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Top 329 matches for “holiness”
10mZac Poonen · Apr 7
9mZac Poonen · Jul 12
14mZac Poonen · Jan 6
9mZac Poonen · Apr 22
12mZac Poonen · Nov 16
11mZac Poonen · May 19
12mZac Poonen · Feb 28
11mZac Poonen · Nov 25
9mZac Poonen · Sep 7
12mZac Poonen · Feb 22
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11mZac Poonen · Mar 20
10mZac Poonen · Jun 9
10mZac Poonen · Jul 9
12mZac Poonen · Jun 14
6mZac Poonen · Sep 10
11mZac Poonen · Jul 26
8mZac Poonen · Jan 20
12mZac Poonen · Feb 28
8mZac Poonen · Jul 4
15mZac Poonen · Mar 12
9mZac Poonen · Jul 13
13mZac Poonen · Jul 21
12mZac Poonen · Oct 20
for “holiness” · CFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 7, 2026 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen explains the fundamental difference between God's work in the Old Testament versus the New Testament: in the Old Testament, God helped people externally from the outside, but could not change their hearts from within; in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside believers, providing inner power to overcome sin and live righteously. He uses examples like Peter's denial of Jesus and David's failures to illustrate how external help and human determination are insufficient—only the indwelling Holy Spirit gives believers the strength to resist temptation and live a life honoring God.
Zac Poonen · Jul 12, 2025 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that true spiritual depth comes from humility, comparing it to the childlike state. The speaker stresses that believers must seek revelation from God through the Holy Spirit rather than merely accumulating knowledge, as knowledge can lead to pride. Furthermore, true righteousness requires an internal transformation that surpasses mere external adherence to rules, building a life, family, and church on a solid foundation.
Zac Poonen · Jan 6, 2024 · 14m · CFC Daily Devotions
The message contrasts the Old Covenant with the New Covenant, emphasizing that true spiritual greatness comes not from external gifts or performance, but from possessing the Holy Spirit within. The speaker urges the audience to focus on 'being' Christlike in their daily lives and conversations rather than merely 'doing' religious works. Being filled with the Spirit allows one to relate to God with a genuine, intimate relationship, as exemplified by the Spirit crying out 'Abba, Abba' from within.
Zac Poonen · Apr 22, 2024 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that living in the Holy Spirit means consistently manifesting the life of Jesus Christ in one's daily life, which requires daily self-denial, or 'dying of Jesus.' This process involves being willingly delivered into difficult or challenging circumstances, as God uses these moments to reveal Christ's life—including kindness, humility, and forgiveness—through our words and conduct. Ultimately, this personal transformation is meant to flow outward, becoming a 'river' that blesses others.
Zac Poonen · Nov 16, 2025 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
God works in believers to produce a passionate desire to do His will, and Christians must actively cooperate with this work through the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and live obediently. Zac Poonen emphasizes that genuine spirituality is marked by a burning passion for God and His kingdom, not mere knowledge accumulation or surface religiosity, and that this passion energizes both the desire and ability to live righteously.
Zac Poonen · May 19, 2026 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen urges believers that the Christian life is impossible without being filled with the Holy Spirit, and that we must earnestly ask God for this empowering just as we would pursue any vital connection. Once filled, we must not grieve the Spirit—who is a sad friend, not an angry enemy—through cutting remarks, backbiting, and ungodly speech, especially toward loved ones. He calls listeners to make a clean break from these sins so as not to break God's heart.
Zac Poonen · Feb 28, 2026 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
To cultivate genuine thanksgiving in all situations, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit rather than pursuing worldly pleasures and luxuries. Being filled with the Spirit transforms us from naturally complaining people into those who give thanks in everything, which reflects the character of heaven itself and demonstrates authentic faith regardless of our circumstances.
Zac Poonen · Nov 25, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The speaker discusses why many Christians exhibit insecurity, jealousy, and difficulty in fellowship, attributing this to a deep-seated sense of being 'orphans' who lack true intimacy. He emphasizes that the primary ministry of the Holy Spirit, as taught by Jesus, is to help believers keep God's commandments, which requires a selfless, sacrificial love mirroring Christ's own. This unity and willingness to sacrifice for one another is the key to the church's growth.
Zac Poonen · Sep 7, 2025 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
holiness, the uprightness and good life I lived as an unconverted person did not make me superior to the worst crook who got converted. And that's what brought me to enjoy my salvation.
Zac Poonen · Feb 22, 2026 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
The speaker discusses the ongoing struggle between the law of sin and the desire to live a holy life, drawing from Romans 7. He emphasizes that while believers are not free from sin, they are free from condemnation and discouragement because of Christ. True Christian growth involves actively cooperating with God's work within us—both willing and doing His will—which requires the believer to 'work out' their salvation with fear and trembling.
Zac Poonen · Mar 3, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that a Christian's ultimate ambition must be to be well-pleasing to God, rather than achieving worldly success or experiencing supernatural miracles. The speaker contrasts the Israelites, who experienced daily miracles but were not pleasing to God, with Jesus, who lived a sinless life over 30 years, which earned the Father's praise. True spiritual ambition means overcoming sin, complaining, and lust, even if it means foregoing visible miracles.
Zac Poonen · Mar 20, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The message emphasizes that Christian life requires continuous spiritual progress, comparing it to the daily progression seen in creation. The speaker warns against complacency, stressing that true security must come from the internal witness of the Holy Spirit confirming one's identity as a child of God, rather than external validation like baptism or church commitment. Believers must continually seek this assurance to live confidently knowing God's care and provision.
Zac Poonen · Jun 9, 2024 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that being faithful in money matters is a reflection of having the mind of Christ, which is more important than mere righteousness. The speaker advises living simply and paying debts promptly, noting that God accepts what is offered with a willing heart, even if the full amount cannot be paid. True riches are defined as revelation on God's word, the continuous anointing of the Holy Spirit, and likeness to Jesus Christ.
Zac Poonen · Jul 9, 2025 · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that while the Bible is valuable, the most crucial element for a Christian life is the illumination and revelation of the Holy Spirit, not mere intellectual knowledge. The speaker argues that true spiritual understanding, which changes one's life, comes through divine revelation, as exemplified by Peter's understanding, rather than just academic study. He concludes that all believers, regardless of education, need this revelation to truly follow Christ.
Zac Poonen · Jun 14, 2025 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
True peace with God is achieved by keeping one's conscience clear, which is necessary for fellowship with God. The speaker emphasizes that a clear conscience is more critical than physical health, as an unsettled conscience prevents one from hearing God's will. Ultimately, seeking the glory of God and developing the habit of listening to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit are key to discerning God's will.
Zac Poonen · Sep 10, 2024 · 6m · CFC Daily Devotions
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.
Zac Poonen · Jul 26, 2024 · 11m · CFC Daily Devotions
The message emphasizes that true joy is found only in the presence of God, which is secured through Christ's blood. A key distinction is drawn between condemnation and conviction: condemnation is a ministry that declares one is unworthy or useless, while the Holy Spirit's conviction points out sin with a message of hope and a way to set things right. Believers must learn to recognize and reject messages of condemnation, understanding that the New Covenant brings life, not death or condemnation.
Zac Poonen · Jan 20, 2025 · 8m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that faithfulness in managing earthly money is a test that determines whether God will entrust us with true, eternal riches. The speaker advises believers to be disciplined, frugal, and careful with their spending, warning against unnecessary debt and wastefulness. Ultimately, this discipline in finances is presented as a prerequisite for receiving deeper spiritual blessings, such as greater revelation and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Zac Poonen · Feb 28, 2025 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that true thankfulness in all situations is not a natural ability but a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The speaker contrasts getting 'drunk' on worldly luxuries with seeking the Spirit, which results in a permanent spirit of thankfulness. This spirit is necessary to overcome complaining, grumbling, and criticism, transforming one's life and bringing heaven's atmosphere into the home.
Zac Poonen · Jul 4, 2025 · 8m · CFC Daily Devotions
The message distinguishes between mercy, which covers past sins, and grace, which provides help for future situations. The central theme is that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, a truth emphasized in Proverbs, James, and 1 Peter. Understanding this principle is vital because God resists the proud, while the humble are supported and lifted up by grace, even when facing constant struggles like Paul's 'thorn in the flesh.'
Zac Poonen · Mar 12, 2024 · 15m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that true Christian life requires being filled with the Holy Spirit, which produces unselfishness and humility, contrasting it with artificial humility. The speaker draws parallels between the law of gravity and God's law: God gives grace to the humble and opposes the proud. Ultimately, the Christian's calling is to be a servant, following Jesus' example of emptying himself, rather than seeking to rule or be exalted over people.
Zac Poonen · Jul 13, 2025 · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that pleasing God requires living by faith, not by sight or good works alone. True faith comes specifically by hearing the word of Christ (the New Testament) and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through it. The speaker strongly encourages the audience to develop the daily habit of reading the Bible and to root their assurance in the promise that Jesus will not cast out those who come to Him.
Zac Poonen · Jul 21, 2024 · 13m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message is that the true result of serving the Lord is sanctification, meaning one's life becomes progressively more Christlike. The speaker emphasizes that God's ultimate plan for believers is not merely to reach heaven, but to be conformed to the image of Christ. This process requires believers to press on toward perfection, recognizing that the Old Covenant law has been abolished and cannot achieve this sanctification.
Zac Poonen · Oct 20, 2024 · 12m · CFC Daily Devotions
The central message emphasizes that true understanding of God's will comes not from human intellect or extensive study of books, but through the direct revelation of the Holy Spirit. The speaker warns against relying solely on academic knowledge of scripture, cautioning that this can lead to doctrinal error. He urges listeners to seek revelation from the Spirit, comparing it to the difference between the letter of the law and the life given by the Spirit.