Spiritual Beauty
J.R. Miller



Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (1Jn 3:2)

The Hearing of the Gospel

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  (Mat 13:11)

Hearing with the faith to believe lies many times with the condition of our heart (Matt 13:15). This is one thing we cannot fault God, it is His desire that none perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).  Sadly there can be selective hearing, not receiving the whole Gospel truth, accepting only what is convenient. This phenomenon of accepting what we desire is probably because we do not like to be challenged. If our standards or beliefs are challenged and requires a complete change of our minds an automatic wall of resistance appears.

From the parable of the sower it warns us of only a quarter of listeners will be saved to live fruitful Christian lives. Half the listeners received the Gospel but were disqualified; listening but not hearing. Hearing goes very deep into the spirit and birthing forth faith (Rom 10:17). It is purely the grace of God that we been given all the opportunity to hear the mysteries of salvation and of the Kingdom of God. Mysteries are meant to be hidden from those who are hard at hearing. The test of whether we have heard clearly is when testing of what our faith is grounded on and on what affections lies deep within our hearts (Matt 21:21, 22).

We have to deal with two issues that can potentially disqualify us. Firstly, have we been ‘rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving’ (Col 2:7)? The abounding fruit is practicing the will of God (1 Thess 5:18).  Secondly, have we laid down our affections down, whatever that hinders our love for the Savior and love for the brethren (1 John 3:15, 16)?

Have we truly heard the Gospel? Check for evidence and demonstration of the righteous fruit and affections in our daily living. 

A Secret of Victorious Living 
J.R. Miller

Grace Denial 
Octavius Winslow

True Fellowship

…… therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  (1Jn 3:1)

Fellowship, as defined in Scripture differs from the world’s perspective. It signifies communion, a giving and receiving in the realm of the spirit. It is union to the God-head through Jesus Christ and partaking of the supernatural life, not sharing any form of human commonality. For us it requires death of the soulish and the fleshly to trod down this road of fellowship with the Father and with the Son (1Jn 1:3). The cost is high and pure, not to be cheapened by compounding it with filth of flesh and spirit (2 Cor 7:1).

Are we known of God or known by the world? The ‘know’ that the apostle stated is whether there has been a perception, understanding, recognizing through personal experience. How can we who have a personal experience with Jesus Christ bear ourselves to the world that rejects His sovereign Lordship? ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?’ (Jas 4:4). Never take fellowshipping as a casual Christian activity wasted over conversations that doesn’t edify nor glorify God. It has to be spirit communicating with spirit, resulting in growing in greater Christ likeness, lesser of self and loving the brethren at the level of daily mundane life in the most practical manner. It begins in the realm of the spirit and worked out in the physical, never the other way around.