It’s High Time

Bishop Riggen opens with Romans 13:11-14, emphasizing that believers know the times but must recognize it is 'high time' to awake from spiritual sleep. He stresses that the Greek term for 'high time' points to a specific, urgent moment requiring immediate action. The sermon argues that many Christians are spiritually dozing, lulled by spirits of comfort and entertainment, while a battle rages. He warns that the church has been damaged by overemphasizing a pre-tribulation rapture, leading believers to expect no suffering, while Christians elsewhere face persecution. Using Matthew 6:33, he calls for seeking God's kingdom first, above career, family, and pleasure. He critiques casual church attendance and half-hearted commitment, citing Hebrews 10:25 to urge faithfulness in assembly. The message then examines the disciples in Gethsemane (Matthew 26), who fell asleep because they did not truly believe their lives were in jeopardy. Bishop Riggen contends that when believers grasp the seriousness of the hour, they will shake off lethargy and pray. He draws from Esther 4:13-14, where Mordecai tells Esther she may have come to the kingdom for just such a time as this, challenging the church that God saved them for this moment, not for comfort. The sermon closes with Mark 4:37-39, describing a brewing storm that requires believers to wake Jesus and cry out for deliverance. The spiritual purpose is to awaken the congregation to urgent prayer, holiness, and faithful service before impending crisis.