Library
864 messages
53mSantosh Poonen · Feb 21
54mSantosh Poonen · Feb 17
49mSantosh Poonen · Feb 3
53mSantosh Poonen · Jan 20
59mSantosh Poonen · Jan 7
54mSantosh Poonen · Dec 30
57mSantosh Poonen · Dec 2
1h 1mSantosh Poonen · Nov 18
51mSantosh Poonen · Nov 4
49mSantosh Poonen · Oct 21
50mSantosh Poonen · Oct 9
51mSantosh Poonen · Sep 22
59mSantosh Poonen · Sep 2
54mSantosh Poonen · Aug 26
51mSantosh Poonen · Aug 15
55mSantosh Poonen · Aug 14
1h 0mSantosh Poonen · Aug 10
48mSantosh Poonen · Aug 8
1h 0mSantosh Poonen · Jul 10
40mSantosh Poonen · Jul 3
49mSantosh Poonen · Jun 9
42mSantosh Poonen · May 27
45mSantosh Poonen · May 14
41mSantosh Poonen · May 6
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.
53mCFC India
Santosh Poonen · Feb 21, 2014 · 53m
The central message is that faith is fundamentally a dependence on God, which is described as a mystery that cannot be grasped by logic or science. The speaker emphasizes that without faith, it is impossible to please God, making it the most crucial element for a Christian life. He uses the analogy of rock climbing to illustrate that faith is knowing who and what one has anchored to, regardless of the falls or struggles encountered.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 17, 2014 · 54m
The central mark of true Christianity is demonstrated by loving one's enemies and praying for those who persecute us. This goes beyond merely loving friends or those within one's own group, distinguishing true followers of God from others. The speaker emphasizes that this radical love is the defining characteristic that proves one is a son of the Father in heaven.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Feb 3, 2014 · 49m
The central message is that true understanding and seeing God come from a pure heart, defined as having an unadulterated devotion to Jesus, rather than mere religious performance. The speaker contrasts this with the superficial piety of the Pharisees and uses Psalm 73 to illustrate that envy of others' prosperity and comparing oneself to others are signs that one has not yet truly seen God. Ultimately, seeing God requires a divine revelation that surpasses human effort or knowledge.
53mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jan 20, 2014 · 53m
The speaker advises that true prayer life should be private, occurring in one's inner room, rather than being performed publicly for show. While planned prayer meetings are beneficial, the core of our spiritual life must be a secret devotion to God. He warns against being deceived by false teachings or 'another Jesus' that might offer a false sense of righteousness, emphasizing that true righteousness comes only through faith in the true Jesus Christ.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jan 7, 2014 · 59m
The speaker urges the congregation to live life to the fullest, not according to worldly standards of achievement, but in the fullness of God's will, referencing Ephesians. He emphasizes that true spiritual growth involves examining one's life to ensure increasing oneness and unity with fellow believers, which is a process that requires effort and working through conflict. Ultimately, the goal is to experience the 'glory' of unity and submission to one another in love.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Dec 30, 2013 · 54m
The speaker encourages a deep, active desire for God's word and presence, moving beyond merely hearing sermons to cultivating a daily, intimate walk with the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that achieving spiritual goals, such as obeying every New Covenant command and experiencing every promise, requires taking consistent, daily steps of obedience rather than waiting for a distant future. These daily choices are crucial because neglecting them allows sin and distraction to derail spiritual progress.
57mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Dec 2, 2013 · 57m
The central message is that true meekness is not weakness or passivity, but rather the process of taming the wild, uncontrolled spirit within us. Drawing parallels to taming a powerful wild animal, the speaker argues that meekness, which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, does not diminish our strength but channels our power for God's kingdom. This understanding shifts our perspective away from worldly definitions of meekness.
1h 1mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 18, 2013 · 1h 1m
The message emphasizes that true spiritual understanding requires deep study of scripture, comparing the need to understand spiritual meaning to looking up words in a dictionary. The core focus is on Jesus' profound value for fellowship with the Father, which he feared losing even more than physical death. The speaker urges listeners to value this relationship above all else, recognizing that sin breaks this fellowship.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Nov 4, 2013 · 51m
The speaker argues that while the preaching of the cross is vital, many Christians mistake worldly or emotional happiness for true joy. He distinguishes between this fleeting, imitative joy and the deep, sustaining joy of the Lord, which he asserts is the source of true strength. Drawing from Nehemiah 8:10, he emphasizes that this divine joy empowers believers to remain strong even amidst trials and difficulties.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Oct 21, 2013 · 49m
Jesus taught that entering the Kingdom of Heaven requires passing through the narrow gate, which is not merely about hearing His teachings but about actively doing the will of the Father. The speaker emphasizes that mere knowledge or performance (like miracles or prophecy) is insufficient; true discipleship is proven by one's daily obedience in private life. Ultimately, the wise person is the one who hears Jesus' words and acts upon them, while the foolish person fails to do so.
50mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Oct 9, 2013 · 50m
The message contrasts the true disciples who immediately left everything to follow Jesus with the great multitude who followed outwardly. The speaker emphasizes that true discipleship requires a complete abandonment of one's current life, possessions, and agendas, unlike those who merely bring their 'baggage' and ideas to church. This distinction is crucial for understanding genuine commitment to Christ.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Sep 22, 2013 · 51m
The speaker discusses discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit from natural instincts, warning that the greatest deception is often the knowledge of good and evil, which can lead to sin. He emphasizes that knowing God's Word is the only sure way to discern divine guidance. The message concludes by applying the concept of the 'great light' to the modern believer, calling everyone to be the light of the world by focusing on Christ's life and ministry, which was intentionally limited geographically.
59mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Sep 2, 2013 · 59m
The message discusses the ongoing spiritual battle between God and the devil, referencing Revelation 12:9 where the devil is cast down as the 'serpent of old.' The speaker emphasizes that following Christ makes one the enemy of the devil, and God uses wilderness experiences to prove His power in believers. Understanding the devil's tactics, as revealed in scripture, is crucial for believers to avoid spiritual pitfalls.
54mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 26, 2013 · 54m
The speaker discusses the nature of family, asserting that its strength is determined by love, not by numbers. He then transitions to studying the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 3-4, using this as a model to show how the devil operates. The core message is that understanding the devil's tactics, as revealed in scripture, allows believers to be aware of the traps they must avoid in their spiritual lives.
51mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 15, 2013 · 51m
The speaker encourages the audience to live with complete abandon to God, drawing parallels between military service and spiritual surrender. He emphasizes that true Christian life means giving oneself entirely to God, surpassing the concern for reputation, looks, or what others think. The message is reinforced by quoting 2 Timothy 2:11-13, urging the listeners to commit fully to Christ.
55mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 14, 2013 · 55m
The central message is that believers must be actively integrated into the local body of Christ, rather than merely attending services. The speaker emphasizes that building the church is not solely the responsibility of gifted leaders, but rather the calling of every 'saint' or chosen one. Jesus' primary motivation for coming to earth, according to the speaker, was not just compassion, but to demonstrate His love for the Father and the world.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 10, 2013 · 1h 0m
The core message emphasizes that Christian life involves passing on truth to others, not just receiving it personally. Drawing from 2 Timothy 2, the speaker stresses that believers must be strong with Christ's strength to teach others and pass on these truths to trustworthy disciples. Furthermore, he aims to dismantle the false notion that only paid ministers build the church, asserting that every member is equally responsible for the body of Christ.
48mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Aug 8, 2013 · 48m
The speaker emphasizes that all Scripture is divinely inspired and purposeful, urging the audience not to be distracted by worldly standards of what is 'captivating.' He stresses the importance of obeying every command and experiencing every promise in the New Covenant, regardless of how small it seems. Ultimately, the message is that God often reveals Himself in the unappealing or overlooked aspects of life, warning against passing by God because of superficial judgment.
1h 0mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 10, 2013 · 1h 0m
The speaker emphasizes that true salvation is far more than just the forgiveness of sins; it is a profound, ongoing transformation. He stresses that salvation is a personal relationship with Jesus, a secret work of the Holy Spirit, and a process perfected through suffering and learning obedience, mirroring Christ's own experience. He concludes by addressing the complex theological debate regarding the loss of salvation, indicating it is a necessary topic to discuss.
40mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jul 3, 2013 · 40m
The speaker emphasizes that salvation is secured by calling upon Jesus' name, which is the promise of deliverance from sin. He urges listeners to recognize the spiritual promises God has given them, warning against accepting false teachings or 'bad checks' from others. Drawing from the perspective of a man on death row, the message pivots to the urgency of recognizing that 'this world is on death row,' urging believers to live with the awareness that their time is limited and should be spent investing in God's kingdom.
49mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · Jun 9, 2013 · 49m
The speaker expands on the concept of salvation, arguing it is not merely forgiveness or a starting point, but rather a continuous process. He emphasizes that salvation is fundamentally about accepting Jesus Christ as one's husband and that this transformation is a secret work of the Holy Spirit within the believer. The discussion uses the story of Zacchaeus to illustrate that genuine change, marked by a changed heart, is what matters most.
42mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 27, 2013 · 42m
The speaker begins by reflecting on the daily sustenance of the Israelites from manna, emphasizing the need for daily spiritual refreshment from God's Word. He then pivots to discussing the profound meaning of salvation, prompted by a child's question. The core message is that salvation is not merely an intellectual concept but a complete freeing provided by Jesus Christ, which the devil actively tries to steal from believers through distraction and minimizing God's provision.
45mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 14, 2013 · 45m
The speaker discusses the 'Pathway to the Promise,' emphasizing that fulfilling God's promise requires a daily commitment to repentance, moving away from the flesh, eyes, and pride. Following repentance, the next crucial step is developing a personal faith—one that trusts God's provision in current, sometimes unglamorous, circumstances rather than expecting a perfect outcome. He uses the example of Ruth to illustrate God's faithfulness.
41mRiver of Life Christian Fellowship
Santosh Poonen · May 6, 2013 · 41m
The speaker advises that true spiritual blessing comes not from impressive oratory skills, but from seeking the narrow way that leads to eternal life. He contrasts the world's desire for stimulating intellectual or emotional experiences with the transformative power found in the 'foolishness of the message of the cross.' Ultimately, the goal of Christian life and preaching should be transformation through discipleship, not mere entertainment.