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949 messages
9mZac Poonen · Apr 15
12mZac Poonen · Apr 14
9mZac Poonen · Apr 13
9mZac Poonen · Apr 12
9mZac Poonen · Apr 11
9mZac Poonen · Apr 10
12mZac Poonen · Apr 9
9mZac Poonen · Apr 8
9mZac Poonen · Apr 7
12mZac Poonen · Apr 6
10mZac Poonen · Apr 5
13mZac Poonen · Apr 4
12mZac Poonen · Apr 3
15mZac Poonen · Apr 2
15mZac Poonen · Apr 1
12mZac Poonen · Mar 31
10mZac Poonen · Mar 30
10mZac Poonen · Mar 29
11mZac Poonen · Mar 28
10mZac Poonen · Mar 27
10mZac Poonen · Mar 26
15mZac Poonen · Mar 25
14mZac Poonen · Mar 24
11mZac Poonen · Mar 23
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.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 15, 2024 · 9m
The central message is the necessity of loving the truth in both self-examination and scripture to avoid deception. The speaker warns that God may allow deception for those who do not love the truth and do not desire to be saved from sin. To remain vigilant, one must honestly acknowledge wrong attitudes to God and must consistently adhere to what the Word of God teaches, even if it contradicts past beliefs.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 14, 2024 · 12m
The central message is that the most vital pursuit in life is seeking the glory of the Lord, exemplified by David's desire to dwell in God's presence rather than asking for worldly comforts. The speaker advises believers to prioritize spending time with Jesus, like Mary at his feet, over being overly focused on ministry tasks. Ultimately, true spiritual life is found in seeking God's face, which guarantees provision and strength.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 13, 2024 · 9m
The message warns that even the most spiritual believers can lose God's anointing if they become complacent or fail to hold fast to what God has given them. The speaker contrasts earthly recognition (like an elder's title) with the invisible anointing of God, emphasizing that true spiritual gifting requires humility and constant reliance on God's Spirit. He concludes by encouraging listeners to desire this invisible anointing over any earthly accolades.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 12, 2024 · 9m
The central message emphasizes that a strong church is built upon strong, godly homes. Key advice for marriage includes practicing forgiveness quickly and never going to bed angry. For parenting, the speaker stresses training children in the ways of the Lord by teaching them scripture, encouraging them often, and being present for them, especially during difficult teenage years.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 11, 2024 · 9m
The central message is that true New Covenant Christianity is not defined by doctrinal knowledge, but by a life transformation that mirrors Christ. The speaker warns against being satisfied with intellectual understanding of scripture, emphasizing that one must constantly compare their life to Jesus' life. Purification is a lifelong process where the believer must actively crucify their own fleshly desires, unlike the instantaneous burial of the old self.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 10, 2024 · 9m
The message emphasizes that believers are called to be the light of the world, a responsibility Jesus passed on to his disciples. True spiritual growth requires proper repentance—a 180-degree turn from sin and the world—rather than just believing and confessing. The speaker warns that a lack of weeping or sensitivity after sin indicates a spiritual numbness, and understanding sin is prerequisite to genuine repentance.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 9, 2024 · 12m
Jesus's profound humility is demonstrated by His inability to act independently, as He stated, "I can do nothing of myself unless I see the Father doing it." The speaker uses examples from John 5—healing the lame man and the pool of Bethesda—to illustrate that Jesus's actions were always dependent on the Father's will, contrasting this with human actions motivated by self-initiative or mere compassion. True spiritual wisdom requires constant dependence on the Father rather than acting on personal power or perceived need.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 8, 2024 · 9m
The central message is that true spiritual growth is rooted entirely in humility, which is the antidote to the sin of pride. Pride manifests as boasting in one's beauty, wisdom, knowledge, or spiritual position. The speaker emphasizes that God only grants grace to the humble, and true spiritual maturity requires constantly recognizing one's own deficiency, much like Jesus waiting until the very last drop of wine was gone. The ultimate goal should be to serve God humbly, rather than seeking recognition through ministry or preaching.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 7, 2024 · 9m
The central message is that the Christian life is defined by humility, exemplified by Jesus Christ. The speaker urges listeners to adopt the attitude found in Christ, referencing Philippians 2:5, and to learn from Jesus' example of gentleness and humility found in Matthew 11:29. True humility is internal and cannot be faked through reputation, and this focus on Christ is reinforced by fixing our eyes on Him, especially through the ultimate act of humility on the cross (Hebrews 12:2).
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 6, 2024 · 12m
The central message is that the greatest calling for Christians is not performing spectacular miracles or doing impressive works, but rather following Jesus' example. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian life involves continually depending on the Holy Spirit and modeling Christ's example in daily living, such as attitude toward sin, money, and family. He concludes by pointing to Hebrews 12:1-2, stating that running the race by looking unto Jesus is far superior to any historical miracle.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 5, 2024 · 10m
God grants true revelation only to those who possess genuine humility, contrasting this with the pride often associated with intelligence or knowledge. The speaker emphasizes that while we can learn facts, divine truths require a childlike openness, mirroring the humility described in scripture. Ultimately, true spiritual life depends on a helpless dependence on Christ, as nothing apart from Him has eternal value.
13mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 4, 2024 · 13m
The central message is to emulate Jesus Christ's profound humility, contrasting it with the sin of pride, which originated from self-exaltation. The speaker emphasizes that true greatness is found in humility, citing Jesus' birth in a humble stable and his refusal to accept titles. Following Christ means embodying His quiet endurance, forgiving those who mistreat Him, and trusting in God's ultimate judgment rather than defending oneself.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 3, 2024 · 12m
The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship means emulating the humility of Jesus, which is best seen not in grand miracles but in simple acts like washing feet. He argues that the world sees God's greatness in creation, but a true disciple sees it in Christ's humility. Furthermore, he points to the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, noting that its inclusion of women from morally questionable backgrounds (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba) proves that Jesus came to call sinners to repentance, not just the righteous.
15mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 2, 2024 · 15m
The central message is to follow the example of Jesus Christ by taking up the cross daily, which requires constant self-denial and humility. The speaker contrasts this daily walk with the failures of others, emphasizing that true discipleship means actively choosing to love, forgive, and submit even when provoked. Failing to take up the cross daily makes one an enemy of Christ.
15mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 1, 2024 · 15m
The central message is that true manhood, as exemplified by Christ, is not about physical strength but about living a life of profound humility and faithfulness. The speaker urges listeners to look to Jesus as the model for enduring the cross daily, which is presented as the better thing compared to the miracles of the Old Covenant. Disciples must be willing to endure reproach and go outside the comfort of compromising Christianity to follow Christ.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 31, 2024 · 12m
The central message emphasizes learning to hear God's voice primarily through deep study of the Bible, rather than relying on dreams or fleeting messages. The speaker uses the example of Joseph to illustrate that God can use even the greatest evil—like betrayal and imprisonment—to bring about a greater good, mirroring the cross of Christ. Ultimately, true discipleship involves trusting God's overarching purpose even when facing personal suffering or the malice of others.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 30, 2024 · 10m
The central message is that God uses life's difficulties, such as job loss or unanswered prayers, to perfect believers and draw them closer to Christ's likeness. The speaker contrasts the fading faith of John the Baptist with the steadfastness of New Testament saints, emphasizing that the Holy Spirit enables trust even through prolonged suffering. Ultimately, the greatest good God can do is conform us to the image of Christ, not material blessings.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 29, 2024 · 10m
The speaker urges the audience to live in the New Covenant by showing gratitude to God for Christ's sacrifice, rather than treating faith as a transaction. True Christian life should be an expression of thankfulness, demonstrated by living without grumbling or complaining. Furthermore, the church should be a place where hypocrisy is exposed, causing those who live a double life to tremble before the presence of God.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 28, 2024 · 11m
The central message is the necessity of entering into God's true rest, which is not merely the seventh-day observance but a deep, initial fellowship with God, as exemplified by Adam and Eve. The speaker warns that neglecting this rest leads to a life where believers feel constantly scrutinized by God, rather than experiencing His joy and acceptance. This true rest is achieved through intimacy with God, best facilitated by the Holy Spirit.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 27, 2024 · 10m
The speaker emphasizes that God desires an offering that is pure, not merely ritualistic or cheap. He uses biblical examples, such as the blood on the door and the Red Sea crossing, to illustrate that true spiritual life requires a complete break from old ways, symbolized by obedience. The core message is that genuine spiritual growth comes from obedience to scripture, not from maintaining traditions or pleasing people, especially when it means confronting established norms.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 26, 2024 · 10m
The central message contrasts the outward display of miracles with the inward reality of a life pleasing to God. The speaker uses the Israelites in the wilderness and Jesus's life to argue that God is more pleased with upright, honest living and righteousness than with miraculous experiences. True proof of God's favor is living a life free from sin, treating others righteously, and maintaining a pure conscience.
15mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 25, 2024 · 15m
The central message is that true spiritual depth comes from brokenness, contrasting it with self-congratulation based on past good deeds. The speaker uses Job's journey to illustrate that boasting about one's accomplishments prevents true understanding of God. Genuine faith is marked by recognizing one's own insignificance before God, which leads to a deeper, lasting knowledge of Him.
14mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 24, 2024 · 14m
The central message is that the ultimate purpose of the New Covenant is to deepen our knowledge of God, which is the only thing truly worth boasting about. True spiritual growth requires moving beyond self-sufficiency and comparison, as even highly godly people like Job and Paul were incomplete until they experienced profound brokenness. This brokenness, like a seed falling into the ground or an alabaster jar being broken, is necessary for God's life and fruitfulness to emerge.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 23, 2024 · 11m
The central message is that true understanding of God and life's purpose is revealed not during times of ease, but through suffering and brokenness. The speaker emphasizes that God cares for us down to the last detail, and our faith is truly proven in darkness. He encourages listeners to maintain the perspective of eternity, remembering that earthly suffering is momentary compared to the eternal joy awaiting us.