From the Message, “This Blessing is On The House!” (Ezra 4:1-4, 6: 8-11)

Saved folks praise God in the midst of adversity. We praise Him in the midst of our struggles (S), our troubles(T), and our dysfunctions(D). There is not an STD that praise can’t cure! There’s not a struggle, a trouble or a dysfunction that Praise can’t handle!!

Something good is coming your way, and as a matter of fact this next blessing is on the house! You don’t have to do anything to get it, you don’t have to pay for anything for it—God is going to bless you just because He can! Many times we find it hard to praise. But most often after we have praised, God comes to our rescue and we find ourselves in a place of victory and peace on the other side of our struggle, trouble and dysfunction. Many times God will give us a season of rest and of peace, and for us just to enjoy the blessings of God.

But without fail, it seems that just as soon as it gets good-- as we are enjoying this season, the enemy shows up. He is always on his job! The enemy is one of the best employees God has ever had, the enemy doesn’t ever call in sick; he never takes leave and he doesn’t take vacation. He’s always prompt and on time, and will stay and work late if he needs to. So even when you’re in your time of peace and rest, it won’t be long before the enemy shows up in an attempt to rob you of peace and rest.

In the word of God, the book of Ezra 4:1-4, 6: 8-11, of the children of Israel had just been delivered from the captivity of the Babylonians. They had found their freedom and had begun to rebuild the house of God. They were enjoying their freedom and were elated to be able to worship God again freely. They were in a season of deliverance and blessing, but as soon as the enemy got wind that their worship was being restored, the enemy sent some folk to “help build” posing as a blessing sent by God.

If you have not been accustomed to hearing the voice of God, lack spiritual discernment, or are not spiritually connected to someone who knows the voice of God, you can get messed up. Because the enemy will come with what looks like what you’ve been praying for. The enemy uses part truth because you can identify with what’s true. . . but he blends it in with deception and lies which clouds your view.

The word of God says adversaries approached the children of Israel referring to them as “the children of captivity” when in fact they were no longer captives, but free. The enemy used the children of Israel’s past condition to bring a present accusation against them. But thank God for those elders and sons of God who discerned the true identity of the imposters.

The enemy will try to hook us up with something that ‘looks’ like God when all along it is a spy from the enemy intended to throw you off course from what God has in store for you. But thank God for the Holy Ghost!