Joy in the Desert

On a pilgrimage tour to Israel, our accommodations varied. We were in a luxury hotel with waters flowing in from the Dead Sea. Then we stayed in a kibbutz, an Israeli farm community. It was in the middle of the desert. It was so bare and yet, it was one of the most special experiences on that pilgrimage.

Your pilgrimage on earth is the same way. Often what you think is the most meaningful: gaining money, riches, comfort, big houses, reputation or status turns out to be nothing in the end. But those things you didn’t expect, the times of prayer, of love with your family, giving, helping, those times that maybe weren’t comfortable, but were God’s will, growing closer to Him, worshiping Him, persevering in righteousness, being faithful in Him are the things at the end of the journey that have the most glory.

Because it’s not the luxury hotels that are going to mean anything, but the places you spend being faithful, doing His will, loving, rejoicing, blessing, close in His arms, your kibbutz in the desert that’s what will mean everything in the world.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Exodus 6:4 ... And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

Psalm 119:54 ... Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. ❤

Lessons From a Lemon Tree

If you put a lemon tree on a hill, in a valley, city, countryside, or next to an apple tree, it still produces lemons. It’s our nature to focus on our circumstances, personal life, work life, or financial life, but Messiah doesn’t focus on those things. Your circumstance has little to do with the walk God called you to. Salvation is unconditional.

Messiah won’t ask you about your circumstances on the Day of Judgment. He came that you might bear fruit. If you abide in Him, you’ll bear fruit, and that’s God’s will for your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the mountain or in the valley, if people love you or hate you. You bear fruit not because of what’s around you, but because of what’s inside of you. This world, with all its circumstances – good and bad – can’t stop you from bearing fruit.

Learn from the lemon tree: bear your fruit no matter what, because He loves you. His love is unconditional, so your fruit should be unconditional. Fruit doesn’t come because of circumstance, it comes because of the tree.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Matthew 7:17 ... Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.


Colossians 1:10 ... That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;


James 3:17 ... But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ❤

Get Your Directions First

Have you ever stopped and asked for directions and it didn’t help. You were still lost. When you’re on a long journey, you want to get your directions right from the start. You don’t want to waste any time going the wrong way. You don’t want to make a wrong turn because ultimately you’ll pay for it by losing time and energy. One wrong turn and you’re off track.

So in the Lord, you don’t want to make wrong turns. You don’t want to proceed down a wrong course because you’ll have to pay for that sin, that mistake, that jumping ahead. It will take you off track and away from your destination, and you’ll have to get back on. So save yourself the problem. Wait until you know it’s God’s will. If you’re feeling uneasy, don’t do it. If there’s a question, don’t go there. Stop, get the direction right. Go in righteousness and don’t mess up your journey with sin, because it takes a lot longer to get back on track than to not go off in the first place.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Proverbs 3:6 ... In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Psalm 23:3 ... He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Hebrews 12:13 ... And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. ❤

Collaberating With Your Enemy

The story of Chanukah is about the takeover of Israel and the Temple by a foreign power. But that’s not the whole story. Long before the nation was taken over and the Temple defiled, there were those of Israel who began imitating the ways of the gentiles, brought in the foreigners, and collaborated with the enemy. The enemy wouldn’t have gotten into the Temple if it weren’t for those who opened the doors and led them in.

The desecration of the Temple happened because the high priest guided the enemy into the Holy Place. The real enemy of our souls cannot have a victory over God’s people unless we let him. The enemy cannot stop you, defile you, plunder you, or oppress you unless you let him. Don’t let him. Every time you give into sin, you’re collaborating with and aiding the enemy of your soul to wage war against your soul. In God, you’re on the winning side and you can’t help but win unless you allow the enemy to win. Stop giving into sin. Why should you aid your enemy? Instead, aid your Friend and you’ll win.

[Jonathan Cahn]

✞✞✞

Psalm 139:23-24 ... Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

James 4:7 ... Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Romans 12:9 ... Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.❤

The Sidelines Of Bethesda

A man needing healing planned to get into the Pools of Bethesda, but was unable. There, Messiah met him on the sidelines. Not exactly how he planned it, but he got what he needed.

In Israel, at the Pools of Bethesda, I shared about God’s mercy. I walked away feeling as if my sharing wasn’t complete. At our next stop, a missionary from Africa came up to me and told me he had been there to pray for the sick he works with. “I heard you, a Jewish believer like the Apostles, share about the Hebrews and God’s mercy. I was so ministered to. Thank you.” Then it hit me; that’s what the Pool of Bethesda is about.

We have our ideas and plans, a way we think God is going to do something but He doesn’t often use our plan. It’s in the closed doors and detours that God blesses us in another way. So don’t be so caught up in your plans, routines and ideas that you miss the plan of God. And the miracle that’s waiting for you on the sidelines of the Pools of Bethesda.

[Jonathan Cahn]

✞✞✞

John 5:2-4 ...  Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

Proverbs 19:21 ... There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

Matthew 19:26 ... But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.❤

The Reyach and The Ruach

The word reyach is sometimes translated as “sweet perfume.” Reyach comes from “Ruach” – “wind, breath or Spirit”. You see, the Ruach is the Spirit, and from the Spirit comes sweet fragrance. It’s written that we’re to manifest the sweet fragrance of the Holy Spirit – Ruach Ha Kodesh.

There are perfumes in this world that cost a fortune, but better than all of them, is the Reyach of the Ruach, the perfume of the Spirit. When someone lives in the Spirit, there is a sweet fragrance about them. When they enter, there is a sweetness. When they leave, something lingers. There is an aroma of love, joy, peace and righteousness. Something beautiful about them fills up their life in every situation.

Don’t get into perfumes to make yourself sweet, get into living in the Spirit. Live, love, walk and breathe in the Spirit and your life will become sweeter and sweeter, because the Reyach comes from the Ruach. The sweet fragrance of God comes from the Spirit of God.

Ask the Lord to fill you with the sweet fragrance of His Holy Spirit. Wherever you go today, walk in it, praise in it and love in it.

[Jonathon Cahn]

Song of Solomon 2:13 ... The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

2 Corinthians 2:15 ...  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

Ephesians 5:2 ... And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.🕊

Talking to Ghosts

I went to Gettysburg one time with a friend. They had some people dressed up as the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. One was dressed as the Confederate soldier, Jeb Stuart, who was responsible for contributing to the defeat at Gettysburg. My friend starts arguing with him, saying you messed up everything. Then the actor starts arguing back. My friend is arguing with a guy who doesn’t exist. Many believers do the same thing. Maybe you. Are you still reacting to things from the past? Doing things that are dead, gone? Are you living your life in the shadow of them? Maybe about your childhood? Things that happened years ago? Stop arguing with it. God says, don’t commune with the dead. It’s dead. Stop trying to prove it. God is not there, the tomb is empty. Get out of the dead thing. Get out of the tomb, and get on with your life. God has great things ahead for you, but you have to get out of the past; stop arguing with the dead, and start moving on with the living.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Isaiah 43:18-19 ... Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Luke 9:62 ...  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Philippians 3:13-14 ... Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.❤

The Secret of Putting

God First What does it mean to put God first? Lots of believers try to put God first, but get focused on their sins. We look at our pride, anger or lust and grieve over it. Now that’s important. But if you continue dwelling on your sin or your compromise, you may think you’re being holy, but you’re not putting God first.

When you focus on your sins, you’re putting your sins first and you’re still focusing on yourself. Now, again, there’s a place for holy conviction, but repent and move on with it. Do you want to put God first? Then put Him first over your sins, problems, worries, fears, even over the fact that you haven’t been putting Him first. Dwell on Him and forget yourself. Look at His glory and beauty and get lost in His awesomeness.

Forget your shame and ugliness and get lost in His Righteousness that covers you. Put God first in your heart and soul. Dwell on Him, because if He’s first in your life, He’ll be first in your thoughts. It begins when you put Him first and forget about yourself.

[Jonathan Cahn]

✞✞✞

Matthew 16:24-26 ... Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 12:30-32 ...  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Mark 12:30 ... And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.❤

The Ant's Obstacle

Scripture tells us “Go to the ant” meaning, learn from the ant. If an ant is bringing a piece of food to the colony and you put something in its path, it doesn’t drop the food and say, “What did I do to deserve this? I can’t take it anymore. Take me now Lord! Send a shoe to kill me!”

Sometimes we get discouraged so easily. Something obstructs our path and we get discouraged and give up. Temptation comes and we give in or we lose the zeal we had in the Lord because something hindered us. But the ant just keeps going without batting an eyelid. Obstacles come up, they happen. Don’t throw up your hands and stop.

If somethings of God, keep going. Fight for it. You keep going in righteousness and love. Persevere in what’s good. Ants persevere for a bread crumb. You need to show the same righteous perseverance for God. Ants persevere for crumbs, but you persevere for some thing better–for loving, serving, doing, hoping, standing and overcoming. Because you need to be at least as strong as an ant.

[Jonathan Cahn]

✞✞✞

Proverbs 6:6-8 ... Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,  Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Proverbs 30:25 ... The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

James 1:12 ... Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.❤

The One Who Must Change

We often have a hard time with change. We want other people to change their ways and attitude. We want our spouses, children, parents, ministers, and our friends to change. We want our situation, finances, job to change. The more things we want to change, the more frustrated we get when they don’t. The fact is that nothing has to change, but us. We think of ourselves as unchangeable. Only God’s unchangeable. He says, “I change not.” If we don’t change, we can’t grow, we die.

Our salvation starts with change. Repentance, growing in maturity, putting away the old self, putting on the new, that’s change. Becoming a new creation, being born again is the only thing you have to make positive changes not that your situation changes, but that you do. We have no control over anyone else’s change, just our own. Open your heart and mind today so you can change and become more like Him. Be a change for God, for God is the only one who changes not. That’s His job, to change not, and He shouldn’t. But your job is to change.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Malachi 3:6 ... For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

John 3:3 ... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Romans 12:2 ... And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ... Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.❤

The Chained Ambassador

In Ephesians, Paul calls himself, “an ambassador in chains.” There were chains on his hands even as he wrote or dictated. But notice, he doesn’t call himself an ambassador of chains. He doesn’t even call himself a chained ambassador. Someone who is chained is defined by their limitations, they can’t move. But an ambassador is someone on the move, sent on a mission. Paul isn’t defined by his situation. He might be in chains, but he’s not of them. He’s an ambassador for God no matter what. He’s going to share the gospel and fulfill the mission.

Learn from Paul. Don’t be defined by your circumstance. You might have problems, but you’re not a problem person. You’re a child of the Most High. You’re free, unlimited. God is un-limiting you. Forget the chains. You’re an ambassador. Nothing can stop you from doing God’s will and fulfilling your calling, no problem, no person, no trouble, no situation, no prison, nothing. You can say I’m an ambassador who happens to have some chains.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Philippians 4:13 ...  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Ephesians 6:20 ... For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

2 Corinthians 5:20 ... Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.❤

The Redeemer in Disguise

Ruth is gleaning food in the fields as a foreigner and she stumbles onto the field of Boaz. They meet, but she has no idea that he’s going to be the redemption of her life. She doesn’t see her story as beautiful. Her redeemer is right there, but hidden from her heart. God already had the answer before she saw it. As for you, in your hardest and lowest times, the most beautiful things are happening.

When you look back, you see that God already had the answer waiting for you. You didn’t see it, but it was right there. People are blessed with great testimonies. What makes these testimonies so beautiful is that when it seemed hopeless, God was right there. God’s beautiful flowers germinate in darkness; when you don’t feel anything. Bless Him anyway, because He’s there. Learn to start thanking God now before you see the answer. Rejoice that it’s there, and you’ll see it. In your darkest times, the redeemer is waiting, Messiah in disguise, right there in your midst. He’s waiting for you to rejoice and give God the glory before you see it.

[Jonathan Cahn]

Isaiah 41:14 ... Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Job 19:25 ... For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Proverbs 23:11 ... For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

Psalm 78:35 ... And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.❤

Focus On Him!

On the Temple Mount in Jerusalem sits a mosque. On its walls are written the words, “Allah has no son.” This central statement in Islam, is really an anti-statement talking about Messiah. It’s actually affirming what it denies because Psalm 2 says, “They rage against the Lord’s anointed,” His Son, “but I have set my King on my holy mountain.”  It’s on this mountain that Islam rages against God’s Son. Even Islam cannot help but focus on Yeshua.  It’s the same with Rabbinic Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and even Satanism. Those who are against Him still end up focusing on Him.

How much should we, His followers, focus everything on Him? Make Him the focus of your day-to- day, of your thoughts, your heart, your plans, your every word, your actions, everything you do, because that’s the way existence works. It’s all focused on Him anyway. The more you focus on Him, the more blessed your life will be. He’s the Lamb; He’s the center of the throne. He’s the focus of everything. Make Him your focus and from that will come all blessings.

[Jonathan Cahn]

✞✞✞

Psalm 97:9 ... For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

Psalm 1:2 ... But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Hebrews 12:2 ...  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.❤

God's Masterwork

The Mona Lisa, the Sistine Chapel, Beethoven’s Fifth and Ninth symphonies are each considered a masterpiece. How do you make a masterpiece unless you are a master? A masterpiece is the work of a master. So what about your life? Did you ever think that your life can become a masterpiece?

The Greek word “poiema”, is where we get the word poem from. We are to be God’s poem, God’s piece–that’s a masterpiece. If you want your life to become a masterpiece, you have to let your life be molded by the hand of the Master. You can’t make yourself by yourself. Only the Maker can make you.

Stop focusing on your works. Start becoming a work of God. Stop getting wrapped up in your good or bad works. Start learning how to become the work of God. By your work, you can only make what is imperfect, but ALL His works are perfect. When you become His work, then your life becomes a work of the Master, and thus you become a masterpiece.

Today’s Mission – Submit your life into the Master’s hands today. Allow Him to create the work of art that He wants you to become.

[Jonathan Cahn]

✞✞✞

Ephesians 2:10 ... For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Isaiah 64:8 ... But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Psalm 51:10 ... Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.❤

The Matthias Principle

The Lord had left, Judas was gone, and the disciples had to choose another to replace him. They chose Matthias, a substitute, yet he was actually better. His name means “Gift of God.” That says something to our life. God’s gift comes often as a substitute for what we hoped for. Salvation turns out to be a life that we didn’t plan for. It’s something that happens when what we wanted didn’t happen. Often we view what God does as second best.

For example, your marriage might have fallen apart, your spouse left you for another person, or maybe you suffered great loss in your life, or career and you feel like you are living a consolation life. But remember Matthias. The substitute is actually a gift. God doesn’t give hand-me-downs, He only gives the best. Rejoice in what God has given you, and it will all work for good. Rejoice, because it will become God’s best. In God, there is no substitute for His best. He never gives substitutes, only gifts.

Today’s Mission – Give thanks today that God is on your side and is working all things together for good in your life!

[Jonathan Cahn]

Acts 1:23 ... And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

2 Corinthians 9:15 ... Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Romans 8:28 ... And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.❤