The Watchman, February 2011

I am not what you would call a Charismatic or mystical preacher, nor have I ever thought of myself as an expert in prophecy. However, actions throughout the world have continued to surge in a torrent that I view as Biblical prophecy coming to pass.

Since the recreation of Israel in 1948, many Christians with a keen interest in the end times have begun to keep careful watch on prophecy fulfillment. Some Eschatological “experts” have made careers off of their professed knowledge of the Last Days. It often seems that all of their writings and sermons are on the same topic…the end of the world. And as I have been reviewing my writings, my blogs, and my sermons, I cannot help but notice a certain recent trend that has formed toward the subject of prophecy completion.

So I have asked myself, why? What is the reason behind this sudden transition in subject matter? The answer is straightforward; the Lord’s return is fast approaching! This is not to say I can signify a specific day or year, but the signs are there, and they are becoming more pronounced and numerous. To speak of these signs is only to fulfill the Great Commission and warn those who have become complacent, both the Lost and the Believer.

It’s been an exciting time here at The Road to God Ministry. We have been preparing for our first taping of the “Ask Your Pastor” television cable series to be aired in southeastern Michigan. In partnership with our mother-church, First General Baptist Church of Waterford, Michigan, the “Ask Your Pastor” show will bring a new innovation to the Christian cable series. Our goal is to not only reach those who remain Lost from Christ, but to help edify believers and aid in the sanctification in Messiah.

The ministry has observed that many church sponsored cable shows are either simple recordings of a congregation’s service or long and drawn out television show where the viewer gets to watch a boring man being interviewed or sit behind a desk explaining the Bible. Through this innovational series, the “Ask Your Pastor” show will offer the viewers several exciting features in its half-hour including timely Messianic news and informaton, Biblical questions being asked from people (who will be seen) from all over the world all to be answered by our Church’s leading expert, Reverend Pastor Thomas Miller, and the viewers will learn how they too can participate in events in the ministry.

This exciting show is fast approaching, and we are hoping to have the episode on-air by the end of March or early April 2011. “Ask Your Pastor” will be viewable in southeastern Michigan on Comcast Cablevision in the Waterford area. It will also be available throughout the southeastern Michigan area on AT & T U-Verse. You will also find the show on the Internet on The Road to God Ministry website as well as the Media Network of Waterford website.

Feeling Close to God

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:7-10

I've been reading so many comments on Facebook, and other blogs lately about not "feeling" close to God. I've even received e-mails from people asking me to pray for them because they don't feel like they once did in their Christian walk. Although I don't pretend to be an expert on this particular subject, I've certainly had my moments when I've "felt" the same way. If we have sin in our life it's like there is an impenetrable force field between us and God, luckily forgiveness is only a prayer away. Barring unforgiven sin however, there are times in our life when we don't feel as emotionally "connected" to God, and that's OK. I'll say it again, it's OK! You're not broken; it's just a part of our normal fallible human emotions. Our hearts are inherently wicked, our emotions are deceitful, and we can't trust them.

Our trust must be placed in the Lord, not our emotions. When our hope and our faith is in the Lord we will be like a tree planted by the waters, we're not going to be moved by the storms of life and we won't "cease from yielding fruit" if we are trusting in God.

Although it's easy to say this, but when we pick up God's scriptures and he feels distant it's sometimes hard to believe. Luckily my relationship with God has nothing to do with how I feel on a day to day basis; I can still serve him in the valley or on the mountain top. If I depended on my emotions I would probably rarely read my Bible, go to church, or pray. I do these things because they are the right thing to do not because I want to do them, or even do them because they make me feel good. God's word tells me to do these things; my trust is in him therefore I do them.

I am so glad my salvation has nothing to do with how I feel. If it did I would be questioning it often.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

If we have accepted Christ in our hearts, if we believe that He died for our sins, and was raised from the dead, then we're saved. The Bible doesn't say that we're only saved if we feel like we're saved; the Bible says if we call upon the name of the Lord we're saved. There are no clauses that say we're going to feel like we're madly in love with God every day, or filled with a burning desire to serve him with all of our beings.

I deeply love my husband, but there are days when my emotions make this feeling almost non-existent. (Engaged couples and newlyweds pay attention) That's OK, it is normal! If everyone who was in love always had that “iggy snookie muffin” feeling then none of us would ever get anything accomplished and we'd still be living in little huts without any technology. My love is a choice, my love is an action. Making his lunch, making our bed, writing a note, kissing him when he gets home, making his favorite meal even when I don't particularly feel "in love" are all ways that I love my husband. I do these things because I know love is not an emotion it's a daily choice.

The same is with our relationship with God. Even if we don't feel grateful, in awe of His majesty, thankful for His salvation, in Love with our creator, or burdened to serve; we can still show these things (and should) through our actions.

We can still show our thanks through prayer even if we don't feel grateful because the scriptures tell us to be thankful in all things. Therefore we should do this even when we don't feel like it. We can sing hymns praising God for His greatness and salvation, even if our hearts feel burdened. We can choose to serve and do what God asks us to even if we don't feel particularly close to Him.

We can rest assured in the knowledge of God's Word that we are saved if we have Christ in our heart, the only problem is once we're saved we still war with our flesh. If God removed all human emotions the moment we came to know Him then things might be different. God, however, does not do this. So, we are left to struggle with our feelings and we must choose to serve God even when we don't necessarily feel like it. Everyone goes through this. It is our choices that define us in these moments, and our trust in God that will keep us stable.

with Reverend Thomas Miller

Dear Pastor, What is a Sacrament in the Protestant church? Kelly S. Denver CO.

Sacrament: “Many in Christianity believe it is a rite that was established by Jesus Christ to bring grace to those participating in or receiving it. In many Protestant denominations, the sacraments are seen as baptism and Communion. The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopalian, and Lutheran Churches as well as other churches and denominations also include penance, confirmation, holy orders, matrimony, and the anointing of the sick.” Many protestant churches and denominations refer to baptism and communion as “Ordinances.” Though these churches may have ceremonies that go along with marriages, ordinations, and the anointing of the sick, they are not seen as Ordinances.

It is important to note that the grace that brings salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Baptism and Communion are the first two works that Christ orders (thus the name “Ordinance”) the believer to do.

Baptism and Communion are symbols and reminders of our Lord’s sacrifice for our sins. As Christ died for our sins and rose from the grave, baptism demonstrates the death of the person we were and the resurrection of the new person we have become in Christ. Communion shows us the sacrifice of our Lord’s body and blood that we can symbolically participate in.

1. To boldly present the Gospel of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah.

2. To evangelize to the Jew first and also to the Greek (all Gentiles) as stated in Romans 1:16, but both must be evangelized to EQUALLY.

3. Adhere to the tenets of Olive Tree Theology; to the beliefs that Jews and Gentile believers in Messiah can worship together and maintain their own cultural distinctiveness.

4. Preach and teach against all forms of Replacement Theology!

5. To teach the Jewish roots and Jewishness of true Biblical Christianity to all Christians.

6. We are BIBLICAL LITERALISTS, taking the words of the Bible whenever possible.

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