Library
479 messages
1h 25mZac Poonen · Aug 29
1h 3mZac Poonen · Aug 29
1h 20mZac Poonen · Aug 27
53mZac Poonen · Aug 22
1h 8mZac Poonen · Aug 16
1h 29mZac Poonen · Aug 12
1h 12mZac Poonen · Aug 8
38mZac Poonen · Aug 8
56mZac Poonen · Aug 4
57mZac Poonen · Aug 1
15mZac Poonen · Jul 29
1h 26mZac Poonen · Jul 26
1h 8mZac Poonen · Jul 26
1h 13mZac Poonen · Jul 26
56mZac Poonen · Jul 26
1h 6mZac Poonen · Jul 25
1h 11mZac Poonen · Jul 25
58mZac Poonen · Jul 25
1h 2mZac Poonen · Jun 15
1h 1mZac Poonen · May 5
40mZac Poonen · Apr 7
1h 3mZac Poonen · Mar 27
1h 6mZac Poonen · Mar 3
1h 7mZac Poonen · Feb 3
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 25mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 29, 2022 · 1h 25m
The speaker addresses common struggles such as doubting salvation, advising listeners to rely on God's Word (faith) rather than feelings. He emphasizes that seeking the Holy Spirit should be done through persistent prayer, not by relying on others. Furthermore, he teaches that true guidance comes from a motive to glorify God, and that the Holy Spirit always encourages, never condemns.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 29, 2022 · 1h 3m
The central message emphasizes taking God's commands, such as praying without ceasing, with utmost seriousness and persistence. The speaker warns against giving up halfway or dismissing commands as impossible, asserting that true love for Christ is proven by obedience to His commandments. He encourages believers to strive for deep obedience rather than settling for a shallow, half-hearted faith.
1h 20mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 27, 2022 · 1h 20m
The central message is that young people can live victoriously by understanding that Jesus Christ sympathized with our weaknesses because he was tempted in every point as we are. The speaker emphasizes that knowing this truth, found in Hebrews 4:15, allows believers to overcome discouragement and self-condemnation. He encourages the audience to seek assurance of salvation and to look to the cross as the ultimate example of deliverance.
53mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 22, 2022 · 53m
The central message is that true acceptance by God is based solely on Christ's finished work, not on personal good works or moral comparison. The speaker urges listeners to return to the foundation of grace found in Romans, recognizing that all people, regardless of perceived goodness, are equally sinful. Spiritual growth requires a constant, humble pursuit of Christ-likeness, leading to the discovery of previously unknown sins.
1h 8mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 16, 2022 · 1h 8m
The speaker recounts the history of the CFC church, emphasizing that God builds His church not through human cleverness, education, or wealth, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. True discipleship requires radical repentance—a 180-degree turn away from self-will toward God's way. He warns against merely having the 'form' of godliness without genuine inner transformation.
1h 29mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 12, 2022 · 1h 29m
The sermon emphasizes that husbands must act as leaders, drawing parallels from scripture to establish the man's role in the home and church. Key points include that a man must always see God first, before seeing his wife, and that husbands must intervene when their wives disobey God's commands, as Adam failed to do. Ultimately, men are called to be strong leaders in all areas of life.
1h 12mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 8, 2022 · 1h 12m
The speaker argues that true Christian life is found not merely in studying the Word or performing religious duties, but in embracing the 'way of the cross' and the 'new covenant.' He emphasizes that the goal is not perfection in one's own strength, but a daily desire to become more like Christ, recognizing that ministry is secondary to the life itself. This transformation is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, moving believers from the legalistic focus of the Old Testament to the grace-filled calling of sonship.
38mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 8, 2022 · 38m
The speaker traces the concept of 'covenant' from biblical history, citing examples like the rainbow after the flood, the covenant with Abraham (circumcision), and the covenant with Israel (shedding blood). He argues that Jesus established the New Covenant at the Last Supper, where breaking bread symbolized his body being broken for sin. The central message is a warning that many Christians treat the elements of worship, like breaking bread, as mere empty rituals without understanding the profound commitment and reality of the covenant established by Christ.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 4, 2022 · 56m
The sermon contrasts the curses incurred by sin in Genesis, distinguishing between sins that harm only the self (Genesis 3) and those that harm others (Genesis 4), arguing the latter are more serious. The speaker then pivots to Galatians 3, emphasizing that Christ became a curse for humanity by enduring crucifixion, which was required by Mosaic Law. Ultimately, Christ's perfect life, including being tempted in every way we are, allowed him to overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit and grace.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 1, 2022 · 57m
The central message is that maintaining unbroken fellowship with God requires absolute honesty, which is presented as more crucial than perfect holiness. The speaker warns against pretense and hypocrisy, urging listeners to confess faults directly to God rather than blaming others, citing the example of Adam. True discipleship involves living openly in the light of God's truth.
15mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 29, 2022 · 15m
The central message is that for God to hear our prayers, we must ensure there is no sin or wrong attitude in our hearts. The speaker emphasizes that harboring wickedness, wishing evil on others, or being critical breaks the connection with God. Furthermore, before presenting our prayers, we must reconcile with any person we have offended, as this is a necessary condition for acceptable prayer.
1h 26mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 26, 2022 · 1h 26m
The speaker discusses various aspects of Christian living, including the necessity of humble service, using the example of foot washing as a non-ritualistic act of service. He advises that for fellowship, starting small in a home is ideal, with online participation being a good second option. Regarding fasting and prayer, announcing these times is acceptable as long as the motive is pleasing to God, not seeking human honor. Finally, he clarifies that New Testament prophecy is not about predicting the future but about building up, challenging, and comforting the hearers.
1h 8mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 26, 2022 · 1h 8m
The central message is that all human achievements, statuses, and glories are nothing before God, as illustrated by the story of Nebuchadnezzar. True value is found only in Jesus Christ, and the church must reflect this understanding by embracing humility and recognizing that every member is a 'zero' before God. The speaker warns that the desire to be recognized or to lead a church for personal glory will result in building only a useless congregation, not the true Body of Christ.
1h 13mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 26, 2022 · 1h 13m
The speaker discusses the nature of sin, arguing that the origin of sin in the universe was not in Adam's actions but in the thought of a high archangel, described in Isaiah 14 as the 'star of the morning.' He emphasizes that sin originates in the mind, not through action or word, and warns that neglecting one's thoughts will lead to a life that becomes formless and empty, mirroring the initial state of the earth.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 26, 2022 · 56m
The sermon outlines building a godly life and home using the metaphor of a building with three floors. The foundation is the assurance of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The first floor requires a clean personal walk with God, demanding immediate confession of sin. The second floor is family life, emphasizing that parents must raise children with respect. The third floor is the church, which must integrate personal devotion (vertical) with mutual love (horizontal) to be a true body, not just a club or congregation.
1h 6mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 25, 2022 · 1h 6m
The speaker argues that popular understanding of the crucifixion focuses only on the physical suffering, missing the true price paid for sin. He asserts that the punishment for sin is eternal separation from God, not physical torment. Therefore, only a suffering that covers this infinite debt—which he argues was not fully accomplished by the physical crucifixion—is sufficient. The message encourages deep meditation on the truth of sin's cost, drawing parallels to Jesus' profound grief in Gethsemane.
1h 11mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 25, 2022 · 1h 11m
The speaker emphasizes that understanding the Old Testament is crucial because it provides lessons from the mistakes of others, preventing us from repeating those errors. He stresses that God is almighty but does not despise anyone, contrasting this with the devil who despises all. True spiritual growth is marked by decreasing judgment of others and increasing humility, which is evidenced by bearing fruit in one's life. Finally, he warns against self-condemnation, reminding listeners that they are bought with Christ's blood and have inherent value before God.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 25, 2022 · 58m
The speaker emphasizes that the 'higher Christian life' means walking in the manner of Jesus, which involves more than just singing hymns; it requires deep, meaningful communication with the Lord. He argues that Jesus' example was comprehensive, encompassing not only ministry and preaching but also practical, honest work like carpentry. Therefore, Christians in secular jobs must emulate this by being faithful and honest in their daily vocations.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 15, 2022 · 1h 2m
The speaker encourages young people to remember Jeremiah 29:11, affirming that God has a good plan for their future, not one of calamity. He emphasizes that laying a strong foundation during youth is crucial for a life built to last, using the examples of Joseph and Jesus Christ. These figures demonstrated faithfulness, deep study of scripture, and integrity even when facing adversity.
1h 1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 5, 2022 · 1h 1m
The speaker contrasts the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing that the New Covenant requires lived experience rather than mere understanding or proclamation. He argues that if a truth is only known intellectually and not lived out in daily reality, one is still operating under the limitations of the Old Covenant. True discipleship requires ruthless honesty, acknowledging areas where one is not yet at the standard of the Word made flesh, and demonstrating continuous progress in one's walk with God.
40mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 7, 2022 · 40m
The sermon emphasizes that wisdom, which is superior to mere knowledge, is the greatest requirement for all areas of life, including personal, family, and church life. Wisdom is acquired through enduring trials, which test and build faith to produce endurance and completeness. Believers are encouraged to recognize their lack of wisdom and ask God for it in faith, knowing that He gives it generously and without reproach.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 27, 2022 · 1h 3m
Elders are accountable to the Lord for how they shepherd the church, which requires focusing on an inner circle of committed believers rather than trying to manage the entire growing congregation. True eldership is characterized by humble service, viewing the role as more like that of a servant or caretaker than an honor. Furthermore, elders must cultivate self-judgment daily and exercise supernatural discernment to help others, remembering that judging others is not their role.
1h 6mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 3, 2022 · 1h 6m
The sermon uses the example of Eli, the high priest, to warn against prioritizing family comfort over obedience to God. Eli failed to rebuke his sons for their sin because he loved them more than the Lord, leading to a curse upon his lineage. The central message is that true discipleship requires honoring Christ above all relationships, and neglecting to correct sin in loved ones can have eternal consequences.
1h 7mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Feb 3, 2022 · 1h 7m
The speaker emphasizes that the New Covenant is fundamentally different from the Old Covenant, asserting that its core focus is not merely escaping hell or reaching heaven, but achieving freedom from the power of sin. True understanding of this covenant leads to a desire to partake in God's divine nature, which is the greatest gift, allowing for a life of effortless victory over sin, much like an expert swimmer. This transformation is entirely dependent on Christ.