Library
55 messages
1m 1sSantosh Poonen · Mar 6
1m 1sSantosh Poonen · Mar 5
1mSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
1m 1sSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
1mSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
59sSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
1mSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
1mSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
59sSantosh Poonen · Nov 23
54sSantosh Poonen · Nov 22
1m 1sSantosh Poonen · Nov 22
59sSantosh Poonen · Nov 22
1m 1sSantosh Poonen · Nov 18
58mSantosh Poonen · Apr 14
1m 1sSantosh Poonen · Mar 16
1h 7mSantosh Poonen · Mar 3
1mSantosh Poonen · Feb 20
50sSantosh Poonen · Feb 20
1mSantosh Poonen · Feb 18
55mSantosh Poonen · Jan 12
58sSantosh Poonen · Nov 15
24mSantosh Poonen · Sep 13
1mSantosh Poonen · May 30
1mSantosh Poonen · May 28
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.
River of Life Christian Fellowship · Santosh Poonen · humility
1m 1sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 6, 2026 · 1m 1s
True reverence for the Lord means accepting God's sovereignty without demanding explanations for our suffering or trials. The speaker uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to illustrate that God does not owe us an explanation for how He is shaping us. Instead, we should embrace the role of the clay, trusting the Potter's hand.
1m 1sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 5, 2026 · 1m 1s
The sermon emphasizes that worldly status or perceived position does not determine God's calling; rather, faithfulness in small matters is what matters. God will elevate those who are humble and faithful in their daily lives, even if they feel overlooked or low in status. True calling comes from quiet, consistent faithfulness.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 1m
The speaker teaches that receiving God's grace is instantaneous upon genuine humility, contrasting this with the idea that grace is earned through prolonged emotional distress or self-flagellation. He uses the law of gravity as an analogy to illustrate that the moment one becomes humble, grace is immediately available.
1m 1sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 1m 1s
The speaker warns against the trap of false humility, which often manifests as self-condemnation and discouragement. He argues that beating oneself up over sin is actually a form of pride, not true humility. Genuine humility does not lead to self-condemnation, and the ability to receive grace from God is not due to being inherently better than others.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 1m
The speaker addresses the common excuse of 'old habits' when struggling with sin, emphasizing that sin is never something to be shrugged off. True humility allows a person to overcome ingrained patterns, regardless of their background or upbringing. By embracing grace, believers are empowered to overcome sin in every situation.
59sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 59s
The devil rarely confronts Christians with loud accusations; instead, he operates through subtle whispers, most notably the whisper of pride. These whispers encourage self-praise regarding one's good deeds, knowledge, or achievements. The core message is to actively resist these subtle temptations and shut out the whispers of pride.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 1m
The central message is that our love for God must originate from Him, not from our own efforts, as human love is temporary. To cultivate eternal love for Christ, one must open their heart to the Holy Spirit, allowing God's love to be poured within. Ultimately, choosing this divine love requires the free will to humble oneself.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 1m
The speaker uses the analogy of gravity to illustrate that spiritual principles, like the law of humility, operate without regard to past performance. Just as gravity will act regardless of how long you've been careful, spiritual laws will take effect when the opportunity arises. The core message is that spiritual discipline is not based on past success but on present adherence to truth.
59sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 23, 2025 · 59s
The speaker asserts that the primary obstacle preventing spiritual growth and Christ-likeness is pride. He shares a personal testimony where the Holy Spirit directly confronted him, revealing that his excuses for lack of discipline in various areas were rooted in pride. True humility, the speaker concludes, is the key that unlocks the ability to become more like Christ.
54sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 22, 2025 · 54s
The speaker warns against basing one's self-worth or spiritual standing on the approval of others, such as church members or elders. True value comes solely from God's opinion, which is determined by one's level of humility. Therefore, external validation from any source is meaningless compared to God's view.
1m 1sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 22, 2025 · 1m 1s
True love, whether for a spouse, family, or church members, must originate from humility to be considered the love of the Kingdom of Heaven. The speaker warns that any love not rooted in humility is a counterfeit. Ultimately, the love characteristic of the Kingdom of Heaven is reserved only for those who are poor in spirit.
59sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 22, 2025 · 59s
The speaker emphasizes that the Christian life is not a series of complex steps but hinges on one core virtue: humility. Humility is presented as the single key that unlocks the ability to achieve other spiritual victories, such as patience, love, kindness, and control over anger. The message concludes by referencing the Beatitudes, stating that the poor in spirit are blessed because they possess this key.
1m 1sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 18, 2025 · 1m 1s
The speaker addresses the common cycle where Christians rely on God's grace after failure, only to then boast in their own strength, leading to further falls. The core message is that true strength is found by remaining in a state of acknowledged weakness, thereby depending completely on God's grace. This concept is illustrated by Paul's testimony regarding what he chooses to boast about.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Apr 14, 2025 · 58m
The speaker emphasizes the critical need for genuine spiritual preparation, urging the congregation to lay down pride and lukewarmness to invite the Holy Spirit's revival. Drawing from Paul's declaration of being the worst of sinners, the message cautions against speaking such profound spiritual claims lightly, suggesting that true humility requires a deep, God-given realization of one's own sinfulness relative to others. Ultimately, the core message is to approach God with a profound and honest sense of sin.
1m 1sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 16, 2025 · 1m 1s
The speaker advises Christians to examine their motives when serving others, warning against the 'solish' tendency to volunteer for help merely to gain reputation or satisfaction. True service must be examined by the Word of God to ensure the motivation is pure and not self-serving.
1h 7mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Mar 3, 2025 · 1h 7m
The sermon emphasizes that true Christian life hinges on humility, which is presented as the master key to everything. The speaker encourages the congregation to use the Word of God like a mirror to honestly examine their hearts, rather than seeking mere praise or information. Ultimately, the goal of spiritual examination is not condemnation, but to foster a desire to be saved by Christ, which begins with recognizing one's need for grace.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 20, 2025 · 1m
Jesus never sought the approval of others because he knew what was in man and did not need external testimony. The message warns that constantly seeking approval from friends or the world is a fruitless chase that never brings satisfaction. Ultimately, one must decide to stop seeking external validation.
50sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 20, 2025 · 50s
The central message is that Jesus did not seek personal reputation or try to impress others. The speaker emphasizes that 'made himself of no reputation' means Jesus did not want people to think highly of him. The teaching advises believers not to focus on self-impression, even when succeeding in areas like academics or sports.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 18, 2025 · 1m
The message emphasizes that marital conflict is not a battle between spouses, but rather a struggle against oneself. Trying to prove the other person wrong ultimately harms the self, regardless of who 'wins' the argument. True victory is found in self-control and submission, as illustrated by the principle of loving one's own spouse as one's own body.
55mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jan 12, 2025 · 55m
The speaker encourages the congregation to remain humble and small in their own thoughts, trusting that God can multiply blessings through such humility, referencing the story of the loaves and fishes. He strongly urges everyone to take the available resources, especially the Bible reading plans, seriously, emphasizing that knowing God's Word is vital for spiritual growth and preparation for Christ's return.
58sRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 15, 2024 · 58s
The message highlights the connection between humility and praise, referencing Psalm 34:2. It contrasts the behavior of the proud, who merely watch others perform, with the humble, who genuinely boast in the Lord. True praise comes from a humble heart that desires to exalt God, not from mere performance.
24mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Sep 13, 2024 · 24m
The speaker emphasizes that God often uses small, unimpressive things and people for His greatest blessings, contrasting this with the worldly desire for massive growth. He draws parallels from scripture, noting that God chose to hide treasure in earthen vessels and that Jesus's ministry was outwardly ordinary. The core message is to remain humble and small in our own eyes, trusting that God's glory is not blocked by outward appearances or size.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 30, 2024 · 1m
True humility is not thinking less about oneself, but rather thinking about oneself less because the self has been spiritually dead and buried. The speaker emphasizes that this shift involves allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, replacing self-focus with a focus on Christ. This process mirrors what baptism represents: a death to the old self.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 28, 2024 · 1m
The speaker emphasizes that true humility is evidenced by a person's freedom from anxiety and worry. He quotes 1 Peter 5:7, advising believers to cast all their cares on God, noting that the ability to do so indicates a humble heart. If one struggles to cast away anxiety, it suggests a lack of humility.