Build It: Overcoming 4 Barriers To God’s Blessing | Jentezen Franklin

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If you’re searching for more in life—a purpose-driven life filled with peace and the ability to make a difference for your family and for those in need worldwide—Jesus is the answer. Our mission is simple: to guide you toward Him. Welcome to Kingdom Connection with Jensen Franklin.

Open your Bible with me to the book of Zechariah. We’ll begin in Zechariah 1:17, where the Word of the Lord says:
“Thus says the Lord of Hosts: My cities shall again spread out through prosperity. The cities of Israel will spread out, through prosperity, a biblical word. The Lord will again comfort Zion, He will again choose Jerusalem.”

Then, I lifted my eyes and saw four horns. I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” The angel replied, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” Then the Lord showed me four carpenters. I asked, “Who are these, and what are they coming to do?” He answered, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift their head. But the carpenters are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations that lifted their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

Reading these verses is striking, especially when we see the same ancient forces trying to scatter and destroy Israel even now. The powerful vision Zechariah experienced serves as a profound insight into the spiritual battle we face. As soon as God spoke prosperity over the nation of Israel, Jerusalem (representing the church), and Judah (symbolizing the righteous seed, or believers), resistance immediately arose in the form of four horns.

Horns symbolize unrestrained power—satanic forces with two main goals:

To scatter Israel, divide families, and destroy unity.
To depress, discourage, and defeat so that no one can lift their head.

These four demonic spirits were sent to keep God’s people down, to oppress, depress, and defeat them, preventing the spread of God’s message. The phrase “spread out” reminds me of the call to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

I’m sharing this message not from something I’ve read, but from what I’ve witnessed in our church. We had to confront these four horns, and whether you’re building a business, a family, a career, a dream, or a church, you will face resistance—especially when your mission is aligned with God’s purpose. That’s why we need the “spirit of the carpenter.” Four carpenters came to the rescue when Israel was under attack. The carpenter is a beautiful representation of Jesus Christ, who comes to rebuild and restore.

The prosperity mentioned in Scripture wasn’t just financial. It refers to prosperity in all aspects—successful marriages, careers, families, and dreams. God desires His people to be productive and fruitful. He declared prosperity: a breaking forth, a spreading out, and a breakthrough to expand His Kingdom and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.

The four horns represent the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Today, I come to you in the spirit of the carpenter, with a message to rebuild and restore what has been broken down. Jesus Christ, the Son of the Carpenter, came to rebuild the nation, the home, and the family.

The first horn I want to highlight is the spirit of lack. If you’re building something, you will inevitably encounter the spirit of lack. We must do our part with excellence, but as soon as we start to lift our heads and pursue the vision God gives us, we’ll meet opposition. It happened to me when I first became pastor here at age 28, and my wife Sharice, seven years younger than me, and I were just beginning.