The Old Testament story of Hagar is pertinent to our Scriptures today. Genesis 16:13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.” El Roi (Hebrew name given to God) – The God who sees. Now, almost 2000 years later, in about 90 A.D., a mailman shows up with a letter to the church in Philadelphia. A personal letter from the apostle John. Revelation 3:7 “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.’ 1. The God who sees. 2. The God who loves faithfulness. 3. The God who is God. The God who sees Revelation 3:8 I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. The word to describe this church might be “frustration.” Frustrated because they were doing the right things but thought more would be happening. Maybe this church thought they were insignificant but there is somebody who noticed them… Revelation 3:9 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. It seems that Satan had raised up a group - we see this in one of the other letters - a group of fake Jewish people to undermine them and discourage them. This church was certainly on Satan’s radar screen. But this church was not insignificant. You are not insignificant. Jesus sees this church. And Jesus sees you. 2. The God who loves faithfulness. Revelation 3:8 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… Jesus commends them for faithfulness. That they kept his word; that they guarded the message of Jesus. That they never denied the name of Jesus. Revelation 3:8 I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it… The pillars in God’s temple are the faithful. One of the greatest godlike characters in followers of Jesus is faithfulness. Faithful people are living at the highest levels. Faithful people always give their responsibilities their best. Faithful people never show up unprepared. Faithful people don’t quit. Faithful people use their talents to serve others. Faithful people show up even when they don’t want to. Faithful people never abuse God’s people. Faithful people are more committed to the mission of God that do how they feel at the moment. Here is the most important maxim in the Bible about faithfulness. Luke 16:10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. Here is the thought of the day: “Transformation is both the miracle of God and the stewardship of man.” That means that God will do what we cannot do but He commands us to do what He will not do for us. There are some things God will not do today… 3. The God who is God. Revelation 3:7 “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. Jesus proclaims that he has the key. This key that he owns opens doors that cannot be shut. This key will lock doors that cannot be opened.