Come Thou Key of David

Sermon Recording

Sermon Outline

Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Advent/Christmas 2020

Revelation 3:7-13 (ESV)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Sermon Outline
Our prayers for Jesus to come (O Come O Come Emmanuel) focus us on the only one who opens the way of life (v7).

1.  Close the path to misery

  • v8 “I know you have but little power”

  • v10 “you have kept my word about patient endurance”

2.  Make safe the way that leads on high

  • v10 “I will keep you from the hour of trial”

  • v12 “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God”

3.  Open wide our heavenly home

  • v8 “I have set before you an open door”

  • v9 “they will learn that I have loved you”

  • v11 “hold fast what you have”

Prayer of Confession
God of holiness and truth, we pray that you would close the path to misery and leave open the door to life. We acknowledge our weakness. We lack moral strength, courage, wisdom, and all that is needed for us to stand on our own. Forgive our impatience, our lack of endurance, our frequent wandering, our failure to follow faithfully. Forgive us for any way we have not kept your word or have denied your name. Accept us because of what Jesus has done, not because of what we have done. We thank you that you are merciful and kind. We thank you that you have loved us. We trust you to sustain us. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

  1. As we pray that God would close the path of misery, what are some characteristics of that path?

  2. What hinders you from moving forward in life?  What ties you to the past, or what keeps you stuck?

  3. How does keeping Jesus’ word and confessing his name help you move forward?  How does it make life more difficult?

  4. How can the vision Jesus reveals of the future (the New Jerusalem) help you keep Jesus’ word about patient endurance? What in Revelation 3:7-13 encourages or motivates you?

  5. How do we know Jesus has loved us?  Do you believe that in the future all will see you have been loved?  How could that help vindicate you in some of the difficult situations that occupy your mind?

  6. How does confidence that Jesus will keep hold of us help us to hold on to him?