How To Rise To Your Calling | Jonathan Cahn Sermon

Rise to the Higher Ground: Answering God’s Call on Your Life | Jonathan Cahn Message

It is written, “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Who is that Rock? It is God — the Messiah, who is higher than all. And if you long to rise to higher ground, you must walk with Him who is higher than you. Spend more time in His presence. Learn of Him. Follow Him. Love Him. Because He alone can lift you higher.

The apostles once stood broken at the cross, watching their hope buried in a tomb. Yet, three days later, the risen Lord appeared and told them, “Wait in Jerusalem until power from on high comes upon you.” They waited — praying, worshiping, surrendering — until the Holy Spirit came like a rushing wind. In that moment, they were no longer just followers; they became leaders, teachers, world changers. They rose to their calling.

And God is calling you to rise as well — to greater faith, deeper intimacy, and higher purpose.
But how do you rise?

Let’s go back to Elisha. Before he could receive Elijah’s mantle, he had to leave everything behind — his home, his comfort, his past. Every man or woman called by God has had to leave something. Abraham left Ur. Moses left Egypt. David left his field. The apostles left their nets. To go higher, you must step out of what’s familiar and into the unknown.

You can’t reach higher ground while clinging to the old one. Sometimes it’s not a place you must leave, but a mindset — an old identity, a pattern, a sin, or a comfort zone. God is calling you out of the old way of thinking. If you see yourself as a failure, unworthy, or incapable, you will remain where you are. But if you let go of that old identity and walk with the One who calls you, He will show you who you truly are.

When Moses was called, God told him, “Take off your shoes.” Why? Because where Moses stood was holy. Rising to your calling always begins with removing something — the sin, the compromise, the distraction that doesn’t belong in God’s presence.

There are things that must be laid down so you can be lifted up.
If there’s sin in your life, if there’s an idol in your heart, if there’s something pulling you away from God — it will hold you down until you surrender it. When you cleanse what’s unclean, God can use you as a vessel of honor, a vessel set apart for His higher purposes.

Isaiah’s calling came when he cried, “Woe is me! I am unclean!” But the moment he confessed, God cleansed him and said, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah answered, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” That’s the moment his life changed. Confession didn’t disqualify him; it released him.

And Jonah — he didn’t rise until he stopped running. His breakthrough came when he took responsibility before God and repented. Repentance isn’t punishment. It’s a gift — the door that leads to restoration and purpose. When you stop fighting God, the storms in your life begin to calm. When you turn back to Him, the very thing that swallowed you will deliver you to your destiny.

Don’t let blame, pride, or fear keep you bound. You are not a victim — you are a victor in Christ. Stop saying, “It’s because of them” or “It’s not fair.” When you take responsibility and surrender, God takes over. The moment Jonah said, “It’s me, Lord,” God lifted him out of the depths and set him back on course.

So today, if you desire to go higher —
Leave behind what holds you down.
Put away what is unclean.
Take responsibility before God.
And rise.

Because the same God who lifted Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and Jonah —
is calling you to rise to your calling.