Establisher Where there is excellence and quality in an entity, it says something about those who are responsible for its creation and care. It has been designed, planned, constructed, produced, and managed by key individuals whose personal identity has been represented in what has been established through them. The right way of doing what is necessary for success has come from those who haven’t held back in tentative insecurities but have been confident to implement their inspired and creative vision. They have submitted to a necessary process of allowing their potential to become established in reality for the blessing and betterment of the world around them. Beyond seeing themselves as the ones with the right way, they have also identified as those who would establish that way to perfection and completion. In Christ we’ve been given a gift of righteousness that transforms a fear of failure and condemnation into a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. For this to become effective beyond just a wonderful revelation, though, there is a need to identify with another aspect of this gift – the ability to become established and effective in it. Until who we’ve been made to be is experienced by others in fully developed excellence there will be no glorifying its Giver. The same Spirit that causes us to rise in newness of life, however, continues with us through each step of this life, establishing and perfecting us in its righteousness. It will get brighter and greater in its joyful fulfillment as the righteousness of God we’ve become is fully experienced as His blessing to others. Notes Gifted with righteousness, but also as an establisher of it Isaiah 54:14 (AMPC) 14 You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Beyond being the righteousness of God in Christ is establishing that righteousness. Isaiah 60:21 (NLT) 21 All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory. It’s for the shining that prayers are prayed Isaiah 62:1 (NLT) 1 Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. Commitment to being/establishing Proverbs 4:18-19 (NLT) 18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over. It’s the walk that magnifies the Name. Psalms 23:3 (NKJV) 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Gifted to reign/establish Romans 5:17 (NKJV) 17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Gifted with righteousness and its development Ephesians 4:13-15 (NLT) 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Complete in Him for establishing Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV) 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Equipped to establish in His righteousness. Hebrews 13:20-21 (NLT) 20 Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— 21 may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Overview: Jesus became the punishment of our sins so we could become the righteousness of God in Him. For God to be glorified in this righteousness there is a need to identify as an establisher of it as well. The name of the Lord is exalted as His children become established in a way that reflects His excellence, creativity, and prosperity. The way of the righteous gets brighter and brighter for God’s glory as it is diligently followed in the identity of its establisher. Prayer: Thank You, Father, for delivering me from the power of sin’s hold in darkness and setting me on a path of righteousness. Clothe me in Your righteousness and fill me with the vision of where I will be taken on that path to glorify You with excellence, confidence, and authority in all that I do. Declarations: No longer do I have to be concerned about my own ability to be righteous and deserving of God’s goodness since I’ve received the gift of righteousness in Christ. By accepting Jesus as the punishment for my sin I now identify as the righteousness of God in Him. I am no longer held back by fear of failure or terror but am liberated to move forward on a path of righteousness in Christ. So that this new path may be effective for God’s glory, I also identify as an establisher of this righteousness, setting my hand to fulfill all that is my potential in Him. As I commit my ways to exalting His Name I am equipped with favor and blessing of righteousness that is worthy of Him.