TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3
Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
In this life there are certain foundational things that have been established by God. These include the Family, the Church, the Government and Israel as a nation; out of which christians are spiritual descendants. Divine establishment is also one of the fundamental things God ordained for His children when He created the world and it is therefore very important for every true christian to be aware of this and to strive for divine establishment.
The three areas of divine establishment are the christian’s faith, work and family.
1. Establishment in the Faith
The experienced Apostle, knowing how very important it is for every believer to be well grounded in the faith, sent Timothy to help establish the new Church. This is because if a christian is not truly abiding in Christ and properly established in the faith, certain challenges will make them fall. Unless you are properly established and deeply rooted in Christ, afflictions, persecutions, disappointments etc can shake you and make you lose your faith.
To obtain divine establishment therefore, it is absolutely important that you grow a strong faith in God, serve, honour and worship Him with all your heart and strength and most importantly, please the Lord. How God sees you is very critical to your establishment in the faith, leading to your successful establishment on earth.
The Role of the Church in Growing Your Faith
Romans 1:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established.
1 Cor. 12:4-11
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who work all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [c]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
There are some things that help us to be established in the faith. They include:
- Having at least one spiritual gift.
- The spiritual gifts being operational in your church which encourages and strengthen you.
The Gift of Functions, given by God the Father, the Gift of the Five-Fold ministry given by our Lord Jesus Christ and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit all operate together to help build up the Church. As Jesus ascended to heaven, He took captivity captive. This means every believer is free to serve God with their God-given giftings, talents and abilities.
It is God who established the Church and therefore as your faith grows within the church environment, you become established too. Every Christian needs to be in an established church of God here on earth to be genuinely established in the faith.
2. Establishment in Your Work
Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Many are truly established in the faith, but it does not end there. You need to be also established in your work and family. God established a relationship with man right from creation and established Adam and Eve as a family by bringing them together as man and wife. He then established the work of their hands by giving them dominion over the earth and to till the ground. God therefore established them in the worship of God, work and family.
From this Psalm we understand that unless God “builds” the house, all efforts will come to naught and be in vain. Many attempt to “build their houses” using their own strength, wisdom and resources but it will yield nothing if the Lord is sidelined. Some are able to “build” millions of houses into “cities” and engage security men to guard their “cities”, but this is also a fruitless effort, because unless the Lord guards that city, the watchmen watch in vain. What does this all mean?
Many christians are unable to get established in any work, profession or trade because they are trying to do so with their own wisdom and strength. Moving from one job to another is a clear sign you are not established in your work. There must come a time when you must know, as a Christian, the work God wants to establish you in. It may take time, but when God establishes your work, it would bear fruit, bring good returns and bless others.
Satan attacks believers so as to prevent them from being established. Stand firm in the faith, trust the Lord and follow His directions, and He will establish the work of your hands. It is not being a workaholic, working 7days a week, absenting yourself from church that would bring success and fulfilment. All you will get out of the long tedious hours is the bread of sorrows (Psalm 127:2).
God ensures His children enjoy peace and sleep soundly at night; and He blesses them with more than those who struggle to make it in their own strength.
3. Establishment of Your Family
Psalm 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
The family; which consists of husband, wife and children, is a gift from God. It is He who established the family, and therefore it is only in the context of the family that we should have children. Children are referred to as “arrows” and “weapons”. In its true context this describes the christian who is fully established in the faith, the work of his hands and has a happy family. This christian has his or her “quiver” full. If any one of these three areas of establishment is not operating in your life, then it means your establishment is not complete. It is partial.
When God establishes you, everyone will see it, and will give you honour and respect; thereby giving glory to God. You will not fear your enemies. Indeed you will face them squarely, and they will flee from you.
God established the patriarchs and gave them descendants, a nation, land, silver, gold, herds etc. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and countless others all prospered because they were divinely established.
In conclusion therefore, know and understand that it is a divine principle that all believers be fully established in their faith, their work and their family. It is the covenant keeping God’s desire to establish you. Seek to be divinely established. Do not settle for anything less.