Library
384 messages
14mZac Poonen · May 10
10mZac Poonen · May 9
11mZac Poonen · May 8
9mZac Poonen · May 1
11mZac Poonen · Apr 30
10mZac Poonen · Apr 29
9mZac Poonen · Apr 21
10mZac Poonen · Apr 20
9mZac Poonen · Apr 19
11mZac Poonen · Apr 14
10mZac Poonen · Apr 8
9mZac Poonen · Apr 2
9mZac Poonen · Mar 30
11mZac Poonen · Mar 26
10mZac Poonen · Mar 24
12mZac Poonen · Mar 22
12mZac Poonen · Mar 20
9mZac Poonen · Mar 15
8mZac Poonen · Mar 14
11mZac Poonen · Mar 11
10mZac Poonen · Mar 9
11mZac Poonen · Mar 3
9mZac Poonen · Feb 27
10mZac Poonen · Feb 24
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.
14mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · May 10, 2025 · 14m
To win the Christian race, one must exercise self-control in all things, which requires spiritual discipline and dying to self. This self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and involves mastering reactions to anger, practicing forgiveness, and setting a clear aim to become more Christlike. True success is measured by reflecting Christ in daily life, not by worldly achievements.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · May 9, 2025 · 10m
The central message is that to run the Christian race and win, one must daily 'die to self' by denying personal rights and being willing to forgive others, even when wronged. The speaker emphasizes that this self-denial involves accepting shame for Christ's sake, mirroring Jesus' endurance on the cross. Ultimately, overcoming means consistently choosing to forgive and stand for Christ, regardless of the resulting shame or opposition.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · May 8, 2025 · 11m
The Christian life is compared to a race, drawing parallels from the Old Testament's faith examples to the believer's current journey. The central message is that believers must run this race by laying aside all encumbrances—unsettled matters, sin, or weights—and fixing their eyes on Jesus, who ran the perfect race by overcoming daily temptations. Spiritual progress requires actively clearing these hindrances to run with endurance.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · May 1, 2025 · 9m
The message warns against the danger of losing fervent devotion to Christ, citing examples from the churches in Ephesus and Revelation. True devotion is marked by humility, self-examination, and prioritizing Christ above worldly things like wealth, comfort, or ministry success. The speaker urges the audience to continually focus on loving Jesus with all the heart, asking, "Lord, whom have I in heaven but you?"
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 30, 2025 · 11m
The message uses the lives of Moses and Jacob to illustrate that God's plan for an individual often requires breaking them down to achieve true readiness. Moses, despite his power and education, could not lead God's people until God humbled him through years of servitude. Similarly, the speaker advises that true spiritual maturity comes when one recognizes their own total incapability before God.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 29, 2025 · 10m
True Christian character, such as humility and kindness, must originate from a genuine root of salvation, otherwise, it is mere hypocrisy. The speaker emphasizes that believers should learn humility and gentleness directly from Jesus' life and teachings, rather than from human definitions or imitation of others. This genuine learning involves accepting God's will, even when it requires great humility, such as receiving gifts or forgiving others.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 21, 2025 · 9m
The speaker urges listeners to prioritize listening to God daily, suggesting this requires dedicating time to God's word, like reading for 15 minutes daily. He emphasizes that spiritual strength is built not only by feeding on scripture but also by actively resisting the devil's schemes, comparing this to physical exercise. Knowing the enemy's tactics is crucial for spiritual warfare and building resilience.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 20, 2025 · 10m
The central message is the absolute necessity of maintaining personal, fervent devotion to Jesus Christ above all other Christian activities. The speaker warns that being preoccupied with ministry, Bible study, or church attendance without this core devotion is insufficient. True devotion is likened to a healthy marriage, where the primary focus is mutual love for Christ, and it is the only thing that prevents spiritual decline.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 19, 2025 · 9m
The central message emphasizes that the 'royal law' is the law of love, urging listeners to prioritize loving others above all else. The speaker warns against focusing on minor faults in others (specks) while ignoring major internal failings, such as an unloving attitude or unforgiveness (the beam). True spiritual growth requires submitting to God's Spirit to cultivate His nature of love, rather than relying on personal effort.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 14, 2025 · 11m
True godliness, as taught in 1 Timothy 6:6, is only profitable when it is accompanied by contentment. This contentment must apply not only to material possessions and circumstances but also to our spiritual gifts and our marriages. The speaker emphasizes that wishing for what we do not have, whether it's another's gift or a different circumstance, undermines genuine godliness and prevents us from experiencing God's abundant blessings where we are.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 8, 2025 · 10m
The message uses the story of Noah building the ark to illustrate the necessity of drawing a clear line between Christian values and the world's passing culture. This separation must be evident not just in words, but in one's entire lifestyle, including how one spends time, money, and energy. True commitment is demonstrated by actions that show one's ultimate allegiance is to God, not worldly pursuits.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Apr 2, 2025 · 9m
The message warns against being deceived by teachers who lack the genuine, fatherly concern for the spiritual well-being of their students. The speaker distinguishes between a teacher, who is motivated by salary, and a true father or servant of God, whose concern is presenting the individual as a pure virgin to Christ. He advises believers to test preachers by asking if their interest lies in the listener's soul or in what they can gain from them.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 30, 2025 · 9m
The central message is that Christian understanding of the cross must progress beyond merely acknowledging that Christ died for sin. True discipleship requires a deep humility, recognizing that one has nothing to boast about, and a commitment to live completely for Christ. This progression is symbolized by being immersed in water, representing dying to self and living only for Christ, mirroring Jesus' sacrifice.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 26, 2025 · 11m
The central message is that God's provision and blessings are directly proportional to the degree of surrender and giving one offers Him. The speaker emphasizes that just as Jesus gave everything to the Father, believers must also give their entire selves—their assets, plans, and desires—to God. He warns against holding back, using the analogy of the burnt offering and citing 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 to show that a generous giving leads to abundant grace and sufficiency.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 24, 2025 · 10m
The central message is that God gives to a person in direct measure to the extent of what that person gives to Him. Drawing from Jesus' example of total surrender to the Father, the speaker warns against holding back any part of one's life, time, or resources for personal plans or worldly pursuits. True commitment means giving everything, as God will only work with the measure of devotion offered.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 22, 2025 · 12m
The message emphasizes that Christians must draw a clear, unwavering line between their values and the passing world, comparing this to Noah building the Ark. This commitment is tested by worldly pressures, such as maintaining popularity or career success. True faith is demonstrated not just by speaking, but by a consistent lifestyle that prioritizes God above all earthly concerns.
12mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 20, 2025 · 12m
The sermon emphasizes the critical importance of self-discipline, particularly regarding the body, to successfully complete the Christian race. Drawing parallels to Olympic athletes, the speaker stresses that discipline in eating, sleeping, and sexuality is necessary to avoid disqualification at the end. He encourages believers to discipline their bodies to serve God's will rather than their desires, using fasting as a practical example of this discipline.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 15, 2025 · 9m
The central message is that every believer has a specific ministry or course planned by God, which must be their number one passion. The speaker urges listeners to use their unique gifts, no matter how small, rather than comparing themselves to others. Ultimately, believers must present their bodies as living sacrifices daily, dedicating their lives to fulfilling God's will before Christ's return.
8mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 14, 2025 · 8m
The message encourages believers to build a life of unwavering faith, drawing parallels to the faithfulness of Paul, who endured immense suffering for Christ. The central message is that true discipleship is proven not by comfort, but by enduring trials, and believers should seek a deep, personal commitment to God that transcends outward religious performance. Ultimately, the speaker urges the audience to desire genuine faith, which comes through hearing God's word, to prove their devotion to Him.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 11, 2025 · 11m
The message emphasizes the necessity of walking the narrow way, which requires constant vigilance against the dangers of worldliness and legalism. To remain on this path, believers must continually look to Jesus, take up the cross daily, and guard their hearts against people who quench the fire of the Holy Spirit through gossip or worldly distractions. The speaker urges listeners to avoid those who cause divisions and instead seek fellowship with people who call upon the Lord with pure hearts.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2025 · 10m
The central message is that believers must prioritize God above all else in every aspect of life, mirroring Abel's pure offering. The speaker urges listeners to live in a state of constant readiness for Christ's second coming, warning against compromising convictions for worldly gain. True Christians must ensure God is first in their hearts and actions, remaining steadfast regardless of external pressures or temptations.
11mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Mar 3, 2025 · 11m
The central message is that the true spirit of Christ is characterized by genuinely caring for the welfare of others, rather than seeking personal gain or status. The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual maturity is demonstrated by a willingness to serve and sacrifice one's time and resources for the glory of God and the eternal lives of others. This attitude requires humility, viewing others as more important than oneself, mirroring Christ's actions, such as washing his disciples' feet.
9mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Feb 27, 2025 · 9m
The message emphasizes the importance of diligently preparing one's heart for God by learning to 'number one's days' rather than just years. The central message is to cultivate a heart of wisdom characterized by forgiveness, love for all people, and the constant setting right of wrong attitudes. Furthermore, the speaker warns against false teachings that diminish the necessity of enduring in love until the end, urging listeners to prioritize Christ-centered love above all else.
10mCFC Daily Devotions
Zac Poonen · Feb 24, 2025 · 10m
The message outlines three progressive stages of the Christian life, using the Old Testament Tabernacle as an analogy: first, knowing Jesus as Savior from sin; second, being baptized into the Holy Spirit; and third, following Jesus as our Forerunner into God's presence. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian growth requires moving beyond merely escaping hell by actively seeking the Holy Spirit and following Christ's example in daily life, rather than just believing in Him.