e must ever keep in mind that God is not a “genie” that is ready to do our bidding as soon as we “rub the magic lamp” of prayer. Whether He hears and answers us [by granting our petitions] depends upon the state of our hearts while we are praying. “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him” (John 9:31). “According to your faith let it be to you” (Matthew 9:29). Thus, one may seem very pious, use flowery speech, and even assume a lowly posture when he prays, yet not be praying acceptably. Consider the following requirements of acceptable prayer.

ne should not pray to be seen of men (Matt. 6:5,6). Jesus did not, here, forbid praying in public, but praying for the purpose of making a show. Those who do so “have their reward.”

ne should not use empty repetitions (Matt. 6:7,8). Jesus did not prohibit His disciples from repeating certain words and/or phrases, per se. Rather, He condemned the glorifying of numerous and lengthy prayers, as being meritorious in themselves. Some have suggested that the “vain repetitions” were senseless babbling, such as are used by modern-day “tongue-speakers.”

rayer must be accompanied by a righteous life (1 John 3:7,21,22; James 5:16). One who is living an unrighteous life has no scriptural right to expect God to grant his requests. Prayer is for those who are willing to do God’s will. This does not mean that one must be sinless to pray acceptably. Otherwise, no prayer for forgiveness would or could be acceptable. What it does mean is that sin is to be the exception in our lives, rather than the rule (Rom. 6:12; 1 John 1:5-7; 3:9).

rayer must be accompanied by a penitent attitude (Luke 18:13; Acts 8:22). We must ever manifest the proper attitude toward sin, especially when we go to God in prayer for mercy and grace. We must abhor every form of evil, and resolve not to participate therein. The more we hate sin, the less frequently we will commit sin. David said, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:104). Having sinned, we must experience godly sorrow, which “produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10). God will not respect impenitent pleas for forgiveness. Thus, Simon the Sorcerer was told, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). &

THE FELLOWSHIP QUESTION

By Fred Shewmaker

oday, we are hearing a great deal about the "Fellowship Question." However, the contentions which are causing trouble in some places appear to me to be arising from an abandonment of the faith by those who are contending. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). The word of God is not unclear on the subject of fellowship, but there seem to be those among us who are unwilling to abide by the revelation of God's word.

od answered the question of "Fellowship in Diversity" long ago through His prophet Amos. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). This question was the first in a series of rhetorical questions which God asked. Before considering the import of this question, let us notice the fourth question. "Can a bird fall into a snare upon the earth, where no gin [snare] is for him?" (Amos 3:5). There is no way to avoid giving this question a negative answer. Consider carefully the seven questions in verses 3 through 8. If we must answer some of these questions, "Yes," and some, "No," they would be completely pointless. To mean anything, they must all be answered the same way. Knowing that question four must be answered, "No," we are forced to conclude that all seven questions are to be answered, "No." Therefore, God was saying, "Two" cannot "walk together, except they be agreed."

he "two" under consideration in Amos 3:3 are God and the children of Israel -- God and His people. The people of God cannot maintain fellowship with God "except they be agreed" with God. Therefore, we can see that to be in fellowship with God necessitates being in agreement with God. Those who contend that a person can be in fellowship with God even though his concept of things does not agree with what God has revealed His concept of things to be are MISTAKEN!

he only way one can come into fellowship with God is by agreeing to walk in the way in which God has promised to be with man. All I am saying is that man must meet certain conditions before he can walk with God. Jesus said, "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24); "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5); "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32) and "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).

n Galatians 3:27 we learn, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are told, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." In Ephesians 2:10 we find, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto Good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." The person who believes, repents, confesses and is "baptized into Christ" becomes "a new creature" by the "workmanship" of God. "In Christ Jesus" we are to "walk in" the "good works, which God hath before ordained." From these considerations it necessarily follows that those in Christ who begin to walk in things which God had not "before ordained" are in disagreement with God. They have left their "walk" with God, being no longer in agreement with Him.

f, as those who advocate fellowship in diversity claim, we are in fellowship with all who are in fellowship with God, it follows, as the night follows the day, we cannot be in fellowship with God and fellowship those who are not in fellowship with God. If I have made a mistake here, let someone show that we are to fellowship some who are not in fellowship with God. Consider 2 Corinthians 6:17.

roceeding now on the assumption that the paragraph above is correct, please observe that fellowship is based upon walking in the "good works, which God hath before ordained." When considering to whom we will extend our fellowship, we must consider whether or not the things practiced by another are ordained by God. If the things he practices are not ordained by God, we cannot fellowship him and continue to walk in fellowship with God, until, or unless, he will give up his unauthorized practice.

ruly, this is a question of faith. We can have faith only in the things revealed in the word of God. Those who are advocating fellowship in diversity simply do not have enough faith in God's word to be satisfied with it as God gave it to us. &