Library
949 messages
11mZac Poonen · Sep 30
13mZac Poonen · Sep 29
12mZac Poonen · Sep 28
12mZac Poonen · Sep 27
10mZac Poonen · Sep 26
12mZac Poonen · Sep 25
11mZac Poonen · Sep 24
9mZac Poonen · Sep 23
12mZac Poonen · Sep 22
10mZac Poonen · Sep 21
14mZac Poonen · Sep 20
11mZac Poonen · Sep 19
9mZac Poonen · Sep 18
13mZac Poonen · Sep 17
11mZac Poonen · Sep 16
13mZac Poonen · Sep 15
11mZac Poonen · Sep 14
10mZac Poonen · Sep 13
12mZac Poonen · Sep 12
11mZac Poonen · Sep 11
6mZac Poonen · Sep 10
8mZac Poonen · Sep 9
10mZac Poonen · Sep 8
8mZac Poonen · Sep 7
Zac Poonen · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
True blessing under the New Covenant is not measured by material wealth and health, but by spiritual transformation and union with Christ. The mark of God's blessing is internal holiness and a clear vision of Christ, not external prosperity.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 30, 2024 · 11m
The central message is that true wisdom, beginning with the fear of the Lord, requires moving beyond judging life by mere sensory input (sight, hearing) or personal opinion. The speaker emphasizes that one must cultivate the humility of a child to process experiences and scripture through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This process is necessary to live daily in Christlikeness, mirroring God's creative work in Genesis.
13mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 29, 2024 · 13m
The central message is that while the outer man will naturally decay, the inner man can be renewed day by day by committing to two daily disciplines: listening to God and taking up the cross. The speaker emphasizes that this daily process of listening and self-denial is how one becomes more Christlike, leading to wisdom and spiritual growth. He encourages the audience to adopt the attitude of 'Lord, your servant is listening' every morning.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 28, 2024 · 12m
The message emphasizes that true wisdom is gained not through worldly accomplishments or tireless service, but through consistent, quiet listening at the feet of Jesus, as exemplified by Mary. The speaker urges listeners to emulate this by daily taking up their cross and dying to self, drawing parallels between this spiritual discipline and the endurance shown by the Apostle Paul. Ultimately, the goal is to live a life that honors Christ, which will be revealed in eternity, rather than focusing on visible, temporary works.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 27, 2024 · 12m
The central message encourages believers to keep their eyes fixed on the ultimate goal of becoming more like Christ daily, comparing this focus to driving to a destination. The speaker emphasizes that God's plan is for our eternal good, not just temporary earthly comfort. True Christian living means living in a way that will bring no regret when Christ returns, aligning our lives with God's eternal purpose.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 26, 2024 · 10m
The message emphasizes the necessity of daily repentance and dependence on God, drawing heavily from the Lord's Prayer. It stresses that Christian life requires daily forgiveness—both forgiving others and asking God for forgiveness for unconscious sins. Ultimately, the speaker encourages listeners to live by the principles of Jesus, relying on the Holy Spirit's strength to forgive and overcome temptation, thereby modeling a life where God's will comes first.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 25, 2024 · 12m
The central message is that true spiritual life requires reaching a 'zero point'—a realization of personal inability to keep God's standards—which leads to receiving the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness and grace are not earned through works or rituals but are freely given through the blood of Christ. The speaker emphasizes relying on God's new mercies every morning and putting God first in life to overcome challenges.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 24, 2024 · 11m
The central message is that putting God first in every area of life—including relationships and possessions—is essential for spiritual cleansing and a fulfilling life. The speaker contrasts the Old Covenant, which emphasized rules that humans could not perfectly keep, with the New Covenant, which is established through Christ's blood and empowers believers with the desire and ability to obey. True discipleship involves choosing God's will freely, rather than being programmed like a robot.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2024 · 9m
The central message encourages believers to view the command to 'walk as Jesus walked' not as an impossible standard, but as a possibility granted by God's help, which is the language of faith. The speaker warns against the unbelief that treats biblical commands as unattainable, citing the example of the Sermon on the Mount. He cautions against selectively applying scripture, arguing that no part of the New Testament is exempt from God's teaching.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 22, 2024 · 12m
The message emphasizes that marriage is a partnership where husbands and wives must complement each other, much like the body needs all its parts to function fully. It stresses that wives should encourage their husbands to see things from their perspective, and that submission from wives should come through respectful behavior rather than preaching. Ultimately, the relationship should model the deep, loving fellowship described in Song of Solomon.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 21, 2024 · 10m
The central message emphasizes that the foundation of a godly marriage rests on obeying God's law, specifically leaving one's parents to cleave to one's spouse. The speaker stresses that this obedience requires an emotional shift in priority, ensuring the spouse is first, not parents or relatives. Ultimately, the highest priority must always be God, followed by the spouse, as this establishes the correct foundation for a happy home.
14mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 20, 2024 · 14m
The message warns against the dangers of wealth and comfort, using the Israelites' worship of the Golden Calf after leaving slavery as a prime example. The speaker emphasizes that spiritual devotion must remain constant, even when life becomes materially comfortable, and stresses that true discipleship requires humble acknowledgment of one's own spiritual failure. He urges listeners to remain devoted to God regardless of worldly success or ease.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 19, 2024 · 11m
The message emphasizes that human life is sustained not by material wealth or comfort, but by living by every word of God. Drawing from Deuteronomy 8, the speaker notes that God uses periods of hardship, like the wilderness, to humble us and test our commitment to His commandments. A warning is issued that when prosperity and comfort arrive, believers must guard against becoming proud, forgetting the Lord who brought them out of sin, and continuing to prioritize obedience to God's word.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 18, 2024 · 9m
The central message emphasizes that Christians must be filled with the Holy Spirit, drawing a parallel between being filled with the Spirit and avoiding drunkenness. The speaker cautions against accepting counterfeits regarding the Spirit's operation, asserting that Jesus' life is the true benchmark. Key signs of being filled include the ability to love everyone, even enemies, and the capacity to cry out to God as 'Abba, Father.'
13mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 17, 2024 · 13m
The speaker emphasizes that a foundational understanding of the 'fear of God' is necessary to truly grasp the grace of God. He contrasts the early apostles, who were grounded in this fear, with modern Christians who, lacking this foundation, often misunderstand grace and live in greater sin. Ultimately, the speaker stresses that the only opinion that matters is God's, urging listeners to desire the affirmation, 'Now I know that you fear God,' from Him.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 16, 2024 · 11m
The central message emphasizes that true understanding of God's truths, especially the New Covenant, comes through 'Revelation' from the Father, not just intellectual study. The speaker warns against spiritual complacency, noting that merely hearing teachings without deep understanding leads to shallow ministry. He stresses that a foundational 'fear of God' is necessary to properly grasp and live out the grace of God.
13mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 15, 2024 · 13m
The sermon contrasts viewing Christian commands as burdensome weights, like those under the Old Covenant, versus understanding them as possibilities offered in the New Covenant. The speaker emphasizes that following Christ means living in a way that is possible, not forced. He concludes by explaining that understanding God's mysteries, as illustrated by the parables, is not based on intellect but on obedience; what is heard and obeyed becomes one's own possession, leading to further revelation.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 14, 2024 · 11m
The speaker warns against the danger of the love of money, emphasizing that craving for wealth is a root of all evil, not merely possessing it. He uses examples from scripture, like the Israelites craving meat instead of accepting what God provided, to illustrate that prioritizing worldly gain over spiritual fellowship leads to spiritual wasting. Ultimately, he advises that true contentment and focus on God's calling are more valuable than material riches.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 13, 2024 · 10m
The central message warns Christians against losing their first love for Jesus Christ, even while remaining active in ministry and good works. The speaker cautions that excessive focus on activity, service, or worldly comforts can dilute genuine devotion, making outward religious life meaningless if the heart's primary focus is not worship of Christ. True discipleship requires maintaining a pure, eager devotion to Jesus, rather than merely looking forward to earthly or heavenly comfort.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 12, 2024 · 12m
True strength comes not from avoiding trials, but from accepting them and experiencing God's grace within them, as illustrated by Paul's acceptance of his thorn. The message emphasizes that God never tests us beyond our ability, and that acknowledging God's sovereignty in difficult circumstances—rather than blaming people—is key to becoming an overcomer. Ultimately, enduring these trials leads to a place of abundance, drawing us to the throne of grace for mercy.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 11, 2024 · 11m
The central message is that building the church requires a complete self-giving, mirroring Christ's love for the church. The speaker contrasts a 'minimum' approach to faith—asking what little is required for salvation or ministry—with a 'maximum' approach, which involves giving everything for God. He warns that seeking mere knowledge or understanding (the 'tree of knowledge') can divert believers from the true 'tree of life,' which is simple, pure devotion to Jesus Christ.
6mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 10, 2024 · 6m
The central message is that pleasing God through a quiet, faithful life is more valuable than any visible ministry or accomplishment. Drawing from Jesus's life, the speaker emphasizes that God values hidden faithfulness—such as praying for one's family or submitting quietly—over public displays of religious achievement. Believers should focus on pleasing God in the small, unseen moments rather than seeking prominence.
8mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 9, 2024 · 8m
The speaker uses the example of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist to illustrate that pleasing God requires being willing to be misunderstood. Jesus willingly went through the public rite despite having no sin, demonstrating his commitment to the Father's will over personal comfort or understanding. Ultimately, baptism for Jesus symbolized dying to his own will and living only to please the Father.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 8, 2024 · 10m
The central message is that pleasing God requires submitting to imperfect authority, citing Jesus' life in Nazareth as the prime example. The speaker warns against criticizing authority figures, whether in church, family, or work, as this behavior displeases God. True spiritual maturity is demonstrated by submitting to difficult circumstances and learning from imperfect leaders.
8mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Sep 7, 2024 · 8m
The central message is that a life pleasing to God is characterized by a deep, inherent interest in the Father's business, even if one is not actively engaged in ministry. Jesus exemplified this by being deeply interested in his father's house and work at a young age. The speaker urges listeners to refocus their interests on God's work, suggesting that genuine spiritual interest is more important than having specific gifts or ministry roles.