Library
25 messages
30mZac Poonen · Mar 26
29mZac Poonen · May 4
1h 19mZac Poonen · Aug 27
1h 5mZac Poonen · Aug 26
1h 5mZac Poonen · Apr 9
1h 14mZac Poonen · Apr 26
1h 8mZac Poonen · Apr 26
1h 54mZac Poonen · Apr 18
24mZac Poonen · Mar 9
1h 25mZac Poonen · Aug 29
1h 3mZac Poonen · Aug 29
15mZac Poonen · Jul 29
1h 26mZac Poonen · Jul 26
1h 3mZac Poonen · Jun 6
47mZac Poonen · Apr 27
27mZac Poonen · Apr 4
1h 1mZac Poonen · Jun 4
49mZac Poonen · Jun 4
56mZac Poonen · Apr 9
44mZac Poonen · Apr 8
49mZac Poonen · Sep 12
52mZac Poonen · Aug 14
54mZac Poonen · Jun 12
1h 3mZac Poonen · Apr 16
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.
30mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 26, 2026 · 30m
The central message is that spiritual growth and receiving God's answers require persistence and patience in prayer, not just immediate action. The speaker uses examples from Elijah—both in stopping the drought and calling for rain—to illustrate that God often requires prolonged, earnest prayer before a breakthrough occurs. He urges listeners to study scripture diligently by comparing passages to understand God's pattern of requiring perseverance.
29mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · May 4, 2025 · 29m
The central message is that the greatest aspect of the Christian life is experiencing the tangible, daily presence of Christ, which is facilitated by the Holy Spirit. The speaker warns against confusing the Spirit's work with mere outward signs, emphasizing that true presence prevents sin and leads to genuine obedience. He urges listeners to pray for the Holy Spirit to make Christ's presence real, both in worship and in daily life, allowing the Scriptures to burn the heart rather than just the mind.
1h 19mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 27, 2024 · 1h 19m
The speaker emphasizes the vital role of prayer, comparing the church to a body where prayer provides unseen strength for those who speak. He distinguishes between a general preacher and a prophet, noting that true prophetic preaching speaks directly to the specific needs of the group present. The talk concludes by cautioning against believing accounts of visions or supposed trips to heaven, citing scripture to show that such experiences are often unreliable or not permitted to be spoken about.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 26, 2024 · 1h 5m
The speaker advises listeners to start their day by spending time in prayer with God, treating it as a habit, and to sing songs to Jesus. Drawing from Hebrews 8, he emphasizes that knowing God starts with the least, like a child, rather than intellectual prowess. He concludes by encouraging believers to adopt the mindset of a little child—one that simply enjoys God without concern for status or cleverness—to progress deeper into the Kingdom of Heaven.
1h 5mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 9, 2024 · 1h 5m
Jesus demonstrated a pattern of focusing on individuals rather than just large crowds, often being led by the Father in his actions. The speaker emphasizes that true Christian service requires obedience and waiting for the Lord's prompting, rather than being driven by personal need or ambition. He encourages developing the daily habit of opening one's heart to hear God's guidance first thing in the morning.
1h 14mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 26, 2023 · 1h 14m
The speaker emphasizes that Christianity is a spiritual faith, not merely an intellectual one, requiring understanding beyond the mind and soul to reach the spirit. True life change comes not from winning arguments, but from surrendering one's will to God's plan through prayer. Furthermore, the speaker advises that sin confession should be made to God and the person wronged, not to another person, and that one must focus solely on Christ rather than being discouraged by the hypocrisy of others.
1h 8mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 26, 2023 · 1h 8m
The speaker emphasizes that men are ordained to take the lead in the church, which requires deep knowledge of God and His Word. He draws from the story of Cornelius to illustrate that God hears sincere prayer, even from non-Christians, provided there is a reverence for God. True prayer is characterized by a constant state of helplessness, not by the quantity of time spent praying, and it should be approached with intimacy, addressing God as 'Abba' in private.
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.
24mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Mar 9, 2023 · 24m
The central message is that raising children is a sacred trust from God, requiring faith from parents, similar to how Moses' parents protected him. The speaker emphasizes that every child is a gift from God, and parents must treat their children as such, recognizing that receiving a child in Jesus' name is equivalent to receiving Christ. Furthermore, while children teach us humility, the process of raising them requires continuous prayer and discipline to overcome sin's nature.
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.
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 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 6, 2020 · 1h 3m
The sermon emphasizes that the cure for worry and anxiety is to seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, which is defined as having righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, when praying, believers must take all concerns to the Lord, making specific requests (supplication) and crucially ending the prayer with thanksgiving. This practice brings the peace of God, which acts as a protective garrison around the heart.
47mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 27, 2020 · 47m
The sermon emphasizes that the entire Bible, including the Old Testament, is inspired by God and should not be ignored. Zac Poonen draws parallels between the persistent faith of the widow in Luke 18 and the necessity of persistent prayer, comparing it to the selfless love shown in Luke 11. He urges the congregation to first recognize a burden for others and then acknowledge their own inability to meet those needs, knowing they must turn to God through persistent prayer.
27mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 4, 2020 · 27m
The sermon emphasizes that true discipleship requires more than just hearing God's word; one must actively obey it, or they build on sand. Specifically regarding prayer, the speaker warns against praying for public recognition (hypocrisy) and stresses the importance of praying in private, in one's 'inner room' with God. Sincerity and genuine connection with the Father are more valuable than elaborate or ritualistic prayers.
1h 1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 4, 2019 · 1h 1m
The speaker emphasizes the necessity of learning to listen to God's promptings, comparing it to the dependence of small children on their parents. He warns that worldly distractions, like excessive media consumption, can drown out God's voice, urging listeners to keep world awareness in proper perspective. The sermon concludes by addressing theological questions, asserting that only God Almighty could die for humanity's sins and that baptism must correctly name the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 4, 2019 · 49m
The speaker emphasizes that prayer is not merely a ritual but a persistent communication with God, drawing lessons from parables about persistence. He argues that the proper way to pray, as taught by Jesus, is to center the focus on God's glory, kingdom, and will first, rather than immediately listing personal needs. True prayer involves seeking God's will, which ultimately leads to a life lived in alignment with God's glory.
56mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 9, 2019 · 56m
The speaker emphasizes the responsibility to pray for unconverted family members, both vertically (parents and children) and horizontally (siblings). He stresses consistency in prayer, citing examples like George Mueller, and advises that while the Old Covenant laws are superseded by the New Covenant, believers should claim promises found in the Psalms and later chapters of Isaiah. Finally, he redefines 'fear of the Lord' as 'reverence'—the fear of offending God—and notes that right judgment is developed by meditating on and obeying Scripture until one begins to think like Christ.
44mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 8, 2019 · 44m
The speaker discusses the nature of genuine spiritual questioning, advising that questions should relate to life and God's will rather than mere theoretical knowledge. He addresses the concept of free will, affirming that God does not take it away, and outlines the primary evidence of being born again: a desire to pray (breathing) and a longing to hear God's Word. Finally, he discusses church divisions, noting that true overcomers sense the Lord's departure and may start a new, pure church.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Sep 12, 2018 · 49m
The central message is that God promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ, not necessarily everything we want. To receive wisdom or overcome sin, one must approach God with humility, acknowledging their lack of ability, and asking in faith. The speaker emphasizes that God gives generously and never scolds, encouraging reliance on His promises during trials.
52mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Aug 14, 2018 · 52m
Effective prayer involves not only speaking to God but also developing the habit of deep listening, as God's line is always open unless sin is present. The speaker emphasizes praying without ceasing, which includes listening for God's guidance throughout the day, not just on one's knees. Furthermore, one must pray authentically, avoiding the trap of praying to impress others, and instead focus on being conscious of Jesus' presence.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Jun 12, 2017 · 54m
Jesus taught that believers ought to pray at all times, a practice likened to breathing, meaning prayer must be continuous throughout daily life. Furthermore, the speaker emphasizes that prayer must be done in secret, as Jesus warned against praying publicly merely to impress others. True change comes from self-examination after praying in public, which allows one to gradually break free from the need for external validation.
1h 3mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Zac Poonen · Apr 16, 2012 · 1h 3m
The central message is that being filled with the Holy Spirit is essential for overcoming temptation, drawing parallels to Jesus's temptation in the wilderness. The speaker strongly advises believers to seek this filling personally through prayer rather than relying on external ceremonies or the laying on of hands. He emphasizes that this empowerment is necessary for bold witness and fulfilling God's calling.