So our theme is The Benefit of God’s Strength in the Shift. Pastor has been talking about our shifting. This is the theme for the year. So as we move forward in the strength, we want the strength of the Lord to be with us because guess what? We’re not turning back. We’re not looking back.

Isaiah 41:10 is going to take us through. Isaiah 41:10 today says, “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” He’s upholding us with the right hand of His righteousness.

I’m going to take the letters from the word STRENGTH—S-T-R-E-N-G-T-H—as we shift. We’re shifting into divine strength, not our own strength.

So the first letter, the letter S, is Security. Security in His presence. We’re looking at that scripture. Security expresses, “Fear not.” Don’t be afraid. Why? I am with you.

In every single shift that happens in your life—whether you get engaged, whether you get married, whether you’re on a new job, whether you buy a new house, whether you buy a new car, or if you have new responsibilities, if they are shifting on your job—His presence in every single area is our security. So that’s one of the first benefits.

The benefit of God’s strength is that we are never shifting alone. Hallelujah. You’re not shifting alone. His presence cancels fear.

If you are fearful, just say, “God, You’re with me. God, I’m holding on to You because You’re with me,” just like He did with the disciples on the water when He walked on the water. Peter stepped out and he had to reach out to the strength of the living God to help him not to be afraid.

The next letter is letter T. The letter T: Transfer of Ownership. Hallelujah. Transfer of Ownership.

You don’t own yourself, your life. God is a steward of your life because the Bible says in the scripture that we read, He said, “I am your God.” He is your God. Your car, your house, your family—that’s not your god. Please, come on. He blessed us with these things, but He is our God.

The shift is not just circumstantial. It is relational. I keep saying that. The shift is relational. It has to be that you have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

So it’s not just based on circumstances. It’s based on the fact that you have a relationship, so you can say, “He is my God,” because He told us that, “I am your God.” Come on and claim Him as your own.

When He says, “I am your God,” He takes personal responsibility for what concerns you. Personal responsibility. Isn’t that great? That’s the God we serve. He takes personal responsibility for what concerns you.

What belongs to God cannot collapse. It belongs to God. It cannot collapse. Build your house on a solid foundation, not on sinking sand, so when the trials come and the rains fall, you will stand. You’re not going to collapse because what you’ve done is you have transferred ownership.

The next letter is the letter R: Reinforcement of Power. Reinforcement of Power.

The scripture says in that same verse, “I will strengthen you.” That’s what you want. God doesn’t command you to be strong; He supplies the strength. His strength fills the gap between your ability and your assignment. He fills the gap. Jesus is taking that place. You don’t have to do it by yourself between your ability and your assignment.

Some of us are very, very gifted. God has gifted us and talented us. But let me tell you something—it won’t happen the way it should unless the strength that you get is from the living God, not from your ability and how good you are and how great you are.

And I pray now, every time the Lord gives me the wonderful ability and creativity to write something about Him and to share with others about Jesus Christ, it strengthens me to know that He’s writing through me. I’m not doing this by myself. I pray and I ask, “Lord, what should I do?” And He gives it to me.

So come on. It’s not just your ability, okay? It’s the assignment that God has given to you. So the shift may be bigger, but so is the strength. The shift may be big, but the strength is bigger. Amen.

E—Empowered Help. Can you do this by yourself? The verse says, “I will help you.” I will help you.

Help means divine assistance. Assistance that came from the throne room. Assistance that came from the living God. Assistance that came from heaven. In the shift, heaven is backing you up. I said that last week. Heaven is backing you up in this shift.

You’re not on your own. You may feel depressed. You may feel downhearted, but heaven is backing you up. We are supported by supernatural help. Hallelujah. Right where you are, just say, “Hallelujah. Thank You for the supernatural help.”

S-T-R-E-N.

Now we go to N: No Defeat. Put your hand on your heart, hit your chest, and say, “No defeat.”

The verse says, “Be not dismayed.” Be not dismayed. We’re taking that scripture and breaking it down for you to show you another benefit—no doubt. Be not dismayed. Dismayed speaks of being broken in spirit. Oh God.

But God’s strength stabilizes your emotions during unstable seasons. Some seasons in your life are unstable. But God is stabilizing your emotions. Hallelujah.

He’s stabilizing your emotions because some of the seasons are so unstable. Hallelujah. How could we do it without Him? He’s stabilizing us.

You may feel pressure, but you are not crushed. The pressure is coming, but you’re not crushed. I preached that last week—you’re not crushed. Feel the pressure. The pressure is good. God is fixing us and cutting away at some things.

So we may feel pressure, but we’re not crushed. We’re not dismayed. Tell yourself, “I am not dismayed. I will not be dismayed in the name of Jesus.” No doubt. No doubt.

The next letter, G: The Grip of Righteousness.

You know what a vice grip is—that tool, that instrument when it grips onto a piece of metal or onto a piece of wood. It holds it tight. You’ve been gripped by the righteousness of God.

The passage says, “I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” Uphold means to sustain and to hold you firmly.

Stand on the rock, Christ Jesus. He’s holding you firmly. His righteous right hand keeps us from falling when we are shifting, when we’re going from one season to the next. He’s holding onto you tight. His hands never let you go. Sometimes we let go, but don’t let go. He’s holding on to you tight.

The grip of righteousness. And the same hand that saves you—that same hand, nail-scarred hand that saved us—those very same hands are going to sustain us. So hold on.

Then the next letter is T: Tested but Triumphant. We can all say hallelujah to that. We’ve all been tested, but we’re triumphant. Tested but triumphant.

Shifts test your faith, but when strength comes from God, testing will produce a testimony. The shift is not to break you; it’s to build you.

We went through the 21 days of prayer and fasting. We were being built up so that when we go through this shift that God has given to us, we’re going to stand. We’re not going to be broken.

And then the last letter is H: Hope Secured. Lift your hands up—hope secured.

“Fear not. Be not dismayed.” God’s strength restores hope. You may have lost hope, but the strength is going to revitalize and rekindle that hope.

When you know He is strengthening, helping, and upholding you, you can move forward in confidence. He’s strengthening, He’s helping, and He’s upholding you.

So the shift that we’re talking about is proof that God still has a future for you. Hello? He still has a future for you. I don’t care what’s happening in your life. That’s what the shift means. He still has a future for your life.

So in conclusion, the shift may change your location. It may change your relationships. It may change your level. But guess what? It doesn’t change the source. And who is the source? The Son of the living God.

Things may change around you, but the source never changes. When God supplies the strength, the shift becomes a setup for victory. Come on. You’ve been set up for victory. When God supplies His strength, He’s setting you up for victory.

Father, thank You for this brief word this morning. We pray that our people will be encouraged and strengthened by these beautiful, wonderful benefits that You have given to us.

Thank You for the benefits. Thank You for so many wonderful benefits we have this morning, looking at the letters S-T-R-E-N-G-T-H.

Help us hold on fast to the strength that You’ve given to us.

In Jesus’ name we pray with thanksgiving.

Amen.