speaking was backed by God's power.
[00:01:02] Speaker B: So it's not just about saying we believe. It's about having the evidence to back it up.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: Exactly. And that's what makes it so relevant for us today. Pastor Blakeney talks about the coldness of men's hearts and how people, today, maybe even more than ever, need to see proof.
[00:01:18] Speaker B: Right.
[00:01:18] Speaker A: We live in a world full of skepticism and doubt. And miracles cut through all that. They're undeniable evidence that God is real and he's at work.
[00:01:30] Speaker B: It's like God saying, here's my resume. These miracles are my credentials, showing you I'm who I say I am.
[00:01:35] Speaker A: Right.
[00:01:36] Speaker B: I love that.
[00:01:36] Speaker A: I know. Right? It's so powerful. And he goes on to use the example of Jesus's ministry. Jesus's miracles weren't just acts of kindness. They were demonstrations of the Holy Spirit's power, showing he was sent by God and his message was true.
[00:01:50] Speaker B: So in a way, those miracles were like Jesus resume showcasing his divine authority.
[00:01:55] Speaker A: Yes. And here's where it gets even more interesting.
[00:01:57] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:01:57] Speaker A: Pastor Blakeney says that same power is available to us today.
[00:02:01] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:02:01] Speaker A: But he cautions us against relying too much on our own skills and talents in ministry.
[00:02:06] Speaker B: Because then it becomes about us, not about God.
[00:02:08] Speaker A: Exactly. He says it can even become a subtle form of idolatry, where we're putting our faith in ourselves instead of in God.
[00:02:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:02:16] Speaker A: He emphasizes the need to rely on the Holy Spirit's anointing, letting God work through. Through us.
[00:02:22] Speaker B: So it's not about our charisma or our cleverness. It's about letting God's power flow through us.
[00:02:28] Speaker A: Yes. And that Leads us to this incredible concept. He introduces the commission.
[00:02:33] Speaker B: Oh, yes, the commission. I was really intrigued by that.
[00:02:36] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:02:36] Speaker B: What's your take on it?
[00:02:38] Speaker A: Well, it builds on the Great Commission, where Jesus tells his disciples to go out and spread the gospel. But Pastor Blakeney emphasizes that it's a partnership, a commission between believers and Jesus.
[00:02:49] Speaker B: Right.
[00:02:49] Speaker A: We're not doing this alone.
[00:02:50] Speaker B: So it's like we're teammates with Jesus.
[00:02:52] Speaker A: Exactly.
[00:02:53] Speaker B: Working together to spread the good news.
[00:02:55] Speaker A: Exactly. And here's the best part. God actively works alongside us, confirming the message with miracles.
[00:03:02] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: Pastor Blakeney even uses the example of the disciples Preaching in Mark 16.20, where it says the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
[00:03:12] Speaker B: Wow. So even in the early church, miracles were a key part of sharing the gospel.
[00:03:18] Speaker A: Right.
[00:03:18] Speaker B: It wasn't just about words. It was about God's power backing them up.
[00:03:22] Speaker A: Right. And, you know, that brings up another really important point Pastor Blakeney makes.
[00:03:27] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:03:27] Speaker A: The idea of faith being compounded.
[00:03:30] Speaker B: Ooh, I love that concept.
[00:03:31] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:03:32] Speaker B: He talks about how every time we experience God's power, it should strengthen our faith for the next challenge.
[00:03:38] Speaker A: Yes. It's like each experience adds another layer of trust, another brick to the foundation of our faith.
[00:03:44] Speaker B: So instead of being intimidated by new challenges, we can look back and say, wait a minute. God brought me through that other impossible situation. He can do it again.
[00:03:53] Speaker A: Exactly. He uses the story of Jesus walking on water to illustrate that. Remember, the disciples had just seen Jesus feed 5,000 people with just a few loaves and fish.
[00:04:04] Speaker B: Right. But then a storm hits, and they completely freak out.
[00:04:07] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:04:07] Speaker B: It's like they forgot all about the previous miracle.
[00:04:09] Speaker A: Right.
[00:04:09] Speaker B: And don't we do that sometimes, too? All the time we forget how God has come through for us in the past. Yeah. And we panic when a new problem.
[00:04:16] Speaker A: Comes up all the time. Right. And Pastor Blickney suggests that every time we see God's power in action, it should build our faith for the next challenge.
[00:04:24] Speaker B: So it's not just about getting through the storm. It's about using that experience to deepen our trust in God.
[00:04:31] Speaker A: Exactly. He gives another great example from the Old Testament, the story of David and Goliath.
[00:04:36] Speaker B: Okay, let's talk about David and Goliath.
What does Pastor Blakeney say about that?
[00:04:41] Speaker A: Pastor Blakeney points out that David wasn't some superhuman. You know, he was a shepherd boy, but he had faced lions and bears protecting his flock. Those victories, fueled by his faith in God, gave him the confidence to face a giant.
[00:04:57] Speaker B: So those past victories were More than just wins, they were faith building experiences that prepared him for an even bigger challenge.
[00:05:04] Speaker A: Exactly. That's what Pastor Blakeney wants us to grasp. Every time we face a storm, every time we overcome an obstacle with God's help, it strengthens our faith muscles for the next battle.
[00:05:14] Speaker B: It makes you wonder, what giants are we facing today that we could be more confident about tackling if we remember God's faithfulness in the past?
[00:05:23] Speaker A: That's a great question. What comes to mind for you?
[00:05:25] Speaker B: You know, I think about those times when I let fear hold me back from stepping out in faith.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:05:31] Speaker B: Maybe if I focus more on how God has helped me overcome similar things before, I wouldn't be so hesitant.
[00:05:37] Speaker A: That's a powerful insight. I think it really gets to the heart of what Pastor Blakeney is saying. We need to remember those moments where God showed up, where he proved himself faithful. It builds our confidence for the future.
[00:05:50] Speaker B: So if we're going to embrace this idea of kingdom credentials, of living a life where God's power is evident, how do we actually do that? What does it look like practically?
[00:05:59] Speaker A: Well, towards the end of his sermon, Pastor Blakeny gives us three key areas to focus on. Consecration, revelation, and demonstration.
[00:06:05] Speaker B: Okay, let's unpack those. First up, consecration. What does Pastor Blayney mean by that?
[00:06:10] Speaker A: He's talking about living a life set apart for God, a life of prayer and holiness. It's about aligning ourselves with God's will and creating space for him to work in and through us.
[00:06:22] Speaker B: So it's not just about going through the motions of religion. It's about a deeper commitment to living a life that reflects God's values.
[00:06:29] Speaker A: Exactly. It's about surrendering our own desires and ambitions and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our steps.
[00:06:34] Speaker B: Which leads us to the next point. Revelation.
[00:06:37] Speaker A: Yes. And this is where it gets exciting. Pastor Blakeney talks about the need to understand the power of the Holy Spirit to recognize kingdom authority. It's about having a deeper understanding of who God is and what he is capable of doing.
[00:06:50] Speaker B: So it's not just about believing in God. It's about believing in his power. It's about expecting miracles.
[00:06:55] Speaker A: Exactly. It's about having faith that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is alive and active in the world today. And finally, we have demonstration.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: Okay, tell me more about demonstration. What does that look like?
[00:07:05] Speaker A: This is where the rubber meets the road. Pastor Blakeney challenges us to actively seek opportunities to demonstrate God's power. It's about stepping out in faith, even when it feels scary or uncertain.
[00:07:17] Speaker B: So it's not enough to just talk about faith or believe in miracles. We have to be willing to put our faith into action.
[00:07:23] Speaker A: Exactly. It's about being bold and courageous, trusting that God will work through us to accomplish his purposes. It's about saying yes to those nudges from the Holy Spirit, even when they lead us outside of our comfort zones.
[00:07:35] Speaker B: It reminds me of that verse, faith without works is dead. We can't just sit around waiting for miracles to happen. We have to be willing to participate, to be vessels for God's power to flow through.
[00:07:45] Speaker A: That's a great point. And I think it brings us back to this whole idea of Kingdom credentials. What are the signs and wonders that should be accompanying our lives as followers of Christ?
[00:07:55] Speaker B: It's not about having a fancy title or position in the church. It's about living a life that reflects the power of the Holy Spirit. It's about those moments where people see God working through us and say, wow, there's something different about you.
[00:08:06] Speaker A: Yes. And that's what Pastor Blakeney leaves us with. He asks this thought provoking, if God partnered with people to do miracles in the Bible, how can we partner with him to see those same miracles today?
[00:08:21] Speaker B: That's a powerful question to ponder. It really challenges us to think about our own walk of faith. Are we living in a way that invites God's power to flow through us? Are we open to the possibility of miracles? Are we actively looking for opportunities to partner with God in demonstrating his power?
[00:08:39] Speaker A: It's something for each of us to wrestle with, to consider what those Kingdom credentials look like in our own lives.
[00:08:45] Speaker B: This deep dive has been so insightful. What are your final thoughts for our listener today?
[00:08:49] Speaker A: Yeah. It feels like we've only just scratched the surface here of Pastor Blakeney's message. There's so much here to, you know, unpack and apply to our own lives. And you know what's really encouraging is that Pastor Blakeney doesn't leave us hanging. Right. He reminds us that, you know, we're not alone on this journey.
[00:09:06] Speaker B: Yeah. He talks about how we have the Holy Spirit living within us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead.
[00:09:12] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:09:12] Speaker B: And we have, you know each other.
[00:09:14] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:09:15] Speaker B: This community of believers.
[00:09:16] Speaker A: That's right.
[00:09:17] Speaker B: To encourage and support one another along the way.
[00:09:19] Speaker A: That's so crucial because, let's face it, walking in the power of the Spirit isn't always easy.
[00:09:25] Speaker B: Right.
[00:09:25] Speaker A: You know, it takes courage. It takes faith. And it definitely definitely requires us to step outside our comfort zones.
[00:09:31] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:09:32] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:09:32] Speaker B: But the rewards are incredible.
[00:09:34] Speaker A: Oh, they are.
[00:09:35] Speaker B: Just imagine the impact we could have if we truly embrace this idea of Kingdom credentials.
[00:09:40] Speaker A: Right.
[00:09:40] Speaker B: If we allowed God's power to be evident in our lives, not just in our words, but also in our actions.
[00:09:46] Speaker A: It's mind blowing to think about the people we could reach, the lives we could touch, the difference we could make in the world. The possibilities are limitless when we partner with God.
[00:09:56] Speaker B: This deep dive has really challenged me to think about what it means to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.
[00:10:03] Speaker A: Me too.
[00:10:04] Speaker B: What about you? What are some key takeaways for you?
[00:10:06] Speaker A: For me, it's the reminder that God desires to work through us, to display his power and love to the world. We're not meant to simply be passive observers, but active participants in his kingdom. It's a call to step out in faith, to expect the miraculous, and to allow ourselves to be used by God in extraordinary ways.
[00:10:28] Speaker B: I love that. It's a call to adventure.
[00:10:29] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:10:30] Speaker B: To a life that's anything but ordinary.
[00:10:31] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:10:32] Speaker B: As we wrap up this episode, what would you say to our listener who is on their own journey of seeking the power of the Spirit?
[00:10:40] Speaker A: I would encourage them to go back and listen to Pastor Blakeney's sermon themselves. Let his words sink deep into your heart. And as you go about your week, ask yourself, what does it mean for me to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit? What Kingdom credentials am I carrying? And how can I allow those credentials to shine brighter in the days ahead?
[00:10:58] Speaker B: Those are powerful questions for all of us to reflect on.
[00:11:01] Speaker A: Yes, they are.
[00:11:02] Speaker B: Thank you for joining us on the deep dive.
[00:11:04] Speaker A: It's been a pleasure.
