Library
54 messages
1h 16mZac Poonen · Apr 22
51mZac Poonen · Apr 22
47mZac Poonen · Apr 22
49mZac Poonen · Apr 22
46mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 0mZac Poonen · Aug 11
1h 8mZac Poonen · May 15
57mZac Poonen · May 8
1h 2mZac Poonen · Apr 28
1h 22mZac Poonen · Apr 25
1h 14mZac Poonen · Apr 25
56mZac Poonen · Apr 25
55mZac Poonen · Apr 3
54mZac Poonen · Dec 5
56mZac Poonen · Oct 3
1h 12mZac Poonen · Sep 26
1mZac Poonen · Jun 5
1h 2mZac Poonen · Apr 9
54mZac Poonen · Oct 9
1h 29mZac Poonen · Jun 20
1h 3mZac Poonen · Apr 26
1h 54mZac Poonen · Apr 18
58mZac Poonen · Mar 9
1h 16mZac Poonen · Sep 14
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 16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 22, 2026 · 1h 16m
The speaker emphasizes that Christians must cultivate genuine joy, which stems not from outward appearance but from an inner conviction of forgiveness. He stresses that true happiness comes from having nothing held against any person, urging the audience to practice radical forgiveness, mirroring Jesus' prayer on the cross. This process of forgiving others is presented as essential for one's own spiritual growth and reconciliation with God.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 22, 2026 · 51m
The speaker emphasizes that the true measure of a church is not its size, but whether it is gathered by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus. He recounts his own experience leaving a Baptist church and starting a new work with his wife, stressing that the focus must be on holiness and a right relationship with God rather than institutional affiliation or money. The message calls for a crucial decision regarding adherence to the Spirit's guidance over established doctrine.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 22, 2026 · 47m
The speaker emphasizes that diligent Bible study is crucial because it reveals how God wants us to live, not just how to solve our problems. He teaches that the 'great mystery of godliness' is found in Christ coming in the flesh, which signifies that true holiness is not merely avoiding sin, but completely yielding one's self-will to God's will, as exemplified by Jesus in Gethsemane. This surrender of self-will is the essence of a holy life.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 22, 2026 · 49m
The speaker draws from Ezekiel 22 to emphasize the need for a man willing to build a 'wall of separation' between the church and the world. He argues that the defining characteristic that separates humanity from animals is the conscience, which is given by the Spirit. Therefore, to be a man God desires, one must prioritize guarding their conscience above their mind or body, warning against treating the cleansing power of Christ's blood casually.
46mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 46m
The central message is to emulate the character of Jesus Christ, particularly by learning from the innocence and humility of a child. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian living involves shedding adult pride, forgiving easily, and consistently obeying parents and God. He encourages the audience to strive for holiness, mirroring Jesus' perfect example in all aspects of life.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 11, 2025 · 1h 0m
The speaker emphasizes that the New Covenant requires more than just forgiveness; it demands a progressive transformation into Christlikeness, likened to the sun rising brighter until noon. He contrasts mere forgiveness (the 'gate') with true salvation (the 'way'), arguing that a Christian's life must show continuous, visible growth in overcoming sin, not just repeated instances of being forgiven. The ultimate goal is to become fully Christ-like, which is best observed by one's spouse and family.
1h 8mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 15, 2025 · 1h 8m
The sermon explains that true worship, as described in Romans 12:1, involves presenting one's entire body as a living and holy sacrifice, which is worship in the spirit and truth. Drawing parallels to the Old Testament burnt offering, the speaker argues that this requires a deep, tangible dedication of one's life, going beyond mere emotion or intellect. Ultimately, worshiping in the spirit means offering every part of oneself—including one's senses and thoughts—to God's will.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 8, 2025 · 57m
The central message is that godliness is a means of great gain only when accompanied by contentment. Contentment means being joyful and accepting everything God has allowed in one's life, recognizing that God has established boundaries for all things, including human limitations. The speaker uses the Book of Job and the natural order of creation to illustrate that accepting God's established boundaries leads to a godly life.
1h 2mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 28, 2025 · 1h 2m
The speaker interprets Psalm 50 to teach that true godliness is demonstrated by making a covenant with God through personal sacrifice, not merely by giving offerings. Using the example of Cain and Abel, he argues that Abel's offering was accepted because he gave his very best, while Cain only gave what was easily available. Ultimately, God desires an offering of one's life and time, not just money, and this dedication is what truly draws God's favor.
1h 22mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 25, 2025 · 1h 22m
The Christian life requires constant dependence on God, moving beyond mere intellectual understanding or shallow emotionalism. The speaker uses the analogy of the tabernacle, where passing through the curtain into the most holy place symbolizes moving from the soul to the spirit. True spirituality is achieved by crucifying one's self-will and yielding to the will of the Father, which allows one to dwell in God's presence, leading to fullness of joy.
1h 14mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 25, 2025 · 1h 14m
The central message is that Christian living must be characterized by living according to God's will, following the pattern of 'from God, through God, to God.' Jesus exemplified this by living his entire life to fulfill the Father's will, which required him to be fully connected to the human race. Practically, this means that every aspect of life, including eating and drinking, must be done for the glory of God, requiring constant dependence on the Holy Spirit and self-discipline.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 25, 2025 · 56m
The central message is that true godliness is revealed in Christ and is characterized by contentment. The speaker warns against using godliness as a means for financial gain, emphasizing that genuine godliness leads to a profound contentment with one's lot. A key evidence of this contentment is the ability to always give thanks, which is presented as a promise associated with being filled with the Holy Spirit.
55mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 3, 2025 · 55m
The speaker argues that true spiritual maturity is not measured by knowledge, gifted speaking, or even church attendance, but by a deep, Christ-like inner transformation. He contrasts the Corinthians, who were gifted but spiritually immature, with the calling to be holy and blameless in God's sight, which predates creation. The central message is that maturity involves a thorough, internal alignment of one's entire being with Christ, rather than merely focusing on post-death salvation.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Dec 5, 2024 · 54m
The central message emphasizes that true spiritual growth comes not merely from reading the Bible, but from meditating on it day and night, as described in Psalm 1. Meditation is likened to digesting food, making the spiritual nourishment effective. Furthermore, the speaker advises believers to remain away from sin and the counsel of the wicked to cultivate this deep, consistent engagement with scripture.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 3, 2024 · 56m
The central message is that true godliness, as taught in 1 Timothy 6, is only a means to great gain when it is accompanied by contentment. The speaker emphasizes that discontentment—whether regarding finances, gifts, circumstances, or even a spouse—renders godliness counterfeit. Contentment means praising God for what He has provided in the present moment, recognizing that perfection is only attainable at Christ's return.
1h 12mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 26, 2024 · 1h 12m
The speaker addresses the danger of self-condemnation, emphasizing that believers in Christ are not condemned, even when struggling with sin. He advises believers to confess sins immediately, calling them by their worst name, and to maintain a ruthless honesty in their walk with God. The discussion also covers sexual purity, citing Jesus' warning that lusting with the eyes or sinning with the hand can lead to hell, stressing that purity requires guarding the mind.
1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 5, 2024 · 1m
The speaker emphasizes that sin, even seemingly small sins, must be taken with extreme seriousness because the stakes are eternal life or death. He uses the analogy of germs in surgery to illustrate how unseen, small things can have deadly consequences, drawing a parallel to the spiritual danger of sin. This underscores the need for high standards within the church.
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.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Oct 9, 2023 · 54m
The speaker warns against greed and materialism, referencing Jesus' teaching on not worrying about possessions, and emphasizes that life is more than material goods. He stresses the importance of having reverence for God, comparing it to respecting traffic signals, and advises believers to act immediately on God's guidance, making reverence the beginning of wisdom.
1h 29mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 20, 2023 · 1h 29m
Spiritual progress is fundamentally measured by the growth in love—specifically, love for Christ, love for fellow believers, and love for enemies. The speaker emphasizes that true love must manifest in good works, as mere verbal declarations are empty. Furthermore, genuine discipleship is proven not by how the world perceives us, but by the depth of our love for one another, suggesting that God's family becomes our primary allegiance.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 26, 2023 · 1h 3m
The speaker advises believers to approach worship and scripture study with conscious focus, treating singing and prayer as direct communication with the Lord Jesus. He cautions against meaningless repetition in worship, referencing Matthew 6:7, and emphasizes meditating on scripture rather than just reading it. Furthermore, he corrects a common misunderstanding, pointing out that the New Testament's first promise (Matthew 1:21) is salvation from sin, not from hell, suggesting that Jesus is more accurately described as a forgiver than a savior.
1h 54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 18, 2023 · 1h 54m
Genuine works of God always begin with a burden and prayer, tracing historical examples from Martin Luther's Reformation to John Wesley's emphasis on holiness. The speaker argues that the full purpose of God—encompassing salvation by faith, the Holy Spirit, and a life of holiness—has been repeatedly obscured by corruption and materialism within Christianity. He advocates for a return to authentic, non-worldly Christian living, using his experience in India to illustrate the need to counter the influence of money in church leadership.
58mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2023 · 58m
The central message is that true spiritual maturity involves developing a deep concern for what grieves God, moving beyond mere personal concerns. The speaker emphasizes that a mature Christian's primary concern should be the honor of Christ's name, which is dishonored by the way believers live in their relationships, work, and families. He concludes by urging believers to cultivate a heart sensitive to God's heart, noting that unaddressed relational issues are more concerning to God than minor external disturbances.
1h 16mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 14, 2022 · 1h 16m
The speaker reviews several personal truths learned over 63 years, emphasizing that holiness comes through looking to Jesus, and that the New Covenant is superior to the Old. He explains that the purpose of the law, including the tenth commandment, was not to lead to holiness but merely to act as a mirror, revealing sin and driving people to the Lord through the Holy Spirit.