Library
540 messages
16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship · Nov 26
35mOlu Talabi · Nov 19
16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship · Nov 5
14mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship · Oct 22
1h 1mZac Poonen · Sep 12
58mZac Poonen · Sep 11
52mZac Poonen · Sep 10
1h 19mSantosh Poonen · Aug 7
50mJeremy Utley · Aug 6
1h 4mZac Poonen · Jul 31
47mZac Poonen · Jul 31
1h 1mZac Poonen · May 31
1h 2mZac Poonen · May 26
11mDavid Lane · Feb 27
47mSantosh Poonen · Feb 5
47mSantosh Poonen · Aug 20
59mZac Poonen · Jul 25
58mSantosh Poonen · Jun 19
58mZac Poonen · Jun 9
1h 2mZac Poonen · Jun 8
59mZac Poonen · May 30
15mSantosh Poonen · May 28
49mSantosh Poonen · May 1
1h 19mZac Poonen · Aug 23
Zac Poonen · 9m · CFC Daily Devotions
This devotion contrasts the tree of law with the tree of life, exploring how living by legalistic rules differs from living in the Spirit. Zac Poonen teaches that true spiritual life comes not from external commandments but from an intimate relationship with God through the Spirit.
16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
CFC Messages · Nov 26, 2018 · 16m
The central message is that true spiritual growth comes not just from hearing sermons, but from actively and diligently studying God's Word. The speaker encourages the congregation to take the message heard and go back to the Bible to search for deeper truths, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal personal applications. This diligent labor in scripture leads to spiritual maturity, stability, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit, contrasting with those who are passive recipients of teaching.
35mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Olu Talabi · Nov 19, 2018 · 35m
The central message is the necessity of asking God to open our inner eyes to see things as He sees them, rather than relying on our physical senses or human judgment. The speaker draws parallels from scripture, noting that God looks at the heart, not outward appearance, and referencing Elijah's experience where God opened the servant's eyes to reveal heavenly chariots amidst the enemy's army. Ultimately, the message is to look beyond what is visible to perceive God's greater work and spiritual reality.
16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
CFC Messages · Nov 5, 2018 · 16m
The speaker encourages the audience to look beyond memorizing scripture verses and instead study their context. Using Ezekiel 11 as an example, he contrasts man's self-made coverings (like building Jerusalem on human strength) with God's intended way, which involves giving a new heart and spirit. Ultimately, the message emphasizes that receiving God's protective covering requires rejecting our own ideas of security, as seen in examples from Genesis, David and Jonathan, and the Ark.
14mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
CFC Messages · Oct 22, 2018 · 14m
The central message emphasizes that true faith and the life of victory in Christ require seeking the honor of God alone, rather than the approval or opinion of men. The speaker draws heavily on scripture, warning against trusting in human beings or the praise of man, and instead urging the audience to live before God. He concludes by noting that only the Spirit of Christ can truly discern and bring life from the Word of God, dividing the soul from the spirit.
1h 1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 12, 2018 · 1h 1m
The speaker advises listeners to be highly discerning when receiving teaching, paying close attention not only to the words but also to the spirit communicated by the preacher. He warns against being swayed by arrogance, the love of money, or control, citing that false accusations often target those who preach the unvarnished truth. Ultimately, he emphasizes that maintaining a blameless conscience before God and man is crucial for desiring the resurrection of the righteous.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 11, 2018 · 58m
The sermon distinguishes between the devil's condemnation and the Holy Spirit's conviction, noting that condemnation is accusatory and destructive, while conviction is gentle guidance showing what was wrong and offering a way forward. The central message emphasizes that building a life on Christ requires more than just hearing His words; one must actively 'do' what is heard, yielding one's will to Christ's teachings, as illustrated by the parable of the wise and foolish builders.
52mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 10, 2018 · 52m
The speaker emphasizes that true Christian living requires following Jesus' example, which means relying on the Holy Spirit's power rather than emotions. He stresses that obedience to God's commands requires first asking for grace, comparing this to needing money to buy bread. Furthermore, he advises filling one's mind primarily with God's Word to be equipped to handle life's trials, contrasting this with filling the mind with unnecessary worldly information.
1h 19mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 7, 2018 · 1h 19m
The speaker encourages listeners to base their lives on the foundational truth that God is always good, drawing from Psalm 136. He emphasizes that giving thanks for God's inherent goodness is different from thanking Him for specific blessings or rescues. Ultimately, he urges believers to adopt a 'big picture' perspective, trusting that God orchestrates all circumstances, even the difficult ones, for their ultimate good.
50mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Jeremy Utley · Aug 6, 2018 · 50m
The speaker shares his personal journey of spiritual awakening, emphasizing that the greatest joy is knowing Jesus Christ over any worldly achievement. He encourages the audience to take seriously the opportunity to learn from God's Word and the testimonies of others. He draws parallels between the Old and New Covenants, urging believers to be ruthless against the 'giants'—the lusts and sins—that rule in their lives.
1h 4mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 31, 2018 · 1h 4m
The speaker emphasizes that while knowing salvation from the penalty of sin is the foundation of the Christian life, true maturity requires building the superstructure by growing in the power of sin. He stresses that the Bible is God's Word, containing answers to every spiritual problem, and that obedience to God's commands is for our spiritual good, much like parental discipline. Spiritual growth requires a passion for learning, similar to progressing through school grades.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 31, 2018 · 47m
The speaker shares his personal journey of faith, emphasizing that true conversion is not marked by dramatic external changes, but rather by an internal commitment that requires consistent spiritual discipline like daily Bible reading and prayer. He recounts how reading John chapter 6 led him to a profound sense of assurance that God had accepted him, contrasting this with the gradual, evidence-based faith of Thomas in John chapter 20. The central message is that belief, even without physical signs, is a profound blessing.
1h 1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 31, 2018 · 1h 1m
The sermon contrasts the old covenant, which involved adherence to the law and the threat of generational curses, with the new covenant found in Christ. The speaker emphasizes that Christ redeemed believers from the curse of the law, not just by paying a price, but by becoming the curse Himself. This redemption cleanses the believer, allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them with the blessing of Abraham: being blessed and becoming a blessing to others.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 26, 2018 · 1h 2m
The speaker argues that many believers are living under the standards of the Old Covenant rather than the New Covenant established by Christ. He emphasizes that the New Covenant requires a deeper, ongoing transformation involving principles like rejoicing always and giving thanks in everything, which were not explicit commandments in the Old Testament. True Christian life requires continuous progression toward God's eternal purpose, which is to be conformed to the image of Christ through intimate fellowship with God.
11mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
David Lane · Feb 27, 2018 · 11m
The speaker emphasizes that loving God with heart, soul, and mind begins by meditating on God's immense love for us. He draws from scripture, particularly Jeremiah 32, to highlight God's unwavering commitment (
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 5, 2018 · 47m
The speaker strongly encourages the congregation to bring and actively use their Bibles during services, emphasizing that physically turning to scripture references aids in 'scriptural absorption' or osmosis. He warns that relying solely on the speaker's reading can be a weakness exploited by the enemy. Furthermore, he uses the analogy of a burning heart to illustrate that the Word of God should ignite passion, contrasting this with the distraction that comes from a lukewarm heart.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 20, 2017 · 47m
The speaker urges young adults to remain uncompromisingly dedicated to God, emphasizing that true worship is presenting one's body as a living and holy sacrifice, as stated in Romans 12:1. He warns against being misled by superficial religious experiences, such as elaborate music or emotional fervor, which can act like a faulty compass leading one astray from God's Word. Knowing God's Word is presented as the only reliable guide for setting the course of one's life.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 25, 2017 · 59m
The speaker addresses the impossibility of forgetting sins when forgiving others, asserting that while memory is uncontrollable, one has control over their will to choose not to dwell on past wrongs. He then shifts to discussing the depth of the Atonement, arguing that the true price for sin is eternal separation from God, which only an infinite being (God) could pay. The speaker emphasizes that the greatest suffering Jesus endured was the three hours of being forsaken by the Father, which proves the depth of God's sacrifice.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jun 19, 2017 · 58m
The speaker shares that becoming a father provided him with a new perspective, allowing him to see God's view of him rather than just his own. He outlines three spiritual principles for fathers, starting with the fear of the Lord, which he contrasts with mere knowledge. He emphasizes that true wisdom, which is the beginning of wisdom, comes from fearing the Lord, not just accumulating information or techniques about fatherhood.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 9, 2017 · 58m
The central message is that true deception comes when people reject the truth revealed in Scripture, rather than when false teachings are presented. The speaker emphasizes that the greatest defense against deception is a genuine love for the truth, both biblical truth and the truth about oneself. He uses his personal journey of correcting a misunderstanding about child baptism to illustrate that following Scripture, even when it contradicts cherished traditions, is vital for spiritual growth.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 8, 2017 · 1h 2m
The speaker emphasizes that Christian truth, like the human body, must be balanced, warning against overemphasizing any single doctrine (like grace or truth) to the detriment of others. He stresses the necessity of studying Scripture carefully and submitting to appointed teachers, cautioning against those who preach by reading single verses without comparing them to other scriptures. A key focus is the balanced understanding of Christ—that he was 100% God and 100% man—which is necessary for believers to live lives that reflect His walk.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 30, 2017 · 59m
The speaker explains that assurance of being born again comes from the joint work of the Holy Spirit and God's Word, not from feelings. True assurance is found by sincerely confessing sin, believing in Christ's death and resurrection, and relying on the Spirit's witness. He warns against legalism, arguing that true godliness is found by looking to Jesus, who exemplified mercy rather than strict adherence to rules.
15mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 28, 2017 · 15m
The speaker encourages the audience to maintain a high standard for Christian life and ministry, warning against settling for the status quo or accepting false visions, comparing them to desert mirages. He draws inspiration from Hebrews 13:7 and Mark 10, suggesting that spiritual blindness can occur even after experiencing revelation, and that believers must continually fix their eyes on Jesus to see the truth.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
transcribingSantosh Poonen · May 1, 2017 · 49m
This message emphasizes the unique and absolute nature of God, contrasting Him with everything else in creation. The core message is a call to focus solely on God as the ultimate reality and source of life. It encourages the audience to direct their entire focus and devotion toward Him.
1h 19mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 23, 2016 · 1h 19m
The speaker emphasizes that the last days will be characterized by great deception, warning listeners to remain vigilant. To avoid deception, he strongly advises consistently reading and meditating on the Bible, as this equips the believer's mind to recall God's truth when tested. Furthermore, he points to the 'great falling away' (apostasy) as a key sign of the end times, urging believers to guard against modern distractions that hinder scriptural study.