Library
479 messages
59sZac Poonen · Nov 22
1h 5mZac Poonen · Oct 2
36mZac Poonen · Aug 31
1h 4mZac Poonen · Aug 20
1h 30mZac Poonen · Aug 14
20mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 6mZac Poonen · Aug 11
41mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 8mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 6mZac Poonen · Aug 11
54mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 3mZac Poonen · Aug 11
46mZac Poonen · Aug 11
57mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 0mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 14mZac Poonen · Aug 7
24mZac Poonen · Aug 6
23mZac Poonen · Aug 6
1h 1mZac Poonen · Aug 6
1h 2mZac Poonen · Jun 22
38mZac Poonen · May 19
1h 8mZac Poonen · May 15
1h 7mZac Poonen · May 13
57mZac Poonen · May 8
Zac Poonen · 10m · CFC Daily Devotions
Repentance is the defining mark of a truly born-again Christian. Without genuine repentance—a turning away from sin with changed behavior—one's claim to conversion is hollow and superficial.
59sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Nov 22, 2025 · 59s
The speaker emphasizes that daily life presents constant opportunities to die to one's own will and desires. He assures the audience that choosing this path of 'death' is not miserable because it is always followed by a resurrection, contrasting this with other philosophies that view self-denial as a miserable existence.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 2, 2025 · 1h 5m
The speaker emphasizes that true prosperity in all areas of life comes from delighting in the law of the Lord, as stated in Psalm 1. He warns against following the advice of wicked people and stresses that mere reading of scripture is insufficient; one must cultivate a deep, joyful delight in God's word. Spiritual growth comes not from academic knowledge but from allowing the heart to respond to God's word through meditation and consistent study.
36mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 31, 2025 · 36m
The sermon warns against treating God with casualness, comparing it to offering substandard gifts, and stresses that our reverence for God must exceed our respect for earthly authorities. Furthermore, it emphasizes that God takes note of our family life, specifically the covenant between husband and wife, because the purpose of union is to raise godly offspring. Parents are ultimately responsible for guiding their children into discipleship.
1h 4mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 20, 2025 · 1h 4m
The sermon explores the 'paradoxes of the Christian life,' arguing that Christian living requires adopting God's way of thinking, which is contrary to worldly understanding. Key paradoxes discussed include that one must acknowledge sin to become righteous, and that seeking the heavenly kingdom first will result in the provision of earthly needs. The speaker emphasizes that true understanding comes from deep Bible study and sincere repentance, citing examples like the dying thief.
1h 30mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 14, 2025 · 1h 30m
The speaker advises against seeking validation from others, emphasizing that true spiritual security comes from the knowledge that God accepts us as we are, regardless of our perceived perfection. He stresses that the inner life matters more than external conformity and points to 1 Corinthians 11:31 as a guide for self-judgment aimed at Christ's likeness. Additionally, he advises parents to guide their children's education and careers, considering future needs and ensuring daughters are educated for self-sufficiency.
20mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 20m
The sermon emphasizes that true wisdom, as taught in Ephesians 5, is not intellectual but comes from understanding and walking in the will of the Lord. This wisdom is achieved by being continuously filled with the Holy Spirit, which requires the believer to constantly take up their cross and deny self. This process of spiritual growth is likened to increasing capacity, moving from a cup to a river, demanding persistent thirst for God's life.
1h 6mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 6m
The speaker emphasizes that God's promise to never leave or forsake us is unconditional, encouraging listeners not to be discouraged by failure but to keep getting up. He draws parallels between Christian growth and learning to write, stressing that falling down is not a failure; refusing to get up is. The message highlights that in the New Testament, God's blessing is found in tribulation and trial, using the example of Joseph to show that severe suffering can be God's method of preparation for greater service.
41mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 41m
The speaker emphasizes that God's ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than human understanding, citing Isaiah 55:8-9. He uses analogies, like a parent's foresight or a child's inability to grasp adult decisions, to illustrate this point. The talk concludes by examining Zechariah 3, where Satan accuses the high priest Joshua, illustrating that even the best believer is covered in sin, and ultimate acquittal comes only from God, not self-declaration.
1h 8mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 8m
The speaker emphasizes the necessity of maintaining a 'solid grip' on the Christian life, using the analogy of a hand grip that strengthens with more fingers. He draws heavily from scripture, particularly Matthew 12, to discuss Jesus' authority and the concept of 'future forgiveness.' The central message is that believers should emulate Christ by practicing forgiveness, even for sins that have not yet occurred, understanding that forgiveness can be an act of grace independent of the offender's repentance.
1h 6mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 6m
The speaker addresses marital struggles by emphasizing that a failure to love others often stems from a failure to love God wholeheartedly, which requires breaking the self-love habit. He defines true faith as helpless dependence on God, contrasting it with arrogant self-sufficiency. Regarding marital intimacy and disagreements, he asserts that sexual desire does not decrease with spiritual closeness and advises couples to humble themselves and obey God's design. Finally, he counsels that in household disagreements, like tidiness or parenting styles, patience and self-denial are more important than being 'right,' as anger is worse than disorder.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 54m
The speaker emphasizes that the Holy Spirit's primary ministry is to guide believers into understanding the life of Jesus Christ, which is revealed through scripture. He contrasts this divine revelation with mere study, noting that the Old Testament consistently points to Jesus in every book. The speaker encourages deep meditation on scripture, illustrating how Jesus opened the scriptures to the disciples to reveal truths about himself.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 3m
The central message is that true discipleship requires believers to actively decrease in prominence so that Christ may increase. Drawing from Paul's experience and John 10, the speaker argues that any desire for personal recognition or being seen is a hindrance to Christ's glory. He emphasizes that a genuine man of God longs to be inconspicuous, allowing Christ to be the focus.
46mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 46m
The central message is to emulate the character of Jesus Christ, particularly by learning from the innocence and humility of a child. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian living involves shedding adult pride, forgiving easily, and consistently obeying parents and God. He encourages the audience to strive for holiness, mirroring Jesus' perfect example in all aspects of life.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 57m
The central message emphasizes that true discipleship requires living consistently with one's professed faith, mirroring the manner of Christ. This requires constant self-examination regarding attitudes toward women, money, and circumstances. Furthermore, believers must pursue total cleansing from sin—addressing both external actions (flesh) and internal thoughts/motives (spirit)—with the same urgency as treating a deadly illness.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 0m
The speaker emphasizes that the New Covenant requires more than just forgiveness; it demands a progressive transformation into Christlikeness, likened to the sun rising brighter until noon. He contrasts mere forgiveness (the 'gate') with true salvation (the 'way'), arguing that a Christian's life must show continuous, visible growth in overcoming sin, not just repeated instances of being forgiven. The ultimate goal is to become fully Christ-like, which is best observed by one's spouse and family.
1h 14mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 7, 2025 · 1h 14m
Faith is established by hearing the New Covenant message through the Holy Spirit, which requires a clear heart free of grudges or worries. Furthermore, true faith requires both believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth, as highlighted in Romans 10. Confessing one's faith publicly, even when it is unpopular, strengthens belief and is a way to overcome spiritual opposition, including Satan's accusations.
24mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 6, 2025 · 24m
The speaker discusses the 'fear of the Lord' as a profound reverence, citing Isaiah 11:2, which describes Jesus delighting in this reverence. He emphasizes that this reverence is the beginning of wisdom, distinguishing true wisdom from mere knowledge. Furthermore, he advises believers to avoid judging others based solely on what they see or hear, instead promoting investigation and caution, and stresses the importance of recognizing one's limitations and allowing others to balance one's ministry.
23mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 6, 2025 · 23m
The central message emphasizes that ministry requires embodying the 'tongue of a disciple,' meaning one who listens and obeys God rather than merely speaking from knowledge. Preachers must teach and *do*, modeling Jesus' example. True ministry sustains weary people with God's word, which requires daily discipline of listening to the Lord and avoiding the temptation to generate human excitement or 'kindle one's own fire.'
1h 1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 6, 2025 · 1h 1m
The speaker emphasizes that true church growth and ministry must be founded on divine revelation concerning the identity of Christ, rather than mere academic knowledge or perceived need. He argues that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is based on Christ's authority, not geographical need, citing Jesus' ministry primarily within Israel as evidence. The central message is to seek revelation from the Holy Spirit to build a church that adheres strictly to God's standards.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 22, 2025 · 1h 2m
The central message is that a person's true strength and resilience in life's storms, including temptations, depend not on outward appearance or perceived success, but on their unseen inner life and deep roots in Christ. The speaker emphasizes that believers must focus on building this inner foundation rather than seeking external validation. He assures the audience that Jesus Himself was tempted in areas like money and sexuality, providing an example of how to endure these struggles by remaining rooted in Christ.
38mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 19, 2025 · 38m
The speaker explains that the true punishment for sin is being forsaken by God, not merely physical death. He argues that Jesus endured this ultimate separation from the Father during the last three hours of the crucifixion, which was more agonizing than any physical torture. The message concludes by urging listeners to value their fellowship with God above all else, as this connection is the most precious thing.
1h 8mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 15, 2025 · 1h 8m
The sermon explains that true worship, as described in Romans 12:1, involves presenting one's entire body as a living and holy sacrifice, which is worship in the spirit and truth. Drawing parallels to the Old Testament burnt offering, the speaker argues that this requires a deep, tangible dedication of one's life, going beyond mere emotion or intellect. Ultimately, worshiping in the spirit means offering every part of oneself—including one's senses and thoughts—to God's will.
1h 7mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 13, 2025 · 1h 7m
The speaker emphasizes that merely confessing sins and expecting salvation is insufficient; believers must embrace the full blessing of the New Covenant, which includes the ability to hear God's voice daily. He warns against complacency, arguing that true discipleship requires a passionate, wholehearted life for Christ, not just a desire to avoid regret in eternity. This commitment must be fueled by a continuous desire—a deep 'thirst'—for the Holy Spirit, which is a continuous experience, not a one-time event.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 8, 2025 · 57m
The central message is that godliness is a means of great gain only when accompanied by contentment. Contentment means being joyful and accepting everything God has allowed in one's life, recognizing that God has established boundaries for all things, including human limitations. The speaker uses the Book of Job and the natural order of creation to illustrate that accepting God's established boundaries leads to a godly life.