The Generation Of Change

 

I would like to share my observation of the times we are living in. I trust that this isn’t just a view of my own ideology or opinion of things, or from a denominational stand point, or even my personal conviction. I truly believe that this is a godly and a righteous judgment from the mind of our Lord Jesus Christ. I trust that you will take a brief moment and consider.

I would like to use the word ‘depreciation’ as the foundation of thought and expression of this writing. We often hear this word when we are referring to the weakening of the dollar and the loss of its power. I would like to use the same word to describe what I am observing in this day and hour of the religious community. I would like to start by saying that I would never speak against the body of Christ or God’s elect. But we have to know how to differentiate between the true elect or Christian and your average church goers. Believe me, the percentage of true, born-again believers in our churches would shock you. If I said ten percent of the people that profess Christianity are true, born-again, Spirit filled Christians; I think I would be speaking very graciously.

Christian

So, let us start with the title ‘Christian’. The meaning has been truly depreciated. You see, before the depreciation, the title ‘Christian’ used to mean someone that was Christ like, or a follower of Jesus; one that was obedient to the doctrine of Christ. They were a person that had morals, standards, and fruit of the Spirit of Christ. But now, the word has depreciated to merely being a church goer, one that has his name on the role of some church or religious organization. It has depreciated such that someone who has either rehearsed or said a prayer but has brought forth no fruit whatsoever is a Christian. Today, people use the title of Christian when they are homosexuals, drunks, whores, whore mongers, shacked up, liars, smokers, and idolaters. I could go on and on. We have lessened, weakened, depreciated, and watered down the expectation and the meaning of the title of Christian, to where it carries absolutely no value in this present day and hour. I’m sorry if this offends you, but friends, brothers, and sisters, my heart is grieved because of the condition of the so-called professing Christians.

The Ministry

The next title I would like to examine is pastor, bishop, evangelist, apostle, and minister. Again, I would never speak against God’s man, or God’s anointed. I have too much reverence for God and His people. We used to live in a country where the average man or woman, heathen or lay person, had respect and honored the man that carried this title. The Bible teaches us the qualifications for this office. But, again, the qualification for this title have depreciated and has caused the depreciation of respect and honor for the individuals that hold the title. A man that desires the title of pastor should realize first that there is a great expectation to be considered in qualifying for this office. The Bible teaches us that many are called but few are chosen. We have weakened and depreciated our expectation.

The Bible teaches us in I Timothy 3:1-7: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

Now, if we use the above guide lines, we would see that many who call themselves pastors or ministers would have to step down or be removed. Today, many ministers don’t have a problem with social drinking or the putting away of wives. When you try to find one that has his children in order, don’t hold your breath! We have, again, depreciated the value of the title of pastor to the point it has no value, no respect, no anointing. We have made them nothing more than hirelings. I don’t teach or believe that just because some seminary school gives you a degree in Theology that you are qualified to be a pastor. I don’t think or believe that just because your daddy was a great, anointed preacher, this qualifies you to step into his office or to replace him like the ministry is some family run business. Many times, people have had great respect for their pastor and they think that their son will step up and walk in the same anointing and doctrine. Sorry to say, but most of the time they don’t; they bring in an intellectual mind of the ministry and a people pleasing ideology. A man of God needs to be led by the Spirit of God, not some deacon board. Just because a man knows how to produce church growth doesn’t mean he is called or qualified. We have depreciated the calling and qualifications into a business concept and run the ministry like it’s a large corporation.

Being Spirit Filled, or the Baptism of the Holy Ghost

Brothers and sisters, we have depreciated the phrase, or the event, of being Spirit-filled to nothing but an experience in a good revival or church service. We have depreciated this encounter to mere goose bumps, or to speaking in tongues, or the stammering of lips. Now, hear me out. I speak in tongues, but if that is all I get out of being Spirit filled, I might as well give up and quit. Please, give me just another moment to explain. If you and I devalue the infilling of the Holy Ghost or the baptism of the Holy Ghost to just an altar experience or speaking in tongues, then we have failed most miserably. Like the apostle Paul said, “I speak in tongues more than all of you.” If we reduce, diminish, or weaken this to a one-time experience, then we have failed and we are in gross error. The Lord Jesus told the disciples to go and tarry in Jerusalem; not until they speak in tongues, or get a goose bump, or until they ran around the church or shouted their hair down, or even until they danced in the altars; but to tarry there until they were endued with power. We have reduced this down to an altar experience. Let me tell you what the evidence of the Holy Ghost is: it is having the power to overcome the lust of this world, power to walk upright in righteousness, the power to discern good from evil, the power to bridle or harness your tongue, the power to keep your marriage, the power to make you an honest business man. It fills you with purity, holiness, godliness and righteousness. It is the power to suffer the wrong, swear to your own hurt, overcome selfishness, greed, idolatry, adultery, fornication, and pride. Brothers and sisters, when you get filled with the Holy Ghost, He walks with you, He guides you, He is always present in your time of need, and He will never leave you nor forsake you. He chastens you when your mind wavers. The Holy Ghost doesn’t just meet you when you go to church; He is in you, through you, always present, speaking to you, leading you, exhorting you. He is expressed as a fire burning in your bones.

Repentance

Friends, we have taken the strength out of so many things. Repentance is one of the most important things to a child of God, but we have reduced and depreciated it to a little tear drop. Or maybe, “I’m sorry, please forgive me,” or to a little altar service in church during a good meeting with the preacher crying out against sin. Brothers and sisters, repentance is not just lip service. Repentance is to recognize the things in your life that are displeasing to God and turn away from them, put them behind you. Repentance is to go the other way. If you continue doing the same thing over and over again, it means that you have never repented from it. You are guilty in your sin and trespasses against God. We have turned so many things into a ceremony instead of a lifestyle change.

Love

We say we love the Lord our God. We say we love our wife. Saints of God, we have destroyed the meaning of this action word and devalued, diminished, depreciated it until it carries no strength or meaning. The Bible says if we love God, that we will keep His commandments. Think about it. How many times have you said you love the Lord God but you don’t keep His commandments? The Word says His commandments are not grievous to us that are born again.

I Corinthians 13:4-8: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” Brothers and sisters, let us turn back to our first love. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren.

Murder

Murder has depreciated to a women’s right or choice to kill her unborn baby.

Homosexuality

Homosexual, perversion, abomination, and effeminate have been depreciated to calling it a gay or an alternate lifestyle. They even stoop so low as to say that God made them that way. God have mercy.

Unruly Children

We have depreciated rebellious, undisciplined children and call it ADHD. We prescribe medication instead of discipline. Don’t call it a disease. It is demon spirits of rebellion and the Bible says the rod of correction will drive it far from the child.

Drunkard

Being a drunkard or alcoholic used to be a sin. We have depreciated it to being just a disease.

Holiness

Holiness has been depreciated down to being an invisible work of the heart that only God can see. What a lie out of hell! Holiness is in the spirit, soul and body; it changes the way we walk, talk, dress, work, and the way we worship the Lord our God Jesus Christ. Amen.

Commander In Chief

The President of the United States used to be the commander and chief of our armed forces, a man that we the people were proud to salute and look up to, a man, that our children could look up to and see morals, honesty and decency. They could desire and dream to be a man of honor and valor just like the president. But we have depreciated the highest office of our country and put men in office that don’t believe in our God. The office has been defiled with whoremongers, drunks, men that promote the murder of the innocent life of the unborn. They promote a religious order that has vowed to their god to destroy our nation and people. We have depreciated the standards and values of the Oval Office to such a low standard that it makes us a laughingstock to our neighbors around the world. We, the people, hold no respect or regards for this office any longer. It is a sign of the time. God help us.

Marriage

The marriage covenant has been depreciated to nothing but a mutual agreement between a man and woman, or a contract that can be changed or annulled. Marriage is a vow to God. The value of marriage and the vow to God is so defiled in our day and hour that we have lost the family values and decencies in our homes. We are the bride of Christ and I’m thankful that my husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, still holds and cherishes the marriage covenant and won’t put me away or give me a writing of divorcement. A man or woman that puts a spouse away, doesn’t realize that the Lord may be putting them away as well.

Brothers and sisters, I could go on and speak about the change of standards, morals, expectation of schools, teachers, physicians, judges, principles, children and youth. We have depreciated the standard in every aspect of life. The youth of this day and hour use the perversion of television to set their standards and role models. Mothers and fathers sit at home with their children and watch television and wonder why their sons and daughters have turned into whores and whoremongers. We have depreciated the grace of God to a mere license to sin, instead of using it to grow in His grace and knowledge. We, the children of God, are the lights to this world and we know that gross darkness is taking over. Why? It is because the light is going out. Where does that leave you and me?

Pastor Rob Coones

This message, along with other printed and audio teachings by our pastor, Bro. Rob Coones, are available on our web site, and published for free distribution. For more copies, write to the address below, and state how many tracts you can wisely use.

Christian Temple Ministerial Association
3844 Mount Gilead Church Road
Sophia, NC 27350-8820 USA