Library
505 messages
1h 4mSantosh Poonen · Aug 19
32mOlu Talabi · Aug 19
1h 3mSantosh Poonen · Aug 18
51mSantosh Poonen · Aug 10
22mZac Poonen · Jul 26
1h 29mZac Poonen · May 31
47mSantosh Poonen · Nov 16
1h 13mZac Poonen · Sep 7
58mZac Poonen · Sep 6
1h 13mZac Poonen · Sep 6
45mZac Poonen · Sep 5
49mZac Poonen · Sep 5
56mZac Poonen · Sep 5
55mSantosh Poonen · Aug 23
51mSantosh Poonen · Jul 13
1h 9mSantosh Poonen · Jun 29
37mAjay Chakravarthy · Jun 1
1h 3mZac Poonen · Jun 1
1h 6mZac Poonen · May 26
54mSantosh Poonen · Mar 22
1h 0mSantosh Poonen · Jan 25
1h 0mSantosh Poonen · Dec 8
46mSantosh Poonen · Sep 22
1h 2mZac Poonen · Sep 13
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
Santosh Poonen · Aug 19, 2016 · 1h 4m
The speaker emphasizes the necessity of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit for Christian life, drawing parallels from the disciples' experience in Acts 1. He cautions against focusing on minor scriptural details and instead urges the audience to actively seek this promised power. The core message is that believers must not waste time without earnestly seeking the Holy Spirit's power for ministry and witness.
32mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Olu Talabi · Aug 19, 2016 · 32m
The speaker emphasizes that Christian life and spiritual warfare are impossible through human strength or determination; true power comes only from the Holy Spirit. He encourages the audience to desire genuine, lived experience of God's work, rather than just doctrinal knowledge. Furthermore, he advises patience, drawing from Jeremiah, noting that God's work will be perfected in the day of Christ, and that the weapons for spiritual battle are not carnal but mighty through the Spirit of Christ.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
transcribingSantosh Poonen · Aug 18, 2016 · 1h 3m
This message explores the paradox of Christian life, suggesting that our capacity to truly live for Christ is rooted in our willingness to die to self. The core message emphasizes that following Christ requires a radical surrender of self-will, leading to a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the Christian life is a journey of daily crucifixion to self for the sake of resurrection life in Christ.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 10, 2016 · 51m
The message emphasizes that true guidance comes from the Holy Spirit, especially for those newly born again. Drawing from Isaiah 30, the speaker warns that self-reliance leads to spiritual damage, as God cannot pour out grace on those who are too self-sufficient. Instead, God waits patiently for individuals to come to Him in humility and brokenness, promising that they will eventually behold and hear the Spirit's direction for their lives.
22mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 26, 2016 · 22m
The speaker emphasizes that true spiritual power, particularly the anointing of the Holy Spirit, is sought in private devotion rather than in emotional public gatherings. He draws parallels between Jesus' anointing at the Jordan and the necessity for believers to undergo a 'death to self' to experience the power of resurrection. This means deliberately choosing to live according to Christ's will, even when it contradicts personal desires or expectations, which is the path to understanding God's truth.
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.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 16, 2015 · 47m
The sermon warns that simply leaving legalism is insufficient; believers must actively live full of the Holy Spirit to avoid a worse spiritual condition. The speaker emphasizes that true faith requires taking active steps, not just waiting for God's work. Furthermore, he argues that Christian persecution stems not from preaching the gospel, but from claiming a relationship with God that asserts divine authority, indicating the true battle is spiritual, not merely social.
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.
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.
55mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 23, 2015 · 55m
The speaker emphasizes that receiving the Holy Spirit requires a desperate hunger and a passionate desire for holiness, as God will not pour the Spirit into a contaminated vessel. He clarifies that being filled with the Spirit is not a formula but a divine outpouring, contrasting the ministry of John the Baptist (preaching repentance) with the fullness of Christ's work. Ultimately, the message stresses that God desires every believer to be genuinely filled with the Holy Spirit for the building up of the body of Christ.
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.
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 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.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 22, 2015 · 54m
The speaker contrasts the temporary joys of worldly pursuits with the enduring joy found in dwelling in God's presence. He emphasizes that the Christian life is not just about initial forgiveness but a continuous, progressive journey of drawing closer to Christ. This process involves becoming more like Jesus step-by-step, which is the true, exciting reality of the believer's life.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jan 25, 2015 · 1h 0m
The speaker emphasizes the importance of deep meditation on scripture, comparing it to chewing tough meat until it's fully digested rather than swallowing it whole. He warns against the common tendency to skip difficult passages or rely solely on others' interpretations, stressing that true understanding must come directly from the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, the goal is to hear and internalize the words of Jesus Christ above all else.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Dec 8, 2014 · 1h 0m
The speaker expresses profound gratitude for the experience of knowing Christ, acknowledging the danger of taking spiritual blessings for granted. The message centers on maintaining a sense of wonder regarding God's love, calling for a deep, overflowing experience of the Holy Spirit. It concludes with a plea to focus on the spiritual feast provided by God rather than the temporary attractions of the world.
46mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Sep 22, 2014 · 46m
The central message emphasizes that God sees in secret, contrasting this with the world's tendency to broadcast everything on social media. The speaker argues that true discipleship, like Jesus' life, involves internal, secret obedience rather than only outward, visible acts. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit's primary purpose is not just for gifts, but to guide believers into deeper truths that were not publicly revealed, mirroring Jesus' private life.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 13, 2014 · 1h 2m
The central message is that Christian life should be lived in alignment with God's specific, pre-planned will, rather than making self-directed plans. This requires a life of inner rest and dependence on the Holy Spirit, mirroring Jesus' focused ministry. True fulfillment comes from completing the work God has specifically assigned, rather than accumulating worldly experience or activity.