Does God care about the prayers of an unbeliever? Does God even listen to the prayers of sinners? Are there times when God hears our prayers but does not answer?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host, Dr. Josh Philpot address these questions regarding prayer. They seek to give us faithful answers from the Bible in how God has revealed Himself and in what He makes clear to us there. Dr. Caldwell says when we speak of God seeing, hearing, and listening, we need to know that these are human terms. God is spirit and does not have a body, He does not have physical human appendages. Yet, the Scriptures teach us God is omnipresent and omniscient. He sees all and He knows all, there is nothing that God doesn’t know. So in this sense, we can say God does hear the prayers of unbelievers, but as to Him answering those prayers, our answer must be and will be qualified.

Dr. Caldwell begins by explaining that there is a clear and distinct difference in the Word of God with respect to God’s attitude toward the prayers of His people versus the prayers of the lost. As God’s people we can know that He hears us and answers us, 1 John 5:13-14 affirms this.  The hearing in this passage is associated with us asking according to His will. So God hears and responds favorably in accord to those who come desiring His will. Dr. Caldwell continues by saying, but for the lost (unbelievers/unconverted), they do not have the mind of Christ. 

They do not ask according to God’s will. Instead, they ask according to their own desires and intentions of their own hearts. He shows us from 1 Peter 3:8-12, some distinctions that God looks at in the hearts of the righteous and the hearts of the wicked. Dr. Caldwell then tells us the book of James takes up the issue of unanswered prayer in several places e.g., James 1:5-7, James 4:3, James 4:6. These Scriptures help us to see that our prayers must spring forth out of a life that delights in God, a life that desires to please Him and for Him to be pleased by our requests.

Dr. Caldwell goes on to remind us that there are also times when God does not answer the prayers of believers. Believers’ prayers can be affected by their sinfulness. There are times when a believer feels guilty for their failures and feels unworthy to come before the Lord. Often times we come asking for the wrong things with the wrong motives. Other times we are asking without taking action on our sins the Father has revealed. These may result in feeling distanced before God. We might see a leanness in our prayer life and/or see our prayers hindered or go unanswered. 

These may be signals that we need to come before God confessing and dealing with our sin. As Christians, we have been saved by and through the blood of Christ. We’ve been given direct access to the throne of God.  We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in times of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). None of us is worthy in ourselves but we have Christ, who is our great high priest, who did not sin and He alone is worthy. He can, He will and does intercede for us.  If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us (1John 1:9). Yet we must come and we must come humbly, asking, seeking, and knocking according to His will, not ours.

So then, does God answer the prayers of unbelievers? There are times in the Bible when He did not (Psalm 18:40-41) and there are several instances where He responded favorably (Genesis 21:14-19, Jonah 1:5-16, Jonah 3:3-10, Mark 7:24-30, Acts 10:1-6), but there are no verses in Scripture that say He always does or will. God is sovereign, He is free to respond to the cry and need of any man, woman or child as He wills and desires.  He does whatever He pleases e.g., Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Daniel 4:35.

If you’d like to know more about God and if God hears and answers the Prayers of Unbelievers, consider listening to the following messages by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

Prayer and Salvation – Click Here

Asking in Faith – Click Here

The Do’s and Don’ts of Prayer – Click Here

Confidence in Prayer – Click Here

Prayer, Conduct and Speech – Click Here

The post Does God Hear and Answer the Prayers of an Unbeliever or Unrepentant Sinner? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

Is there evidence that confirms that I am saved? I’ve believed, confessed, and been baptized, isn’t this enough for salvation? Can we ever be sure of ours or anyone else’s salvation?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host, Dr. Josh Philpot think and talk through the subject of professing salvation. They help us look at what real salvation looks like biblically and remind us that the Bible calls for us to examine ourselves and to make our calling and election sure.

Dr. Caldwell begins by telling us that salvation is not determined by professing, our profession does not save us. This is not the standard by which we should measure ourselves; profession alone is not an adequate way to measure our salvation. Simply making a profession does not save anyone. In Matthew 7 Jesus says in that day, that many will make an “orthodox” confession, but Jesus also says that He will tell them to depart for He never knew them. What a genuine profession does is give voice to the work of God in a human soul. The reason we believe and confess, that Jesus is the Christ, is because God has done a work in our heart. There’s acknowledgment in our hearts that He is the Lord who saves. 

Our justification happens in a moment and where there is real faith in Christ, sanctification will be progressive over our lifetime. 1 Corinthians 5:17 tells us we are a new creation. We will live changed lives, how we think, act, speak and conduct ourselves will be different. What we love and desire will be driven by the Word of God. We will be in a lifetime battle from the moment we are converted; we will be waring with the flesh and have dueling desires.

Having said this, Dr. Caldwell also says, that genuinely saved people can fail and sometimes fail miserably. But what gives evidence that they are truly converted, is not only their relationship to Christ but their relationship to sin. Dr. Caldwell takes us to the book of 1John and walks us through several verses showing us how the Word helps us examine ourselves in this area. 

Several questions that come out of this are: Am I walking in habitual sin, walking in things that are disobedient to God? Am I living a self-centered, sin centric life? Is this the trajectory of my life? Am I walking in darkness or in the light? Do I see my sin? Do I agree with God about my sin? Am I confessing and repenting of my sin before God regularly on an ongoing basis? True believers want to obey God, their relationship to God has changed, they have new loves, new desires, and new hatreds. Their relationship to sin has changed and it’s all reflected in a new way of living.

Dr. Caldwell goes on to tell us that there are other means of examination that we need to consider as well. He asks us to look at our relationship with sin in-respect to fellowship with Gods people. Do we love the people of God, the body of Christ? How is our relationship with them? Is love evident in my life? Is love increasing? He also asks do we affirm sound doctrine? Do we have a right understanding of the gospel? Are we pursuing holiness and is this evident through the fruit of the Spirit being manifested in our lives?  How do we hear the Word of God, do we love the Words of God, do we receive the Words of God, are we submissive to the Words of God, do we desire the Word of God like a newborn baby craves milk? 

How about prayer, do we see evidence that God hears our prayers, are our prayers being answered? Dr. Caldwell says these are some of the ways that God has provided for us, they help us measure ourselves by standards that come from the Word of God. Hence we examine and compare what Gods Word says alongside the trajectory of our lives. Answering these questions, measuring ourselves can help us have a sense of assurance that God has saved us. This is how we are to examine ourselves and how we can faithfully help others to examine and determine where they stand before God as well.

How Can We Be Sure of Our Salvation? The following sermons by Dr. Richard Caldwell can help us in further examination, dealing with sin, living a life that reflects true salvation, having assurance in salvation and walking faithfully in it:

The Manifestation of Eternal Life – Click Here

Where the Gospel Always Begins – Click Here

Evidences of New Birth – Click Here

How Bad Hearts Are Hidden – Click Here

The First Test of True Fellowship Pt.1 – Click Here

Confessing Our Sin – Click Here

The Christians Life – Click Here

An Examination of the Most Basic Things – Click Here

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Does God want me to stay married to an abuser? Is abuse in marriage an acceptable reason for divorce? If I leave my abusive marriage can I get remarried?

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host, Dr. Josh Philpot approach the subject of abuse in marriage. Dr. Philpot asks Dr. Caldwell how would he counsel someone, who is in an abusive situation in their marriage, about staying put or leaving the marriage with the possible outcome being divorce.

Dr. Caldwell tells us that we never want to encourage a person to stay, remain or return to a home where physical danger is present and ongoing. We need to be wise about how we approach situations where physical abuse is involved. Several factors have to be brought to bear on these particular circumstances. How pastors and elders in the church would shepherd and counsel one through these difficult times, would depend on each individual situation and set of circumstances. 

He goes on to say, however, that there is no sin that’s been committed in a marriage, where repentance takes place, that God can’t transform and restore the marriage. If there is going to be restoration where there was once physical danger, there needs to be a very careful set of parameters put in place. There need to be steps and proving points where one is able to demonstrate that they are different and that the Lord has changed them so that the marriage can be maintained. Dr. Caldwell assures us that the Bible is clear, restoration is possible and restoration does happen. He shares with us that the church he shepherds and it’s congregants have been witnesses of this in their congregation. They’ve seen enormous demonstrations of the power of God in transforming lives and restoring of marriages. 

Dr. Philpot next brings up Dr. Caldwell’s high view of marriage. They discuss Dr. Caldwell’s view, and how he sees and understands what the Scriptures are teaching and how many would see these teachings as restrictive. This understanding is considered the minority view. He has spoken about it, written about it and preached on it in a recent series titled – Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage.  Dr. Caldwell explains that even though this understanding is restrictive, he does believe there are biblical grounds for divorce. 

He sees 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 as holding out the possibility that for some marriages, there are certain situations that are just unsustainable.  The Apostle Paul says there, that the wife should not leave her husband (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. Dr. Caldwell believes that this passage of scripture envisions particular situations where you cannot say to a person that it is wise for them to remain.

More importantly, though, we need to be focused on God’s design for marriage. It’s one man and one woman joined together covenantally before God for life. Marriage is a covenant until death, the death of one or the other is the only biblical release to remarry (e.g., Romans 7:2-3). We are to seek to maintain marriages and glorify God in them, and this will involve forgiveness. Asking for and granting it, even when some very serious sins have been committed.

If you’d like to hear sermons related to the questions about being in an abusive marriage or a more in-depth teaching with detail and clarity regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage, please consider listening to the series by Dr. Richard Caldwell – Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage.

The post Should I Stay in or Leave My Abusive Marriage? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast we are talking about how to forgive sin when it seems impossible and unforgivable.

Is there a limit to how much we forgive? Am I to forgive someone for the same sins day in and day out? Am I supposed to forgive the monstrosity of evil that was carried out against me personally?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot tackle a very difficult subject, forgiveness. We often ask questions like these because we are unwilling to forgive and are looking for someone or something to validate us in our sinfulness and desire to extract due punishment. But other times it’s because we really believe that the sin committed against us, so heinous in nature, is actually unforgivable.

Dr. Caldwell says that we need to pay close attention to our thoughts and hearts in these situations. Our ability to forgive is a commentary on whether we have been forgiven in many ways. If we are unwilling to forgive, it’s an indication that we may have not fully understood or experienced the grace of being forgiven. No one is capable of forgiveness until they’ve been forgiven by God in Christ Jesus. Yes, there is a natural kind of human forgiveness that people grant to each other. But forgiveness in its truest sense is a gospel view of forgiveness and this cannot be extended unless we’ve received it. When we’ve received God’s forgiveness then we have understood the matter of sin. 

In the moment we understand it’s pervasiveness, it’s evil, hateful, scandalous nature, and it’s enormity, then we understand that we deserve to be condemned for our sin forever. When we understand what we’ve been forgiven, then we, with honesty can look at what’s been done to us and truly consider what we can’t forgive or deem unforgivable. Dr. Caldwell gives us examples from the Bible on the life of Joseph in Genesis and from the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 to consider.

Dr. Caldwell goes on to explain that forgiving does not equal justice served. To forgive someone is not to say something wasn’t done to us, it’s not to say that the sin is excused, it’s not to say that it wasn’t enormous, hateful or not even real. We are not justifying what someone did to us when we forgive them, we are saying we can forgive because we have been forgiven. We also need to make sure that we are not keeping a list in our hearts, demanding that someone be personally held accountable, punished and judgment executed. Vengeance belongs to God, we are not to take our own vengeance. We are not in the place of God and we are not qualified to execute vengeance. 

There may be times where the civil authorities and law enforcement need to be involved. However, believers do not need to feel guilty or ashamed in these circumstances. This does not mean unforgiveness on our part, because we can forgive, but we can also allow the justice system to do its work, as God has ordained government to be a sword and restrainer of evil in society.

Lastly, Dr. Caldwell reminds us that we need to have the right perspective in this. We must understand that God is sovereign over all events of our lives and that nothing accidental happens. It doesn’t mean that God approves and smiles upon everything that happens to us, but here is where the beauty of Romans 8 is being worked out. Because we are loved by God, He is at work in our lives causing all things to work together for good for those who love Him. So even what someone may have been meant to destroy us, God is able to take and use it for His glory and our eternal good. 

Scripture tells us that we are to love our enemies, pray for those who would spitefully use us and in this way we prove ourselves to be sons of our Father in heaven, who causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. God is good to people who have sinned against Him every single day.

What if the person isn’t repentant and isn’t asking for forgiveness do we forgive them? Can a person even receive what they aren’t even asking for? What should our attitudes be towards those we have forgiven? These questions and more are answered as Dr. Caldwell talks to us about forgiveness done Gods way, taking us to the Bible and reminding us that forgiveness is about redemption and restoration.

If you would like to hear more about How to Forgive Sin When it Seems Impossible and Unforgivable and true Biblical forgiveness, you can listen to the following sermons, by Dr. Caldwell:

Forgiveness of Sins – Click Here

Proving Our Profession: Forgiveness – Click Here

Why Forgiving People Must Forgive – Click Here

A Proper View of Discipline & Forgiveness – Click Here

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I want to be a leader in my church, what steps are required? Are there specific qualifications I need to have to be a leader in the church? If I believe I’m called to be a deacon, an elder or pastor what should I do?

In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot talk about the desire to become a leader in a local church. They discuss why a person might want to do this along with the biblical parameters and qualifications that need to be present along with the desire.

Dr. Caldwell begins by saying that it’s not wrong to want to be a leader, the Bible actually affirms this in 1 Timothy 3:1 saying, “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” Dr. Caldwell goes on to say it is not bad or wrong to desire noble things, but our desires need to be noble. Noble meaning – beautiful, good, honorable, and/or worthy. However, we should be willing to examine our motives and willing to ask ourselves, why do I want to become a leader? Do I see myself as being able to do something that will benefit the Church, or able to help the Church in such way? Do I want some sort of power or influence, am I wanting others to think highly of me? 

Having a desire to be a leader is a good thing, but our desires can be wrongheaded. Desires can be misinformed by the flesh, selfishness, and pride. What we need to ask ourselves is, have I been gifted for this. Do I want to use whatever gift God has given me for the purpose of fully honoring and glorifying Him? Do these desires fit with my giftedness? Ultimately, that is not something we are qualified to determine or judge by ourselves.

Dr. Caldwell says it important that we have a healthy ecclesiology, we need to understand what the Church is and how it functions. When we have this, we will understand that it is God who exalts people to leadership. When we are converted, God sovereignly assigns our gifts. We don’t get to choose or dictate what gifts we are given for ministry. We need to be humble, faithful and willing to be used wherever God chooses to place us. 

He resists proud people but gives grace to those who are humble. Jesus reminds us of this when He teaches His disciples that if anyone desires to be great, he must first be a servant to all. He even gives us an example of this kind of servant leadership. In the evening of the Passover before His death, He removes His outer garments, wraps Himself with a towel, stoops down and washes the feet of His disciples. 

Dr. Caldwell tells us that the call to ministerial work is actually a process of discovery. If we find ourselves desiring to be used in the Lords Church we need to be humble, aspire to faithfulness, serve others and live a life that characterizes Christ.  We can look to others who are already in leadership positions, let them help us walk through things and discover places to begin serving. Let them give us opportunities where we can be observed and examined for our giftedness. 

This gifting is spiritual, not natural. It may work in conjunction with other natural talents, strengths, and abilities that God has given. But, we need to let those in the Church recognize our gift and not judge our own service. God will help us determine, with the help of others, how and where our gift should be used.  Look for the affirmations of the faithful leaders and others in our church. They will be able to see where we are most useful and our gift flourishes. In this way, we will be able to rejoice that we didn’t do this of ourselves, but that God placed us in our position.

If you are interested in learning more about being a faithful servant in the Lords Church you can listen to these sermons by Dr. Richard Caldwell:

A Lesson in Servanthood Pt.1 – Click Here

Clear Thinking About the Ministry – Click Here

A Noble Work – Click Here

A Leadership Perspective That Pleases God – Click Here

The Temperament of a Godly Leader – Click Here

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