Library
73 messages
1h 36mZac Poonen · Apr 9
1h 14mZac Poonen · Aug 7
1h 2mZac Poonen · Jun 22
51mZac Poonen · May 5
42mZac Poonen · Nov 7
1h 7mZac Poonen · Aug 27
1h 15mZac Poonen · Aug 27
57mZac Poonen · Aug 26
1h 2mZac Poonen · Jul 18
1h 2mZac Poonen · Apr 9
56mZac Poonen · Nov 2
1h 19mZac Poonen · Oct 22
1h 11mZac Poonen · Oct 21
52mZac Poonen · Oct 17
48mZac Poonen · Oct 4
1h 28mZac Poonen · Sep 28
1h 14mZac Poonen · Sep 28
47mZac Poonen · Sep 18
1h 4mZac Poonen · May 1
1h 0mZac Poonen · Apr 17
51mZac Poonen · Apr 10
1h 4mZac Poonen · Mar 9
54mZac Poonen · Mar 9
1h 7mZac Poonen · Mar 9
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.
1h 36mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 9, 2026 · 1h 36m
The speaker addresses questions regarding forgiveness, emphasizing that true forgiveness stems from recognizing the immense forgiveness received from God, citing the parable of the unforgiving servant. He also advises that when facing anxiety about job security due to AI, one should focus on seeking God's kingdom first, trusting that God will provide for needs, much like He cares for birds and lilies. Finally, regarding a child feeling unwelcome at church, he advises patience and focusing on the spiritual health of the church rather than the immediate social acceptance of the child.
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.
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.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 5, 2025 · 51m
The central message is that pleasing God requires only faith, which is simply believing that the Creator loves us unconditionally, regardless of our imperfections. The speaker uses the analogy of earthly parents' unconditional love to contrast with the overwhelming goodness of God. He emphasizes that God's love is so profound that even our best efforts pale in comparison, leading to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
42mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Nov 7, 2024 · 42m
The central message emphasizes that unbelief is a sin, not merely a weakness, especially for believers who have received the Holy Spirit. True faith involves trusting that God controls all circumstances and that no trial will exceed our ability, citing 1 Corinthians 10:13. The speaker also stresses the need for faith in God's complete forgiveness and His promise not to hold our sins against us, contrasting this with the tendency to dwell on past failures.
1h 7mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 27, 2024 · 1h 7m
The sermon emphasizes that the Christian life requires following Jesus on the narrow way, drawing parallels between the journey to find a bride and the spiritual journey toward Christ. The speaker urges listeners to fix their eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfecter of our faith, recognizing that enduring the cross and daily self-denial is superior to any earthly miracle. True discipleship means having an unwavering focus on Christ's glory rather than the difficulties of the journey.
1h 15mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 27, 2024 · 1h 15m
The speaker discusses developing faith, emphasizing that it comes from hearing and meditating on God's Word, particularly the New Testament. He advises starting with simple faith in Christ's forgiveness and warns against seeking great things in faith before mastering the small things. Regarding sin, he affirms that overcoming specific sins is possible through the Holy Spirit's help and persistent effort, contrasting this with being a mere robot by emphasizing the value of free will and genuine love.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 26, 2024 · 57m
The speaker encourages the audience to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus by becoming consciously aware of His presence in daily activities, such as singing. He emphasizes that this requires persistent practice, drawing parallels between developing awareness in worship and understanding the core gospel message from Acts 2. Ultimately, the message points to dwelling in God's presence, which the speaker asserts is the source of fullness of joy, contrasting it with a 'subnormal' Christian life.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jul 18, 2024 · 1h 2m
The speaker emphasizes that true faith is not merely intellectual belief but a complete, helpless dependence upon God, likened to a branch remaining attached to a tree. Overcoming the world requires confidence in three things: God's unconditional love, His almighty power, and His perfect wisdom. Furthermore, faith must be outwardly expressed, as believing in the heart must be confessed with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 9, 2024 · 1h 2m
The speaker critiques the hypocrisy in religious practice, arguing that outward displays of piety, like singing or worship, are meaningless without genuine heart conviction. He urges listeners to direct their praise and devotion solely to Jesus Christ, recognizing Him as the most important presence in any gathering. True faith requires a heart-felt commitment that transcends performance, as God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Nov 2, 2023 · 56m
The sermon uses Jeremiah 17:7-8 to illustrate that true strength and blessing come from trusting in the Lord, symbolized by a tree planted by water. The speaker emphasizes that this 'water' represents the Holy Spirit, which must be sought deeply and persistently, even when spiritual life feels dry. The core message is a challenge to believers to move beyond mere attendance to cultivate a deep, unseen root system connected to the Holy Spirit to maintain constant freshness and fruitfulness.
1h 19mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 22, 2023 · 1h 19m
The speaker addresses common concerns regarding spiritual growth, emphasizing that struggling to naturally read the Bible or pray is normal for new believers, comparing it to the effort needed to teach children good habits. He stresses that maintaining a clear conscience, reading scripture, and praying are vital aspects of a serious Christian life. Regarding assurance of salvation, he advises believers to root their faith in God's Word and seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, noting that belief in scripture and the Spirit are key components.
1h 11mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 21, 2023 · 1h 11m
The speaker emphasizes that God values discipleship and genuine faith over mere numbers or spectacular physical experiences. Drawing from John 20, he highlights that believing the word, even without seeing Jesus, is more blessed than seeing him face-to-face. True faith, he argues, comes by hearing and believing the word of Christ, which is more reliable than what the eyes can deceive us about.
52mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 17, 2023 · 52m
The central message is that pleasing God requires living by faith, not by what our senses perceive. Faith is not merely intellectual assent but comes by hearing God's Word, specifically by allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to the heart while reading the New Testament. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of making daily time to read the Bible and to act on what the Spirit reveals through the Word.
48mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 4, 2023 · 48m
The sermon emphasizes that God desires trust during times of trouble, referencing Psalm 50 which teaches that calling upon Him in difficulty is more important than sacrifices. Furthermore, the speaker stresses that enduring unjust suffering patiently brings favor with God, drawing assurance from Jesus' teachings that God cares for every individual, comparing humanity's value to sparrows and the hairs on our heads.
1h 28mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 28, 2023 · 1h 28m
The speaker advises parents to diligently teach their children obedience, respect for elders, and the fear of God. Regarding the Holy Spirit, he emphasizes that the qualification for receiving the Spirit is genuine thirst and faith, not perfection or external experiences. True desire should be to glorify God in one's life, rather than seeking power for public testimony.
1h 14mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 28, 2023 · 1h 14m
The speaker emphasizes that true faith requires both believing in the heart and confessing with the mouth, citing Romans 10:8. He stresses that confession is vital for assurance of salvation and that the strength of faith grows through speaking what is believed. The sermon then begins detailing eight truths believers must confess to maintain a strong Christian life, starting with the belief in God the Father's love.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 18, 2023 · 47m
The speaker distinguishes between 'mercy,' which covers past sins, and 'grace,' which provides help for future situations. He emphasizes that God gives grace specifically to the humble, citing passages from Proverbs, James, and 1 Peter. The message concludes by discussing how God allows persistent struggles, like Paul's 'thorn in the flesh,' not to punish, but to strengthen faith through persistent prayer and trust in God's unseen plan.
1h 4mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 1, 2023 · 1h 4m
The sermon warns that the greatest danger to a church is the loss of first love for Christ, which outweighs all other good works or doctrinal correctness. Drawing from Revelation 2, the speaker emphasizes that true spiritual vitality comes from a personal, fervent devotion to the Lord, not merely from outward activities or organizational success. If this personal devotion fades, the church risks losing the Lord's presence, regardless of its structure or adherence to doctrine.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 17, 2023 · 1h 0m
The sermon contrasts the miracles of the Old Testament with the superior provision found in Jesus Christ. The speaker argues that while Old Testament miracles were external and did not change inner lives, following Jesus—the author and perfecter of faith—is far better. The secret to the Christian life is keeping one's eyes fixed on Jesus, especially remembering what he endured on the cross, which defeated Satan.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 10, 2023 · 51m
The speaker argues that many Christians mistakenly focus on minor commandments, much like the Pharisees who focused on Sabbath laws rather than the core requirement. He emphasizes that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and might, as this love makes keeping all other commandments manageable. Furthermore, he strongly advises that a true measure of love for God is reading through the entire Bible at least once.
1h 4mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2023 · 1h 4m
The speaker contrasts Old Testament faith, which focused on material victories, with New Testament faith, which requires giving thanks even when circumstances haven't changed. True spiritual growth requires not only godliness but also contentment, which means accepting the boundaries God sets for our lives, including our finances. By submitting totally to God and living contentedly, believers can resist the devil and find freedom from discouragement and debt.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2023 · 54m
The speaker emphasizes that effective ministry requires humility, urging believers not to elevate themselves over others. A core message is that genuine faith is built by studying God's Word, as man cannot live by bread alone. Furthermore, he draws a critical distinction between falling into sin and having faith fail, asserting that the failure of faith is the more serious spiritual danger.
1h 7mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2023 · 1h 7m
True faith is not merely intellectual agreement with facts, but a deep, experiential reality that allows one to think and view life from a heavenly, God-centered perspective. The speaker emphasizes that this heavenly mindset is received through the Holy Spirit, contrasting it with the limited, earthly concerns often seen in believers' attitudes toward money and material things. To possess this faith means living in a way that reflects Christ's mindset, even in daily life.