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130 messages
11mZac Poonen · Mar 10
8mZac Poonen · Mar 8
12mZac Poonen · Mar 1
12mZac Poonen · Feb 16
10mZac Poonen · Feb 7
9mZac Poonen · Jan 27
10mZac Poonen · Jan 22
10mZac Poonen · Jan 19
11mZac Poonen · Jan 18
9mZac Poonen · Jan 14
10mZac Poonen · Jan 6
9mZac Poonen · Dec 29
9mZac Poonen · Dec 28
11mZac Poonen · Dec 20
13mZac Poonen · Dec 19
9mZac Poonen · Dec 4
9mZac Poonen · Nov 19
10mZac Poonen · Nov 18
11mZac Poonen · Nov 17
14mZac Poonen · Nov 16
9mZac Poonen · Nov 15
10mZac Poonen · Oct 21
12mZac Poonen · Oct 20
11mZac Poonen · Oct 19
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 · Mar 10, 2025 · 11m
The speaker emphasizes the critical need for discernment when evaluating spiritual teaching, warning against being swayed by a preacher's spirit rather than just their accurate words. He stresses that true Christian living requires maintaining a blameless conscience before God and man, which involves constant confession and reconciliation. Ultimately, he cautions against the dangers of cults, which seek money, control, and misuse women, contrasting this with the freedom found in adhering strictly to Scripture.
8mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 8, 2025 · 8m
The sermon uses the contrast between Cain and Abel's offerings in Genesis 4 to illustrate the difference between giving God leftovers and giving Him one's very best. The speaker argues that Christians, like the priests in Malachi, often give God what is left over after serving themselves, which is compared to giving a beggar the dregs of a drink. God deserves the best, and those who compromise the truth for popularity will face judgment.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 1, 2025 · 12m
The central message emphasizes the necessity of constantly listening to God's Word, as it provides light and guidance in all situations, much like it did for the Israelites at the Red Sea. The speaker warns against treating God's word as disposable, urging believers to let it 'abide' in them rather than merely visiting them. True faith is demonstrated by humility and reliance on God's power, recognizing that even great works can sometimes hinder God's ultimate plan.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Feb 16, 2025 · 12m
The central message is that true Christian living begins by imitating Jesus's life, which involved submitting to imperfect human authority. The speaker emphasizes that submission to God-appointed authority is a crucial, often difficult, lesson in discipleship. He assures listeners that if they are wholehearted disciples, God will never test them beyond their ability, and all things will ultimately work for their good.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Feb 7, 2025 · 10m
True spirituality requires the Word of God to penetrate beyond mere thought and feeling, sinking deep into the spirit. The speaker explains that the Bible divides humanity into body, soul (mind and feelings), and spirit, and true growth happens when the Word compels us to deny our own will. This daily process of taking up the cross—responding to life's challenges by choosing Christ's will over our own desires—is what allows the seed of the Word to take root deeply, like building on the rock.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 27, 2025 · 9m
The central message is that true spiritual wisdom comes not from intellectual cleverness or intelligence, but from a humble heart. The speaker emphasizes that one must acknowledge their spiritual foolishness before God's Word to avoid self-deception. This humility is presented as the essential prerequisite for understanding divine truths.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 22, 2025 · 10m
The central message is that true wisdom comes from being filled with the Spirit of Wisdom, which teaches one to fear and revere God above all else. Following Jesus' example, believers must learn to disregard what their eyes and ears tell them, instead relying solely on what God's Word says in their hearts. This requires a conscious choice to remain under the fullness of the Holy Spirit's anointing.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 19, 2025 · 10m
The central message is the importance of being disciplined with time, as the days are evil and time cannot be recovered. The speaker emphasizes that while God can restore lost money or health, wasted time is permanently lost. He encourages listeners to utilize small, fragmented moments—like dedicating 15 minutes daily to Bible study—to make the most of their time for Christ.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 18, 2025 · 11m
The speaker compares Moses to a New Covenant person living in Old Covenant times, arguing that true spiritual understanding comes from receiving God's Revelation, which is different from mere intellectual knowledge. He emphasizes that humility is key to receiving this revelation, citing Moses' humility as an example. Furthermore, true revelation changes one's priorities, leading one to reject the honor of the world, the pleasures of sin, and the riches of earthly possessions.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 14, 2025 · 9m
The speaker draws parallels between two historical journeys of Israel—Egypt to Canaan and Babylon to Jerusalem—and applies them to Christian life. The journey from Egypt to Canaan represents a personal move from sin and defeat to victory, while the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem signifies leaving a corrupt system (like one preoccupied with money) for true obedience to God's Word. He emphasizes that the New Covenant pattern involves moving from isolated, one-man ministries to genuine, two-by-two fellowship.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Jan 6, 2025 · 10m
The message emphasizes that God provides perseverance and encouragement, drawing lessons from the Old Testament to help believers endure. Drawing from Deuteronomy 8, the speaker stresses that humanity cannot survive on material provision alone, but must live by the word of God. Therefore, regular Bible reading and meditation are crucial for spiritual sustenance and obedience.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Dec 29, 2024 · 9m
The central message is that true life and spiritual sustenance come from living by every word of God, not just material provision. The speaker urges listeners to diligently study scripture daily, teaching God's word to their children, and to remain constantly aware of God's guidance. He emphasizes that a deep knowledge of scripture is essential for spiritual effectiveness, especially during times of temptation.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Dec 28, 2024 · 9m
The central message emphasizes the profound importance of reading and valuing God's Word, comparing neglecting it to showing a lack of love for Jesus. The speaker recounts his personal journey of reading the entire Bible and stresses that the Bible provides direction, strength during trials, and reveals God's will. He urges the audience to appreciate the gift of having the Bible in their language and to study it diligently.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Dec 20, 2024 · 11m
The speaker contrasts the Old Covenant, characterized by numerous 'you shall' commandments and a life of constant struggle, with the superior New Covenant established through Jesus' blood. The New Covenant, detailed in Hebrews 8, promises that God will write His law on the hearts of believers, leading to a personal, intimate relationship with God ('know me as Father'). Furthermore, the New Covenant offers complete forgiveness, where sins are not merely covered but entirely blotted out, unlike the Old Covenant's mere covering.
13mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Dec 19, 2024 · 13m
The sermon uses the analogy of three marriages to explain the Christian life: the unconverted state (married to the 'old man'), the Old Covenant (married to the Law), and the New Covenant (married to Christ). The speaker emphasizes that while the old man and the Law are both overcome, the believer's true union is with Christ, which is a resurrection experience that frees one from the constant struggle of trying to meet perfect standards.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Dec 4, 2024 · 9m
The speaker emphasizes that building the church requires strict adherence to God's Word, citing examples like the requirement for women to veil their heads during public prayer or prophecy. He argues that true commitment to Christ's standards, even if it causes others to leave, is more important than maintaining large numbers. Ultimately, he concludes that God builds His church through those who are humble, contrite in spirit, and who tremble at His word.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Nov 19, 2024 · 9m
The speaker emphasizes the need for spiritual maturity, urging believers to move beyond merely giving unsolicited advice and instead become encouraging mentors. Drawing from Titus 2, he details specific roles for older and younger members, stressing that true Christian maturity involves practical skills, such as homemaking for younger women, alongside spiritual soundness in faith and love for all ages. The core message is that knowledge of scripture must translate into practical, godly works that honor God.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Nov 18, 2024 · 10m
The message emphasizes the importance of developing the 'tongue of a disciple,' drawing lessons from Isaiah 50:4-10, which describes how Jesus lived. Key aspects include maintaining a disciplined tongue, being obedient to God's word even through suffering, and relying on God as one's advocate. The speaker urges listeners to meditate on these verses to achieve maturity, become a blessing to others, and overcome the evil one by allowing the word of God to abide in them.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Nov 17, 2024 · 11m
The message outlines three stages of spiritual growth, drawing from 1 John 2:12-14: little children, young men, and fathers. Little children rejoice in forgiveness and knowing God as a Father, while young men are characterized by zeal and the ability to overcome evil through the Word of God abiding in them. The speaker strongly emphasizes that true maturity requires diligent, disciplined study of scripture, citing Jesus's early learning as an example, and urges listeners to prioritize deep scriptural knowledge over other ministries.
14mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Nov 16, 2024 · 14m
The speaker urges the audience to move beyond basic teachings, comparing spiritual understanding to a baby who only drinks milk. True spiritual maturity requires consistently consuming the 'word of righteousness'—the 'solid food'—which involves confronting difficult truths like denying oneself and forsaking the world. This consistent diet trains one's senses to discern good from evil, a mark of maturity that prevents spiritual harm.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Nov 15, 2024 · 9m
The central message warns against becoming dull of hearing, which the speaker equates to only wanting to hear comfortable, encouraging messages. True spiritual growth, and learning obedience, comes from areas of suffering and self-denial, not just easy obedience. The speaker urges listeners to cultivate a daily discipline of reading scripture personally, comparing it to the Israelites needing to gather manna every morning for survival.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Oct 21, 2024 · 10m
The central message is that true understanding of scripture comes not from enforcing doctrines, but from allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ within the text. The speaker emphasizes that Christian relationships, such as submission in marriage or church life, must be understood sequentially, starting with mutual submission to one another in the fear of Christ, rather than jumping to specific commands. Furthermore, he stresses the importance of respecting the boundaries and dignity of all people, including children, servants, and fellow believers.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Oct 20, 2024 · 12m
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.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Oct 19, 2024 · 11m
True faith is not intellectual knowledge of the Bible, but a helpless dependence upon God, likened to a branch depending on a tree for sap. The speaker emphasizes that this dependence is the source of victory over the world and warns against relying on past experience or cleverness. He urges the congregation to consistently return to the ancient truths taught by the apostles, as these foundational teachings provide the only true path to rest for the soul.