HIGH TIME
Rom. 13:1-14
Prayer
Have you ever heard the phrase "High Time"?
I have.
I've even used it.
The thing I didn't realize for a long time is that it comes from the Bible.
Almost 2000 years ago, Paul told the Church at Rome, ìIt is high time for you ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
to awake out of sleep.î
I amusingly wondered what some of you would say if I told you, ìIt is high Ý
time for you to awake out of sleep?î
I also wondered if the phrase "high time" is in the dictionary.
It is.
It means ìnone too soon.î
Or, ìbefore it's too late.î
So Paul was telling the Church at Rome, ìIt's none for you to wake up.î
Or, ìYou had better wake up before it's too late.î
James Currens lives in Florida.
He's a chronic sleepwalker..
He sleepwalked out of his house early one morning.
He rolled down an embankment into some alligator-infested water.
He woke up with several alligators swimming around him.
He managed to grab a stick to fight them off.
He started screaming.
His neighbors called the police.
The police rescued him.
But what if he hadn't woke up in time?
That's the message.
Wake up before it's too late.
Today, I want to suggest four things that it's high time for us to do.
1st---It's high time for us to recognize that the Bible is the Word of God.
Today, the Bible is one of the most attacked books in the world.
We're told that no educated person believes everything in the Bible.
Some theologians cast aside large sections of the Bible.
Some are uneasy about what the Bible says about angels, miracles, Satan the
Second Coming, visions, and things like that.
Some don't want the Ten Commandments posted.
Some don't want our children to be given a Bible in school.
Lawsuits have been filed to get the Bible off the teacher's desks.
And off the Library shelves.
These attacks come right out of the pits of hell.
And it's high time that we recognize it.
I want to give you six incredible facts about the Bible.
One---More than 60 billion copies have been printed (Compared to 14,000 ÝÝÝ
for the average book today).
Why more that 60 billion copies?
Because multitudes from EVERY generation have believe the Bible is the ÝÝÝÝÝÝ
Word of God.
Two---More than 500 million copies are sold every year (the popular Left ÝÝÝÝÝ
Behind series has sold about 60 million copies total).
Why more that 500 million copies a year?
Because multitudes from OUR generation still believe the Bible is the Word ÝÝ
of God.
Three---Some of the most intelligent people who have ever lived have Ý
accepted the Bible as the Word of God.
Four---The Bible talks about Jesus.
Skeptics have tried to explain Him away,
But they can't.
History verifies His existence.
He never sat on an earthly throne;
Never became an earthly king.
But He changed the world more than any earthly king who ever lived.
Five---The Bible has caused many to repent of their sins.
Alcoholics have quit the habit.
Drug addicts have come clean.
Thieves have turned around.
They changed because they believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Six---The Bible has been published in more than 18,000 languages and ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
dialects.
It's available in many different sizes, translations and versions.
It's available on cassette tapes, computer disks and more.
This has happened because people believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Verse 1 tells us, ìTo be subject unto higher powers.î
That means obey your government.
Verse 2 tells us, ìWhosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
ordinance of God.î
This is important.
Think it through.
If we don't do what the Bible tells us to do, we are resisting the ordinance of
God.
We will stand before the Judgment Bar as people who refused to do what ÝÝÝÝ
God told us to do.
A preacher was talking to a woman on her deathbed.
She said, ìYou often told me to read the Bible.î
ìBut you didn't tell me enough about the danger of not doing what it says.î
It's high time that we understand that the Bible is the Word of
That there is a danger in not doing what it says;
That we will be judged by the things that are written in the B i b l e
(Rom. 2:16);
That every day that passes brings us closer to the Judgment Bar;
That we need to pay more attention to the Bible.
And we need to live by it.
2nd---It's high time that we learn what the Bible has to say for ourselves.
There have always been people in the Church who taught false doctrines.
It was a major problem in the early Church.
And it's a major problem in the Church today.
Two weeks ago (Aug. 4, 2003), the Episcopal Church USA confirmed an ÝÝÝÝ
openly gay bishop.
This was a clear violation of Scripture.
But the new bishop and many of his followers attributed his confirmation to Ý
the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
If I understand the Scriptures, it's more likely that they were following one of ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
Satan's seducing spirits than the Holy Spirit (I Tim. 4:1).
It is also my opinion that they have committed the ultimate blasphemy.
They have brought sin into the Church and called it the work of the Holy ÝÝÝÝÝ
Spirit (Matt. 12:22-37).
My wife recently (Aug. 8, 2003), returned from national meeting of the United
Methodist Women.
One speaker represented the World Council of Churches.
This speaker from the World Council of Churches said the Buddhists, Hindus ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
and Muslims all have their religious writings.
And Christians shouldnít say the Bible is more right than theirs.
She said Christians shouldnít say Jesus is the only way.
She said Christians cause war and other problems by teaching that.
But this is the point.
Many Church members in high places are teaching false doctrines.
It's not enough just to attend Church.
We need to learn what the Bible what says for ourselves because we can ÝÝÝÝÝÝ
attend Church and hear false doctrines from people we trust.
Dr. Charles Halff is the head of a large Christian ministry.
But he was born into a Jewish family.
When he was 15 years old a friend gave him a prophecy New Testament.
That prophecy New Testament was like every other New Testament except it ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
contained a list of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
Dr. Halff said, ìI felt compelled to look them up.î
ìI had never seen prophecies like these before.î
ìI had never even heard the word ëprophecy.íî
ìSuddenly, I was reading Scriptures that told me where the Messiah would be ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
born: in Bethlehem.î
ìThat He would be born of a virgin:î
ìAnd even the reason for His death:î
ìHe was wounded for our transgressions,î
ìHe was bruised for our iniquities,î
ìThe chastisement of our peace was upon Him:î
ìAnd with His stripes we are healed.î
ìAll we like sheep have gone astray;î
ìWe have turned everyone to his own way;î
ìAnd the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us allî (Isa. 53:5, 6).
Dr. Halff said, ìThe Scriptures I read really upset me.î
I asked, ìCould these Christians be right?î
ìCould this Jesus really be the Messiah?î
ìLater, my friend showed me that no man is righteous.î
ìFrom the Scriptures, he proved to me that all men are sinners.î
ìHe emphasized the importance of the blood atonement.î
ìI knew I needed this Sacrifice.î
ìI accepted His atoning work on my behalf.î
ìI remember that one of my first prayers was that He would make me a ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
student of His Word.î
Dr. Halff has a great testimony.
But suppose he had not tried to learn the Scriptures for himself?
Would he be a Christian today?
Probably not.
Suppose some of our schools teach our children that there's nothing wrong Ý
with the gay lifestyle?
It's happening.
Suppose some of our Church leaders preach that thereís nothing wrong with
the gay lifestyle?
It's happening.
Suppose some of our preachers are forbidden to speak against the gay lifestyle?
It's happening.
Where will this leave our children, our grandchildren and others?
It's high time that we learn what the Bible has to say for ourselves.
3rd---It's high time we made an extra effort to follow Jesus.
We live in a day when multitudes say they're following Jesus.
But they're are not following His example.
It was His custom to attend the synagogue every Sabbath.
But they're not attending Church every Sunday.
Something is wrong, if we're too busy to attend Church.
One man said, ìEverythingís gone wrong in my life.î
ìI had a wreck.î
ìSomeone stole my boat.î
ìI got a divorce.î
ìMy sonís an alcoholic.î
ìMy daughter has dropped out of school.î
ìAnd the Bears lost in the last minute of the game.î
He said, ìIsn't that awful?î
ìThe Bears lost in the last minute of the game.î
ÝHis priorities were wrong.
He was more concerned about the Bears ball game than he was about his ÝÝÝÝÝ
marriage, son and daughter.
This is what a lot of people are doing today.
They're making a big deal out of trivial things.
And ignoring the more valuable eternal things.
We also live in a day when too many people are not letting the Word of God
change them.
Verse 8 of our text reads, ìOwe no man anything but to love one another.î
Verse 9, ìThou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.î
Verse 10, ìLove worketh no ill to his neighbor.î
Verse 14, ìPut ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.î
These are the two Great Commandments in reverse.
Love others.
And love Jesus (God).
Jesus said, ìThou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind.î
ìThis is the first and great commandmentî (Matt. 22:37).
Itís not often that I read the cartoons in the newspaper.
But I occasionally read, Peanuts.
One Peanuts cartoon has Snoopy sitting on top of his dog house with a ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
typewriter.
Snoopy's writing a letter to the IRS.
ìDear IRS.î
ìPlease take me off your mailing list.î
I like that.
Wouldn't it be great, if we could get the IRS to take us off their mailing list?
Wouldn't it be great, if we could earn money without having to pay taxes?
Sounds like doggie heaven to me and Snoopy.
But we can't do that.
And we can't get the approval of God, without letting the Word of God ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
change us.
Our heart is not right with God, if we donít care what the Bible says about ÝÝÝ
many of these things.
Weíve often heard people say, ìWe canít just talk the talk, we also have to ÝÝÝ
walk the walk.î
God often told the Jews to circumcise their heart.
That was His way of saying change your ways, live a life of submission.
We also live in a day when many people get bored in church.
Some preachers and Sunday School teachers are not doing their job.
One man told me that both of his boys said they will never set foot in a ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
Baptist Church again.
I don't know what the problem was.
But they said they were bored by what they heard.
If we don't take the time to prepare, those who listen may not get much out of ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
what we say.
And we might eventually lose them.
Verse 3 says, ìDo that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same.î
Do what God wants you to do.
And you'll receive the praise of God and others.
Make your lessons more interesting.
And you'll receive the praise of God and your students.
An old expression says, "no pain, no gain".
If we don't put forth the effort to learn the lesson, we won't accomplish much ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
when we try to teach it.
And the same thing can be said about some of the other aspects of the ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
service:
The music, decorations, lighting, atmosphere, etc.
We have to wake up.
And liven things up so people will want to attend.
We also live in a time when people can't remember what the preacher said.
By the time they go out the door, they have already forgotten what the
message was about.
My wife has three brothers who are currently pastoring Baptist churches.
I laughed when one of them told me he used the word britches in one of his Ý
sermons.
One of his members told him she didn't think he should use the word britches.
He asked her ìWhat did I say before britches?î
She didn't know.
He asked her ìWhat did I say after britches?î
She didn't know.
He replied, ìIf I hadn't said britches you wouldn't have gotten anything out of ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
the sermon would you?î
It's high time we remember what the preacher said.
We can't live by what was said, if we can't remember what was said.
4th---It's high time we spent more time in self-evaluation.
It's important for us to reflect on how we are doing with God.
George Whitfield was a famous preacher.
Before he went to bed at night he evaluated how he spent the day.
His nightly self-evaluation involved fifteen questions.
Have I:
1. Been fervent in private prayer today?
2. Used my stated hours for prayer?
3. Used spontaneous vocal prayer each hour?
4. After or before every deliberate conversation or action considered how it Ý
might attend to God's glory?
5. After each pleasure immediately given thanks?
6. Planned my business for the day?
7. Been simple and self-controlled in everything?
8. Been zealous in undertaking and active in doing what good I could?
9. Been meek, cheerful and affable in everything I said or did?
10. Been proud, vain, unchaste or enviable of others?
11. Exercised self-control in eating and drinking? Been thankful? Been
ÝÝÝÝÝ temperate in sleep?
12. Taken time for giving thanks according to [William] Law's rules?
13. Been diligent in studies?
14. Thought or spoken unkindly of anyone?
15. Confessed all sins?
Can you imagine how asking ourselves these fifteen questions every night ÝÝÝÝ
would impact our life?
Verse 12 reads, ìThe night is far spent, the day is at hand;î
ìLet us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of ÝÝÝÝÝÝ
light.î
We have learned to recognize the seasons.
We will soon put away our summer clothes.
And get out our fall and winter clothes.
In the same way, we need to learn to recognize where we are in life.
We need to put away our works of darkness and put on the armor of light ÝÝÝÝ
(Godís ways).
Verse 11 reads, "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
A man wanted to play cards with some friends.
His wife said, ìI don't mind, if you will come home by midnight.î
There was a malfunctioning grandfather clock in the house where he went.
And late in the evening, he heard it striking: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
He dropped his cards, jumped up and headed for the door.
His friend asked, ìWhere are you going?î
ìI'm going home.î
ìIt's never been this late before.î
I don't care how old you are, it's never been this late before.
You're closer to the next life than you've ever It's high time
Itís high time that we stopped being ordinary members of an ordinary
Church.
Iím not your judge.
I donít know whoís saved and whoís not.
But I do know that many preachers believe that less than half of their Church
members are saved.
It seems to be a widely accepted custom today to just drift along in Church.
Drifting along is not a sign of salvation.
Billy Sunday was a famous major league baseball player.
Then, he became a famous preacher.
He once said, ìStopping at third adds no more to the score than striking out.î
Some people touch first base, some second base, some third base, but they
never cross the plate.
Some people get off to a running start, but they fail to finish.
Itís high time that we realize that itís more important to have a ten point lead Ý
at the end of the game that it is to have a ten point lead at the beginning ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
of the game.
Itís high time that some of us stop acting like spiritual drop outs.
If weíre the new creation that we claim to be, the Word of God says it will ÝÝÝ
show.