Library
479 messages
1h 2mZac Poonen · Feb 4
57mZac Poonen · Jan 8
55mZac Poonen · Dec 14
53mZac Poonen · Dec 5
1h 22mZac Poonen · Oct 16
39mZac Poonen · Oct 12
46mZac Poonen · Oct 12
1h 2mZac Poonen · Oct 8
58mZac Poonen · Oct 1
1h 28mZac Poonen · Sep 26
1h 0mZac Poonen · Sep 24
49mZac Poonen · Sep 23
1h 20mZac Poonen · Sep 23
56mZac Poonen · Sep 23
29mZac Poonen · Sep 23
1h 3mZac Poonen · Sep 23
1h 5mZac Poonen · Sep 23
59mZac Poonen · Sep 23
59mZac Poonen · Sep 23
54mZac Poonen · Sep 23
1h 2mZac Poonen · Sep 7
1h 7mZac Poonen · Sep 7
59mZac Poonen · Sep 7
57mZac Poonen · Sep 6
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.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Feb 4, 2021 · 1h 2m
The speaker emphasizes that true Christian living goes beyond merely following rules or reading the Bible to ease one's conscience. Instead, believers must develop the habit of meditating on scripture day and night, allowing God's Word to guide their thoughts and decisions. This deep meditation, exemplified by Jesus's own discipline, is presented as the source of wisdom and the ability to navigate life's challenges.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jan 8, 2021 · 57m
The message urges believers not to lose heart or become discouraged, drawing parallels from Paul's endurance through trials. The core message emphasizes that God has a singular purpose for our lives: to be conformed to the image of Christ, which surpasses earthly achievements. Furthermore, the speaker instructs listeners that when reading scripture, they must seek to see the glory of Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit removes the veil that obscures this vision.
55mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Dec 14, 2020 · 55m
The central message is the necessity of continuous, daily surrender to Christ, which is the antidote to spiritual backsliding. The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship requires loving Jesus above all else and constantly taking up the cross by dying to one's own preferences and self. This daily process allows the life of Jesus to be manifested in our actions, relationships, and attitudes.
53mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Dec 5, 2020 · 53m
The core message is that the Christian life must be founded on genuine repentance—a complete 180-degree turn away from self-worship toward God. While faith in Jesus is crucial, the emphasis on faith alone has caused many to neglect repentance. True repentance means identifying and being willing to give up every sin and self-will that displeases God, not just believing in Jesus for salvation from sin.
1h 22mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 16, 2020 · 1h 22m
The speaker discusses the importance of God's power over human might, referencing Gideon's army and Jesus' ministry. He recounts his personal journey, detailing his hunger for deep scripture study and the simplicity of the early church model, contrasting it with the materialism he observed. After periods of pride and defeat, he found restoration through the Holy Spirit and a deeper understanding of Christ's temptation, which led to the formation of a small, dedicated group meeting in private prayer and study.
39mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 12, 2020 · 39m
The speaker contrasts the old and new covenants, emphasizing that the new covenant elevates family life, particularly the relationship between husband and wife. He stresses that in the new covenant, husbands must live with their wives in an understanding way, treating her as a fellow heir of grace. Furthermore, wives are encouraged to be submissive, using their behavior rather than just words to draw their husbands closer to God.
46mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 12, 2020 · 46m
The central message is that true discipleship requires living out one's faith in daily life, particularly within one's family, rather than merely accumulating academic knowledge of scripture. The speaker contrasts the 'scribe,' who is knowledgeable but lacks practical application, with the 'disciple,' who prioritizes their heart and actions before God. Discipleship must begin at home, and one's life must precede one's teaching.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 8, 2020 · 1h 2m
The sermon contrasts two levels of Christian life: merely having 'life' versus possessing 'abundant life.' Drawing from Revelation and John's Gospel, the speaker emphasizes that believers must strive to be 'overcomers' rather than settling for a comfortable, superficial faith within a good church. He warns that remaining spiritually immature, like a baby, manifests as jealousy and strife, urging the congregation to press toward spiritual maturity.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 1, 2020 · 58m
The speaker discusses spiritual warfare, noting that direct confrontation with Satan was absent in the Old Testament but became evident in the New Testament following Christ's victory. He emphasizes that believers today live in a post-Calvary time, empowered by the Holy Spirit, making them capable of spiritual battle. The core message is that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, and believers should not fear Satan because Christ has already defeated him.
1h 28mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 26, 2020 · 1h 28m
The message emphasizes returning to God's original plan for the church, warning against misinterpreting scripture or allowing cultural trends to dictate doctrine. The speaker stresses that true leadership requires constant vigilance, prioritizing the glory of God above human opinion, and maintaining a pure focus on Christ's teachings. He uses the analogy of a ship's constant course correction to illustrate the need for leaders to continually guide the church back to its intended direction.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 24, 2020 · 1h 0m
The central message is that achieving an 'indestructible life' and building the church according to God's will requires deep commitment and understanding of two great mysteries: living a godly life without sinning (mystery of godliness) and the oneness of the church. The speaker emphasizes that this unity, which transcends natural divisions, is achieved through Christ's work and requires surrendering one's own will to God's will, symbolized by the rending of the veil.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 49m
The sermon uses the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) to teach that every believer has been given a specific gift or ability by God, regardless of how 'spectacular' it seems. The danger lies in burying these gifts out of fear, jealousy, or misunderstanding of God's will. The central message is that every individual part in the body of Christ has a necessary function, and believers must actively use what they have been given to build up the kingdom.
1h 20mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 1h 20m
The speaker advises believers to focus their curiosity on matters that help them live a godly life, rather than getting bogged down in unanswered theological questions. He explains the difference between the 'old man' (our sinful nature) and the 'flesh,' noting that while the old man is spiritually dead at baptism, the temptations (lusts) remain active. To combat sin, the 'new man' must be kept strong by consistently feeding on God's Word, seeking fellowship, and actively running from temptation.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 56m
The speaker argues that true victory over Satan and the world comes not through displays of physical power or miracles, but through the 'way of the cross' and embracing weakness. He emphasizes that understanding repentance and discipleship requires understanding this concept, citing Paul's testimony of suffering and humiliation in 2 Corinthians as evidence of an indestructible life. Ultimately, believers are called to test their faith by living by the power of God even when they are weak.
29mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 29m
The speaker emphasizes that believers are called to be kings who rule over their circumstances and sins, rather than being slaves to earthly things like money or bitterness. True spiritual life, exemplified by Jean Guion, requires daily self-denial and taking up one's cross, allowing God's difficult circumstances to break us into a 'newness of spirit.' This process involves recognizing our need for God's help, even when we feel strong, as Jesus did when his soul was troubled.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 1h 3m
The speaker contrasts the 'destructible life' inherited from Adam with the 'indestructible life' of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that true Christian living requires rejecting the world's pursuits—such as comfort, popularity, and material gain—and instead seeking God's kingdom and righteousness. While spiritual gifts and forgiveness are free, the speaker warns that commitment to Christ's way often requires paying a significant price, as illustrated by the cost of obtaining precious things or the call to buy gold from the Lord.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 1h 5m
The speaker argues that humanity lives under a 'destructible life' patterned after Adam's, which is characterized by seeking personal pleasure and speaking one's own will. He contrasts this with the 'indestructible life' found in Christ, which requires giving up self-will entirely. The sermon critiques modern religious practices, such as rigid observance of the Sabbath or tithing, arguing that these are merely 'shadows' of the reality found in Christ, where every day can be a holy day dedicated to the Lord.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 59m
The speaker emphasizes that merely admiring Jesus is insufficient; one must actively partake in and follow His life. He critiques a common understanding of the gospel that only promises forgiveness for sin without addressing deeper issues like anger, lust, or the love of money. True gospel proclamation must focus on the resurrection—Jesus' conquest over death—which grants an indestructible life, not just temporary reprieve from sin.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 59m
The central message is that the Christian life requires two paradoxes: perfect contentment with God's provision in earthly matters and perpetual dissatisfaction with one's spiritual state. The speaker emphasizes that true wealth is not material but the 'indestructible life' found in Christ, which is proven by the resurrection. Believers must learn to be faithful with what they have been given while constantly pressing forward toward Christlikeness.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 23, 2020 · 54m
The speaker emphasizes that the book of Hebrews highlights the superiority of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant, which is described as obsolete. He focuses on Jesus' priesthood through the order of Melchizedek, noting that this priesthood was established not by physical lineage or law, but by the 'power of an indestructible life.' He warns that when church practices or personal actions are based on physical requirements or external laws rather than this internal, indestructible life, they revert to the old covenant and become 'dead works.'
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 7, 2020 · 1h 2m
The speaker addresses questions regarding church discipline, stating that if a member rejects the church's discipline, they should be treated like an unbeliever, though fellowship can resume if repentance is evident. He clarifies that while sin is forgiven by Christ, believers still face the consequences of their actions. The core message emphasizes that true faith is dependence upon God, which is evidenced by prayer and yielding to the conscience, and warns against deception.
1h 7mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 7, 2020 · 1h 7m
The speaker uses Daniel as an example of a man highly esteemed by God, contrasting him with other biblical figures who made mistakes. Daniel's life is presented as a model for believers today, particularly regarding resisting the corrupting influence of 'Babylonian Christianity'—which the speaker equates with materialism and financial gain in ministry. He emphasizes that true discipleship requires self-support, like Daniel, and remaining faithful to God's calling despite cultural pressures.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 7, 2020 · 59m
The central message is that true knowledge of the truth, as taught by Jesus, results in freedom from sin, not merely intellectual understanding. The speaker uses the example of Elisha, who was a hard-working man, to illustrate that God calls those who are faithful in their existing work. True servants of God are called by God while engaged in their daily labor, not those who seek ministry through institutions.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 6, 2020 · 57m
The sermon uses Moses' life to illustrate the call to live by New Covenant standards, emphasizing that God values a heart devoted to Him above outward displays of spiritual gifts like visions or dreams. The speaker highlights that the greatest privilege is speaking to God face-to-face, a calling that requires faithfulness and rejecting the world's allurements, such as worldly honor, sinful pleasure, and material wealth, as Moses did.