The Holy Spirit: Fire and River (Santosh Poonen)

Called to a Life of Fruit-Bearing: rivers and fruit trees interwoven throughout the Bible; Genesis 2:8-10,15-17; Revelation 22:1-5. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil = the world; it is passing away (I John 2:15-17); will eventually be completely destroyed. The Fire of the Holy Spirit: Hebrew 12:29 – a consuming fire! Matthew 3:7-12: act of repentance ===> fruit of repentance; God wants living children, not just birth certificates! hypocrisy: attaching fake fruit, ripping out “bad” branches; the Baptism in the Holy Spirit = laying ax to the root of tree: burns the tree and any remaining chaff in unquenchable fire. Genesis 3:22-24: sword around the Tree of Life, but not the Tree of Knowledge; II Corinth. 4:10 : life of Christ manifests only through dying; Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:57-62 : the new and living way. The River of the Holy Spirit: John 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:1-5. Ezekiel 47:1-12: ankle-deep… knee-deep… waist-deep… “over my head” deep; v9: brings life wherever it goes. The river of life (Revelation 22): v1b: originates from the throne of God; v1a: clear as crystal.