Library
479 messages
1h 4mZac Poonen · Jun 1
1h 15mZac Poonen · Jun 1
1h 29mZac Poonen · May 31
1h 5mZac Poonen · May 30
1h 13mZac Poonen · Sep 7
1h 18mZac Poonen · Sep 6
47mZac Poonen · Sep 6
58mZac Poonen · Sep 6
1h 13mZac Poonen · Sep 6
45mZac Poonen · Sep 5
49mZac Poonen · Sep 5
56mZac Poonen · Sep 5
1h 16mZac Poonen · Sep 3
57mZac Poonen · Aug 30
1h 3mZac Poonen · Jun 1
1h 10mZac Poonen · May 28
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
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 4mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
transcribingZac Poonen · Jun 1, 2016 · 1h 4m
This session appears to be a question and answer format from the RLCF Family Conference. The content addresses various topics through direct questions, providing guidance and teaching from the speaker.
1h 15mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
transcribingZac Poonen · Jun 1, 2016 · 1h 15m
The message emphasizes the importance of establishing a strong foundation within the family unit before attempting to build up the church. It suggests that the principles and commitment modeled within the home are crucial for the health and growth of the larger body of believers. A strong family life is presented as a prerequisite for effective church ministry.
1h 29mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 31, 2016 · 1h 29m
The speaker cautions against the worldly desire to constantly hear something new, comparing it to the Athenians who sought novelty. He emphasizes that true spiritual understanding comes not from mere knowledge, but from personal experience, warning that excessive focus on biblical knowledge can lead to spiritual blindness regarding the true Jesus. The ultimate mark of a New Testament church meeting, according to the speaker, is that attendees leave with the secrets of their hearts disclosed, rather than through uncontrolled speaking in tongues or other novel displays.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 30, 2016 · 1h 5m
The central message is that a Christian's ultimate ambition must be to please the Lord, which should remain the same whether they are on Earth or in heaven. The speaker contrasts worldly ambitions—such as fame, money, or building mega-churches—with the singular goal of pleasing God. He encourages all believers, regardless of spiritual gifts, to examine their lives to ensure their current direction aligns with pleasing Christ.
1h 13mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 7, 2015 · 1h 13m
The central message emphasizes that true Christian devotion stems from a profound, growing understanding of God's love, which was not fully grasped in the old covenant. The speaker contrasts the modern Christian's complaints with the ultimate sacrifice of the early martyrs, urging listeners to live with a similar level of commitment. He stresses that the Holy Spirit reveals God's love, leading to a life of radical surrender and freedom from the love of money.
1h 18mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 6, 2015 · 1h 18m
The speaker advises that spiritual questions should focus on life application rather than mere biblical knowledge, emphasizing that one must become a disciple rather than just a scribe. He shares personal methods for using imagination for sanctification, such as imagining good outcomes for those who harmed you or praying for the suffering of your enemies. The talk concludes with warnings against pride, jealousy, and willfully sinning after knowing the truth, referencing the concept of the red line concerning the Holy Spirit.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 6, 2015 · 47m
The speaker compares the ideal church to a family rather than a club or a large performance venue, emphasizing the need for genuine belonging and structure. He stresses that a healthy church requires plurality of elders for leadership and discipline, contrasting this with mega-churches. Furthermore, he warns of a coming famine for the 'word of the Lord' (prophetic word), advocating for teaching that speaks directly to the heart and causes personal transformation.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 6, 2015 · 58m
The speaker emphasizes the necessity of balance in Christian life, drawing parallels to the body's physical balance and citing the need to balance God's glory with human love. He strongly critiques superficial understandings of conversion, arguing that true repentance—turning from self-centered sin—is the core message that is often missing in modern evangelism. He warns that many people who claim to be born again have not truly repented, comparing such conversions to premature births that do not survive.
1h 13mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 6, 2015 · 1h 13m
The sermon emphasizes that being filled with the Holy Spirit leads to godly living in all areas of life, particularly within the home. The speaker details biblical instructions for husbands, wives, and parents, stressing that God has established distinct functions and boundaries for each role. He warns against modern cultural ideas of equality that disregard God's specific order, using the analogy of following an appliance's instruction manual.
45mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 5, 2015 · 45m
The sermon distinguishes between the Old Covenant experience of the Holy Spirit, which only produced outward ministry, and the New Covenant experience, where the Spirit dwells within the heart. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian life involves the Spirit filling the heart, which is contrasted with merely having the Spirit 'upon' one. He warns that outward ministry or gifts without inner transformation will be rejected by God on the last day.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 5, 2015 · 49m
The speaker argues that God chooses ordinary people, not great leaders or scholars, to fill with the Holy Spirit, citing the example of John the Baptist. He warns against spending life's time on worldly achievements and instead emphasizes that true spiritual fullness comes from deep engagement with scripture, not merely intellectual study. Furthermore, he clarifies that being filled with the Holy Spirit is an internal, heart-level experience, not something that can be fully grasped through theological knowledge.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 5, 2015 · 56m
The speaker emphasizes the desperate need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, moving beyond small expectations to ask for God's full power. He draws a parallel between conquering visible sins (giants) and achieving a 'land of rest' in one's life, urging listeners to conquer known sins like getting offended by submitting to Christ's humility. True faith involves a complete dependence on God, recognizing that apart from Him, nothing amounts to nothing.
1h 16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 3, 2015 · 1h 16m
The speaker discusses the two parts of the Great Commission: preaching the gospel to all creation and the subsequent discipleship. He emphasizes that in unreached areas, preaching the gospel requires supernatural manifestations of God's power to convince people of Jesus's resurrection and divinity. Furthermore, he stresses the necessity of publicly reading scripture to teach people who have never encountered the Bible in their language.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 30, 2015 · 57m
The speaker urges believers to take their spiritual inheritance seriously, comparing their lack of focus on God to treating money. He emphasizes that spiritual progress requires diligently seeking God with all one's heart, as God is not partial. Furthermore, he warns that believers will face judgment for their earthly conduct, and at Christ's return, some will be bold while others will shrink away in shame.
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.
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.