Critical Mass

Critical Mass

PPT 1 sermon title

I heard a sermon by Joseph Garlington where his topic was, "critical mass."

He defined critical mass as the minimum amount of fissionable material needed for a sustained nuclear reaction. He explained it as a tipping point where things change and a new dynamic begins to work. So again it is a tipping point, and a place where dynamic change takes place.

He then went on to say you can put a demand on God, He cannot ignore. You can cause your situation to reach critical mass with God. In that context he mentioned the proverb about men ought to pray and not faint. (Luke 18). Prayer is the means God has decreed that we use to bring change, or to bring things in alignment with His purposes. That parable teaches to keep on praying and they will ultimately result in a tipping point for your requests.

So critical mass is when things reach a tipping point. When all the ducks are in a row, when the chessboard has been fully set up and the game begins. Critical mass is the culmination of all the things that lead up to it.

I am not sure who this is talking to today, but I want to say your relationship could be heading to critical mass. Negatively or positively. The ducks may be all in a row for you to meet that special someone. (Positive) Or the repeated stresses on your marriage could be pushing you to divorce court. You marriage could either blow up, or you could back off from that precipice by reaching up.

Your health could be heading to critical mass, small amounts of plaque over a long time could soon explode in a blocked artery, or the time and season is coming to fruition and God is going to step into your situation and heal you.

Critical mass can be a negative or a positive, or it can happen in both directions at the same time, as I will shortly explain.

I want to talk about the big picture in the world today and how the world is heading to critical mass.

PPT 2 text

Lu 21:25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.

Christians in general have been in denial about global warming, perhaps we need to read our bibles a little better. But I think there is a better understanding of the roaring and tossing of the sea:

PPT 3 text

Re 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

The sea in this verse seems to imply it means sinful humanity. One of my commentaries says this about the beast from the sea: "It comes up out of the sea, out of the commotion, the agitation of nations — a new power that springs up from those disturbed elements.

This may be proved by this verse:

PPT 4 text

Da 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

Da 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

The four great beasts are four kingdoms that arise from the tumult of humanity, with the stirring of the pot by God.

Which helps explain this verse:

PPT 5 Text

Re 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

No sea????? I am a scuba diver. I love the sea. Could God be saying no more whales, no more dolphins? I think not.

In chapter 17 we have a clear definition of what the water/sea signifies:

PPT 6 text

Re 17:15 And he *said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

So in a sense the bible is saying that out of the "sea," of sinful humanity birth is given to evil kingdoms, and rulers. But that is not the only sea/river that gives birth to things. I want to show you that other river, but first I just want to mention where I am going with this message. I believe the kingdoms of this world are heading to critical mass, I will try to show you why I think that shortly. When they in fact do reach critical mass a few evil world leaders will come up from the sea of sinful humanity. I don't want to be all negative about critical mass this morning, because I also believe God is about to bring things forth from His river and sea that will also greatly impact the world.