Library
57mSantosh Poonen · Aug 1
51mSantosh Poonen · Jul 31
24mAjay Chakravarthy · Jul 29
52mSantosh Poonen · Jul 29
1h 27mSantosh Poonen · Jul 29
56mSantosh Poonen · Jul 26
51mSantosh Poonen · Jul 13
1h 9mSantosh Poonen · Jun 29
1h 3mSantosh Poonen · Jun 8
37mAjay Chakravarthy · Jun 1
1h 3mZac Poonen · Jun 1
1h 10mZac Poonen · May 28
54mSantosh Poonen · May 26
1h 15mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 6mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 9mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 30mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 19mZac Poonen · May 26
1h 10mZac Poonen · May 24
57mZac Poonen · May 24
1h 5mZac Poonen · May 24
32mAjay Chakravarthy · May 10
59mSantosh Poonen · May 4
56mSantosh Poonen · Apr 20
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 1, 2015 · 57m
The speaker encourages young people to understand that true Christian power and faith are proven not in times of constant spiritual excitement, but in the mundane, lonely circumstances of daily life. Drawing from Jesus' words to the disciples, he asserts that it is actually to the believers' advantage when the 'youth conference' ends, because the genuine power of God is revealed in the darkness and solitude of everyday life. He urges the audience to test the reality of their faith when all the 'lights' of external support are turned off.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 31, 2015 · 51m
The central message is that God is on the side of the young people, encouraging them not to compare themselves to others or feel discouraged by their current level of passion. The core call is to follow Jesus by heart, trusting that God desires to transform them internally, making them useful for His kingdom regardless of their current feelings or outward appearance. This transformation is rooted in embracing the nature of God, which is love.
24mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Ajay Chakravarthy · Jul 29, 2015 · 24m
The speaker emphasizes that the true body of Christ is not merely a Sunday service but a living, God-built community, contrasting it with self-made endeavors like the Tower of Babel. He stresses that every member is a precious, living stone, and true fellowship requires denying self, overcoming jealousy, and actively seeking to live out the preached word in daily life. Ultimately, the message calls for genuine transformation that permeates one's entire existence.
52mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 29, 2015 · 52m
The central message is that the fundamental law governing the Kingdom of Heaven is the law of love. The speaker warns that merely being 'set free' from old legalistic structures without entering the New Covenant—governed by love—leads to chaos and a worse condition than being under law. True freedom comes through Jesus, leading into this new law of love, which is superior to both old legalism and outright sin.
1h 27mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 29, 2015 · 1h 27m
The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual teaching must come solely from God's Word, comparing the preacher to a waiter serving food from Heaven's kitchen, not from personal ideas. He stresses that the foundation of the Kingdom is the fear of the Lord, citing Proverbs 9:10, and urges young people to deeply know Jesus so that He can guide them away from temptation. Ultimately, the message is a call to prioritize knowing Christ above all earthly pleasures or ambitions.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 26, 2015 · 56m
The speaker emphasizes the necessity of a deep, persistent thirst for the Holy Spirit, comparing it to the motivation needed to reach a distant destination. He warns that finding fulfillment in worldly things—like career, status, or possessions—will quench this spiritual thirst. True spiritual depth requires ongoing seeking and prayer, as God hears and answers the heart's longing for Him.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 13, 2015 · 51m
The speaker emphasizes that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is necessary to truly build a foundation in Jesus Christ; otherwise, religious efforts are merely human work without divine power. He cautions that seeking the Holy Spirit's baptism should not become merely about gifts like tongues, but must instead make Jesus Christ more glorious in the hearer's sight. Furthermore, he addresses the need for believers to be sober-minded in all areas, using the warning against getting drunk with wine as an analogy for spiritual sobriety.
1h 9mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jun 29, 2015 · 1h 9m
The speaker warns against the danger of being distracted by external cultural battles, arguing that focusing too much on these issues can distract from the core Christian mandate of love. He emphasizes that the greatest danger is becoming lukewarm, failing to hear the voice of the Spirit amidst the noise of the world's opinions. The message calls for personal conviction and repentance, urging the church to prioritize love and spiritual focus over political or social disagreements.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jun 8, 2015 · 1h 3m
The message emphasizes that true discipleship requires a 'Shepherd mentality,' meaning one must be willing to lay down one's life and risk personal safety for the benefit of others, much like Jesus. The speaker warns against the 'ravenous wolf' mentality—a self-serving, biting disposition—and contrasts it with the selfless care of the Good Shepherd. Following Jesus must result in a visible desire to lead others to be disciples.
37mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Ajay Chakravarthy · Jun 1, 2015 · 37m
The speaker discusses how to discern genuine filling of the Holy Spirit, arguing that true evidence is not found in external miracles or mannerisms, but rather in internal fruit like love, joy, and peace, and a hunger for the Word. He contrasts the external manifestations seen in the Old Testament (like Samson's strength) with the New Covenant experience, where the Spirit first fills the inside, and the overflow then ministers outwardly. Ultimately, the true sign is a witness of grace and wisdom that comes from within.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 1, 2015 · 1h 3m
The speaker discusses the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that being genuinely born again requires the Spirit's operation, which is distinct from merely being 'filled' with the Spirit. He cautions against self-deception regarding spiritual gifts, noting that the apostles possessed unique authorities (like forgiving sins) that are not replicated today. He advises that the Acts of the Apostles should be treated as historical narrative rather than a source for establishing doctrine, which should instead be derived from the teachings of Jesus and the Epistles.
1h 10mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 28, 2015 · 1h 10m
The speaker discusses 1 Peter 5:12, emphasizing that the 'true grace of God' is distinct from false grace. He explains that this true grace, coupled with truth, was only made possible through Jesus Christ, referencing Psalm 51 and Zechariah 12. True grace allows for 'truth in the innermost being,' meaning one's inner life matches their outer presentation, which is necessary to escape deception. To combat false Christianity, one must deeply study the Gospels and the New Testament epistles.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 54m
The central message is that Christian life requires a passion to run hard after God until death, mirroring Paul's testimony. The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual maturity involves opening the 'eyes of the heart' to see beyond mere intellectual understanding. Ultimately, believers are called not just to experience faith, but to be instrumental in opening the eyes of others, serving the body of Christ.
1h 15mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 15m
The speaker emphasizes the necessity of contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, warning against compromising the gospel message. A key focus is on understanding God not merely as a severe judge, but as a loving Father, a concept Jesus revealed by tearing the veil. Believers must root themselves in this understanding of God as a near, caring Father to live lives that testify to His love.
1h 6mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 6m
The speaker emphasizes that spiritual growth requires commitment to a local church family, comparing it to the responsibility of a home rather than the convenience of a restaurant. He warns against spiritual stagnation from only consuming knowledge online or from visiting preachers. Furthermore, he advises believers to use Jesus Christ as a 'spiritual dictionary' when discerning genuine manifestations of the Holy Spirit from deception.
1h 9mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 9m
The secret to a godly life is found in Christ, who was revealed in the flesh and was tempted in every way we are, yet never sinned. This example allows believers to find strength when tempted by comparing their struggles to Christ's perfect endurance. God reveals this secret to those who desperately and passionately seek Him, as exemplified by the Indian saint, Sadhu Sundar Singh.
1h 30mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 30m
The central message is that the Christian life must accurately reflect the true nature of Jesus, focusing on internal transformation rather than merely external works or social programs. The speaker warns against equating Christian activity with worldly compassion or visible charity, arguing that the true focus must be on building the 'True Church'—a quality-based community—as opposed to the 'great Babylon' of mere quantity. True discipleship requires internal holiness, as exemplified by Jesus' teachings on anger, which addressed the root of sin.
1h 19mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2015 · 1h 19m
The sermon emphasizes that the church's calling is to fulfill the ministry Jesus performed on Earth, which involves showing people how God wants them to live. A critical component of this ministry, beyond evangelism, is making disciples—teaching them to obey everything Jesus taught. The speaker urges listeners to diligently study Scripture to ensure that all necessary teachings, which form a complete picture of Christ, are being preached, warning that missing doctrines leave the church 'out of tune.'
1h 10mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 24, 2015 · 1h 10m
The central message emphasizes that living by God's Word is paramount, drawing parallels from Jesus' temptation response and the story of Mary and Martha. The speaker advises believers to prioritize deep study and meditation on scripture, recognizing that true spiritual life requires devotion to hearing and absorbing God's word above all other lawful activities. This devotion is presented not as a strain, but as the most joyful and necessary focus for a Christian life.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 24, 2015 · 57m
The central message is that the ultimate goal for a true disciple is to press toward becoming more Christlike every single day, as exemplified by Paul's pursuit of knowing Christ. This personal spiritual progress must be evident to others and is more crucial than ministry achievements like evangelism. Furthermore, believers must be men who understand the times, recognizing that the current era mirrors the days of Noah, requiring them to stand for God amidst widespread compromise and evil.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 24, 2015 · 1h 5m
The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual knowledge comes not from merely knowing doctrine or scripture, but from developing an intimate, personal knowledge of God through Jesus Christ. He warns against valuing earthly things, including one's own ministry or knowledge, above Christ, comparing them to rubbish. The ultimate goal of Christian life and ministry should be that people hear the message but ultimately follow Jesus, not the messenger.
32mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Ajay Chakravarthy · May 10, 2015 · 32m
Jesus is established as the sole Builder and Head of the Church, making any structure built apart from Him illegitimate. The sermon contrasts this with self-serving efforts, like those in Genesis 11, and examines the nature of true repentance using Jeremiah 3. The speaker emphasizes that God desires genuine, heartfelt acknowledgment of sin, warning against superficial or deceptive repentance.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 4, 2015 · 59m
The central message emphasizes the critical importance of honesty and repentance, contrasting it with the danger of hypocrisy, which is likened to Adam and Eve covering their shame with fig leaves. The speaker argues that true spirituality begins with an honest acknowledgment of one's shortcomings, citing the repentant thief on the cross as an example. This honesty is presented as the foundation for God's work and the path to salvation.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Apr 20, 2015 · 56m
The central message warns against the danger of 'bearing leaves without fruit,' which describes hypocrisy—maintaining a outward appearance of piety while living sinfully in private. The speaker argues that God raises the standard of righteousness to perfection, and pretending to meet this standard is futile. True Christian life requires genuine transformation from the root up, rejecting pretense and transactional relationships with God.