How God Strengthens
By Apostle Aje Pelser
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town. 30th April 2017

Fear Not, for I Am with You
Isa 41:1 \”Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, And let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come near together for judgment.
Isa 41:2 \”Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, And made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, As driven stubble to his bow?
Isa 41:3 Who pursued them, and passed safely By the way that he had not gone with his feet?
Isa 41:4 Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? \’I, the LORD, am the first; And with the last I am He.\’ \” See Revelation 1:8,17,18

Here are some ways that God strengthens us:
1. He raises us up,
2. He calls us
3. He makes us rulers
4. He gives us victory
5. He pursues us and helps us pursue till we Pass and overtake
6. He performs His word
7. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last
8. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith – He authorizes our measure of faith and develops it till is accomplish what it was sent forth to do.

Isa 41:5 The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid; They drew near and came. Isa 41:6 Everyone helped his neighbour, And said to his brother, \”Be of good courage!\” Isa 41:7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, \”It is ready for the soldering\”; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter.
Isa 41:8 \”But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. Isa 41:9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, \’You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Isa 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.\’
Isa 41:11 \”Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.
Isa 41:12 You shall seek them and not find them— Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a non-existent thing.
Isa 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, \’Fear not, I will help you.\’ Isa 41:14 \”Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,\” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isa 41:15 \”Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff. Isa 41:16 You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the LORD, And glory in the Holy One of Israel. Isa 41:17 \”The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. Isa 41:18 I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.
Isa 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together,
Isa 41:20 That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Benefits of God’s Strength include:
1. His work in our lives is visible
2. People will fear the Lord
3. He is our help – everyone will help his neighbour
4. We will be encouraged and also encourage others
5. God will fasten and settle you in His kingdom with His craftsmen – Isa. 41:7 Ephesians 4
6. We become descendants of Abraham and access faith’s promises
7. We become His chosen servants
8. We will not be cast away
9. We will not fear
10. We are strengthened
11. We are Helped
12. We are Upheld by His righteous right hand of strength
13. God removes our enemies – look for them but not find them
14. God will turn us into a new Threshing sledge – harvesters!
15. Winnowing will remove the stubble and the wind of the Spirit will clean out
16. Rivers in the desert – pools of water in the desert.
17. God will plant us like cedars and acacia trees – wood used to fashion the temple and Ark of the Covenant.
18. Acacia Wood:
19. “The wood is close-grained and is not readily attacked by insects. It would be well suited for such purposes as described, the construction of the Ark of the Covenant, the altar and boarding of the tabernacle.” ISBE

20. Myrtle (Speaks of Esther – Hadassah – indigenous shrub Palestine. Salvation of a nation – favoured.) and Oil tree (Speaks of anointing) –

21. See hand of the Lord on our lives
22. God’s Creative Power is released – “The Holy One has created it.!”
23. Jesus said I will build my Church… Matt. 16:18

Strengthen from Isaiah 41:10 H55 \’a?mats aw-mats\’
A primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage): – confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).