Many people in the body of Christ don't spend a lot of time in abstract thought or theological musings; we learn in part from theological teaching we've received. But nevertheless, our ideas about God -- how we see God, how we perceive him -- are of tremendous importance regarding our relationship with God. One such example of a relationship-impacting idea is our beliefs about God's role in evil.

What Pastor Joe discovered in examining some widely held notions about God and evil is that they were "proof texted," meaning that an idea was proposed, and then a scripture was slapped next to it to prove the idea was true. By finding one isolated text, one can make an erroneous idea look biblical and right. Instead, one should compare an idea with the whole counsel of God from the Word, which sometimes paints a different picture. 

Here Pastor Joe briefly examines three of five questions we must ask when considering evil:

1) How does God exercise His sovereignty? Is everything that happens an expression of God's will? Do men really have freedom, or is God controlling us?

2) Is spiritual warfare real and is it necessary?

3) How do we explain the existence of evil? Can God limit his control in the universe?

Part two continues in next week's episode with two more questions: 4) Can God change his mind? and 5) Can God Suffer? These episodes are pulled from Pastor Joe McIntyre's introductory sermon in the series, "Don't Blame God."  Each sermon in the series covers one of these five questions at length.

Show notes, other resources and a full transcript can be found at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast11. 

Part Two of Today’s Gospel vs. The Gospel in Acts casts a vision of Christianity that operates with dominion – one that's based on and rooted in the resurrection of Christ. Many modern-day Christians experience fear as it relates to death and, separately, demons.

A full transcript and relevant links can be found on our shownotes page at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast10. 

This episode, pulled from Pastor Joe McIntyre's Resurrection Faith sermon series, highlights the differences in the Gospel message we often hear today versus what was preached and demonstrated by the first Christians in the Book of Acts. 

A full transcript and additional resources are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast9. 

Everything in the Word is simple – children can understand it. The power of God exhibited in the Word is meant to be lived out through us, today. We live in a culture that exalts intellectualism and the mind. It's good to have a sound mind, and a sound mind can be used of God. But sometimes we reason our way into unbelief. We look at things from so many angles and are so busy analyzing that we talk ourselves out of doing anything. Our enemy is not our weakness; our enemy is unbelief.

As we begin to move into a warrior mindset and understand that the nobility and the high calling to which we're called, we begin to push back on the limitations caused by unbelief and say, Lord, you can do through me whatever you want. We become soldiers who know their place, their weapons, and are committed to seeing the battle through. 

Pastor Joe answers these questions and more in this week’s episode. A full transcript and show notes are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast8.

All Bible-believing Christians believe that God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and that he's omniscient (knows everything); that he rules over all things. Given that, here's the question -- how does he rule over all things? If he rules over all things, and bad things happen, did he make the bad thing happen?

Some people would say he did; that it's part of his plan, and that every bad thing happens because God has allowed it for a purpose. Pastor Joe speaks to the "church of passivity" this mindset has created and how we are called to be warriors. The only thing God has "allowed" and ordained as it relates to trials is for us to have dominion in the midst of them.

Full transcript and additional resources are available on our shownotes page here. 

Sickness and disease are facts of life and inevitable occurrences to many people. Pastor Joe continues his sermon on The Source of Sickness with a deeper dive into what scripture says about healing from sickness and disease, as well as other forms of oppression from the devil.

He addresses who God wants to heal, and the thought process some Christians subscribe to: “God is sovereign, and we believe he can heal but we aren’t sure if it’s his will.”

Pastor Joe closes with how the modern-day Church should minister today. Does scripture have anything to say about how the church should be sharing the Gospel beyond the salvation story? What role should divine healing play in our lives and our ministry to others?

A free PDF outline, show notes, and a full transcript are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast6.

Sickness and disease are facts of life and inevitable occurrences for many people.

But is this God's intention, or do sickness and disease have another source?

Why do we get sick? Where does sickness come from?

In sermon one from Pastor Joe McIntyre’s series, Divine Healing, The Basics, he lays forth the biblical basis for sickness as being the result of the fall and coming exclusively from the devil.

Many in the church have been taught a concept of God’s sovereignty that’s not accurate or biblical, and actually originates in Greek philosophy, which underlines the unchangeableness of God. Yet some 17 times, the Bible says that because men prayer, God changed his mind.

As a function of God’s sovereignty, many falsely believe that “everything happens for a reason” –  that any sickness is the outworking of God’s plan and purpose. God turns situations for good because he's a good God, but this is no indication that He caused it. Time after time, the Bible tells us the opposite. John 10:10 is one example. 

A free PDF outline, show notes, and a full transcript are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast5.

This is part two of last week's episode from the sermon "Lack of Knowledge" in Pastor Joe McIntyre's 16-part Finished Work of Christ audio series.

We don't so much need more knowledge as we need a deeper and fuller knowledge and understanding of what we've heard for years, but has not yet impacted our lifestyle. Increased revelation brings divine wisdom to know how to apply the Truth to our lives practically. But how much revelation can we as believers expect and contend for before Jesus returns? 

According to the Bible, quite a lot. But there is cause for confusion. For example, some Bible commentators interpret passages like 1 Peter 1:13 ("Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ," NKJV) to refer to a future act of divine favor when Christ returns, while Pastor Joe unveils interpretations exhorting believers to trust in the grace of God being revealed progressively, day by day, here and now. 

Let's set our focus on looking to God for the revelation of His Son to be increased in us and to us. Continual revelation is God's means to build the church. The Holy Spirit is the mechanism. 

Show notes, a free PDF outline, and full transcript are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast4.

Many in the body of Christ lack a clear understanding of all that Christ has purchased for them in His finished work. As important and as vital as Christ's death is, there's more to his finished work than his death. His death took care of the negative; His resurrection and enthronement took care of the positive. And they are two complementary poles of one finished work. If we just teach the death of Christ, the best we can have is forgiveness of sins. But we miss the full picture. A lack of knowledge is one culprit. 

This is the introductory message, "Lack of Knowledge," in Pastor Joe McIntyre's 16-part Finished Work of Christ audio series. Show notes, a free PDF outline, and full transcript are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast3.

In part two of his War Over the Word series, pastor Joe McIntyre discusses:

1) How to get free of the most challenging, long-standing sins in your life;

2) The one lie the devil uses to convince you that you’ll never get free; and

3) What God has committed himself to doing in your life.

Never again think to yourself, “I can’t be like Christ in this area because _____.”

Tune in and be empowered to step into your freedom! Show notes and full transcript are available at www.empoweringgrace.org/podcast2.