sun morning 16 1 2022 sermon

Summary

The sermon centers on the closing words of Revelation 22: “Surely I am coming quickly” and the Church’s reply, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” The preacher connects this prayer with the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Your kingdom come,” and argues that Christ’s kingdom is not only a future reality; it can also shape believers’ lives in the present.

Three dimensions of the kingdom’s coming

1. An experiential coming: Christ at work in people’s lives

   • “Come, Lord Jesus” can be a prayer for salvation and forgiveness from someone who has not personally trusted Christ.
   • It can be a prayer of rededication, asking Christ to reclaim His place as Lord over one’s choices, relationships, family, possessions, service, goals, and will.
   • It can also be a plea for Christ’s presence and help amid suffering, illness, grief, persecution, and other crises. Believers need not wait for Christ’s final return to seek His help; they can pray for Him to meet them in their distress now.
   • Revelation’s promise that Christ is coming quickly offers assurance that He sees suffering and can help those who are tested.

2. An eschatological coming: Christ’s final return

   • The prayer expresses hope for Jesus’ second coming, the end of the present age, and the beginning of the age to come.
   • The preacher warns against an “escapist” approach to Christ’s return—longing for the future so strongly that believers neglect their present responsibilities.
   • The Lord’s Prayer links “Your kingdom come” with “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The Church participates in that work through its conduct and service.
   • While waiting for Christ, Christians should:
     • Keep their hope fixed on the final day.
     • Live out the kingdom’s values and ethics.
     • Serve others and contribute to the Church and society.
     • Be “salt and light,” offering practical care and positive change rather than withdrawing from the world.
   • Maranatha House in Bertoua, Cameroon, illustrates this idea. Although its name means “Our Lord, come,” it is described as addressing social needs such as health, education, hygiene, and cultural problems.

3. A devotional coming: Christ examines and renews believers

   • Drawing on the early Christian text known as the Didache, the sermon connects “Come, Lord Jesus” with the celebration of the Lord’s Table.
   • In this setting, the prayer asks Christ to examine the heart, expose sin, forgive, purify, and restore the believer.
   • The preacher calls for repentance from attitudes and behaviors reflected in the disciples’ failures: pride, betrayal, denial, hypocrisy, and the gap between religious words and conduct.
   • Believers approach the Table through Christ’s merit, not their own.

Central takeaway

The Church lives between Christ’s first coming and His final return—in the tension between “Amen” and “Come,” between the “now” and the “not yet.” Believers should both pray for Christ to come and work faithfully while they wait, asking Him to save, lead, sustain, forgive, and renew them.

Speakers and sources featured

• Unnamed preacher: Delivers the sermon and leads the responsive Scripture reading.
• Dr. Louis Kamel: Leads the opening prayer for God’s blessing on the Word.
• Congregation: Participates in the responsive reading of Revelation 22 and joins in the response, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
• Biblical sources cited: Revelation 22; Isaiah 64:1–2; Philippians 3:20–21 and 4:5; the Lord’s Prayer; and the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
• Other sources and people mentioned: The Didache; an unnamed theologian and an unnamed commentator; and Dr. Maher, whose earlier remarks about Zechariah are recalled.