Zac Poonen

The message emphasizes holding fast to faith until the end by maintaining a sincere longing for God, even when others might judge or discourage. The speaker uses examples like Zacchaeus, the woman caught in adultery, and the thief on the cross to illustrate God's boundless mercy for sinners. Ultimately, achieving a holy life requires not just asking for it, but passionately hunger and thirsting for it, which must then lead to practicing mercy toward others.

The message emphasizes that every Christian must live as a full-time witness for Christ, embodying the characteristics of a servant of the Lord. Key virtues include never being quarrelsome, showing kindness to everyone—especially those who are unkind—and being able to teach what little one knows of Christ. Furthermore, the speaker stresses the importance of patience, mercy, and gentleness when correcting others, recognizing that these acts can lead to repentance and salvation.

The message emphasizes the importance of holding fast in faith and highlights God's boundless mercy, exemplified by Jesus' compassion for sinners like Zacchaeus, the woman caught in adultery, and the thief on the cross. True spiritual progress requires not only a passionate hunger for holiness but also the corresponding virtue of mercy towards others, even those who are far from righteousness.

The core message is that pleasing God requires only faith, which is simply believing that the Creator loves us unconditionally, regardless of our imperfections. The speaker emphasizes that God's love is superior to any earthly love, and we must overcome the tendency to feel condemned by remembering God's boundless goodness. This understanding of God's love is what constitutes true faith.

The central message is a warning against judging or accusing others, drawing parallels between the accuser, Satan, and the tendency to criticize others. The speaker emphasizes that genuine reverence for God leads to self-judgment rather than judging others. He cites scripture to support that true discernment, like that shown by Jesus, looks at the heart and the potential for repentance, not just outward actions.

The central message is a strong admonition against judging others, drawing heavily from James 4 and Matthew 7. The speaker emphasizes that judging belongs only to God, who is the sole judge. Instead of judging, believers are called to be witnesses to Christ's love and to judge themselves, recognizing that everyone is at a different spiritual level or 'grade.' Therefore, we must always assume others are ignorant and extend mercy.

Genuine reverence for God is characterized by a deep respect that influences how we process information, teaching us not to judge by what we merely see or hear. The speaker emphasizes that true reverence, which is linked to the fullness of the Holy Spirit, requires us to recognize the limitations of our own perception and understanding. This principle should guide us in judging others less, trusting that God alone is the ultimate judge.

The speaker uses the example of the dying thief on the cross to illustrate the importance of having a genuine reverence for God. He emphasizes that this reverence, described as the 'fear of the Lord,' is the fundamental basis for all wisdom, comparing it to learning the ABCs before moving to higher studies. He warns that many modern Christians skip this foundational learning, leading to instability, and urges the audience to prioritize learning to respect and revere God.

The central message emphasizes that pleasing God requires only faith—the simple belief that the creator of the universe loves us unconditionally, just as an earthly parent does. The speaker cautions against feeling condemned by high standards of holiness, reminding the audience that God's love is greater than any earthly love. Ultimately, the sermon urges believers to constantly remember God's boundless goodness when compared to their own efforts.

The speaker emphasizes that life itself is a miracle, drawing from Psalm 139 to show that God knew and planned for every detail of our lives before we were born. He stresses that while God forgives past sins, true repentance involves a deep sorrow that motivates one to actively cooperate with God's plan for the remaining years. The message urges listeners to take their relationship with God seriously, lest they waste time through casualness or disobedience.

The speaker emphasizes that Christian growth involves discovering new areas of unchristian behavior, such as expecting thanks from others, which he learned to release. He draws a parallel from Jesus' life, noting that Jesus focused entirely on finishing the work God gave him, regardless of opportunities for broader travel. Ultimately, the message urges listeners to take their life seriously, seek God's pre-ordained plan, and maintain a good conscience by practicing deep repentance and forgiving others.

The central message emphasizes that the Church is a New Covenant concept, not found in the Old Testament, and requires a deep understanding of God's truth, which is often obscured by the devil. True understanding comes not from mere study, but from humility, which grants revelation from the Holy Spirit. Believers must commit to a local church body, recognizing that building up the church—a unified, responsible family—is the most enduring work, surpassing even evangelism.

The central message emphasizes that unforgiveness acts as a major barrier to true intimacy with God the Father. The speaker stresses that one must actively forgive others, as failure to do so jeopardizes one's eternal standing with God. Furthermore, he encourages believers to cultivate a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, suggesting that this relationship is characterized by calling Him 'Dad' and recognizing the work of the Holy Spirit in making us sons of God.

Sin can manifest in five areas: deeds, words, thoughts, attitudes toward people, and motives. The speaker emphasizes that all actions must be done for the glory of God, as even good deeds are sinful if the motive is wrong. He concludes by stressing that true forgiveness, mirroring God's constant forgiveness, is necessary for God to forgive us, citing Matthew 6:15.

Eternal life is defined not as a long life, but as intimately knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. The message emphasizes that this deep knowledge is achieved by diligently seeking God, comparing it to a 'God rush' rather than a physical gold rush. Ultimately, knowing God's plans for one's life—which are for welfare and hope—requires calling upon Him in prayer and searching for Him with all one's heart.

The sermon emphasizes that true unity, both in the home and the church, is built upon submission and purity of heart. Drawing from Proverbs 14:1, the speaker argues that a woman builds her house through submission to her husband, and this principle extends to the church, where Christ is the head and all members are the body. Unity requires that the head (Christ) is submitted to the Father, and all members submit to one another, preventing Satan's influence.

The central message is that knowing the Father frees us from fear, as stated in John 14:18, which says that perfect love casts out fear. The speaker emphasizes that true security and relationship with God, rather than wealth or earthly power, is the source of freedom from fear, particularly the fear of God's punishment. Believers have a direct, immediate connection to God through Christ, unlike previous covenants, allowing them to approach the Father directly.

The sermon draws lessons from the Old Testament account of Moses building the Tabernacle, emphasizing that God's glory resides not in outward splendor but in the inner reality. The central message is that believers are God's temple, and therefore, the focus must be on maintaining a pure heart and life lived according to God's will, rather than external appearances. True glory comes when one's life reflects God's commandments, leading to the manifestation of God's glory.

The central message is that true eternal life is not merely living forever, but rather a deepening, intimate knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ. The speaker emphasizes that this knowledge is gained through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, accessible to everyone regardless of perceived spiritual stature. He concludes by urging listeners to actively grow in this relationship with Christ, comparing it to a deepening marriage.

Jesus calls Christians to become like little children by eliminating pride, self-importance, and grudges. True conversion involves developing a childlike mindset—free from thoughts of personal greatness, inability to hold grudges, and genuine love for others—which is the path to humility and spiritual greatness in God's kingdom.

The message emphasizes the necessity of being constantly conscious of the Lord's presence in all aspects of life, comparing it to being aware of Jesus during singing. The speaker encourages viewers to develop this awareness through persistent practice in prayer and scripture reading. Ultimately, dwelling in God's presence is presented as the source of fullness of joy, which is superior to mere rejoicing.

The sermon emphasizes that fasting should be done for the heart's desire to see God's glory, not for public display. Drawing from Matthew 6, the speaker stresses that God sees the inner disposition, not just outward acts. Furthermore, fasting is presented as a discipline that helps overcome the enslavement to physical desires, both regarding food and sexual intimacy, leading to a life focused on Christ.

Jesus taught that when fasting, the focus should be on the inner attitude and motive, not the external action, unlike the old covenant. Fasting is presented as a response to a deep burden for God's name to be glorified, but it is also a valuable discipline that helps free us from the slavery of food and builds self-control. Ultimately, the ability to fast and pray effectively is linked to having sufficient faith, as demonstrated by Jesus's power over the demons in Matthew 17.

The speaker argues that true victory over sin requires a determined effort to learn to walk, comparing this to a child learning to walk rather than remaining perpetually carried. He posits that a wholehearted disciple should achieve this 'life of victory' in about two years, drawing parallels to the Israelites' original two-year plan after leaving Egypt. He emphasizes that spiritual maturity requires actively engaging with the struggle rather than remaining in a state of perpetual comfort or care.