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.
PPT 7 text
Re 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Re 22:2 in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve [kinds of] fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
What is this river? The answer is found in John 7
PPT 8 text
John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'"
John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet [given,] because Jesus was not yet glorified.
In John the rivers of living water is the Holy Spirit, the obvious conclusion is that the river of the water of life (Living water, water of life) is one and the same - the Holy Spirit. I want you to notice that on both sides of the river of the water of life are tress whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. My understanding is that those trees have roots that tap into the river of the water of life, and that is the source of their healing power. So the sea of humanity gives birth to the antichrist, and the great whore, God's river gives birth to healing of the nations. One brings forth evil things one wonderful things. Here is something to ponder if the leaves provide healing to the nations, what will the fruit do? I mean the fruit always is sweeter than the leaves. I think we are not told because it is a secret surprise waiting the redeemed of the Lord.
I want to show you a text in Ezekiel that parallels our text in Revelation about a river of life
PPT 9, 10 text
Eze 47:1 Then he brought me back to the door of the house; and behold, water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar.
Eze 47:9 And it shall come to pass, [that] every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (KJV)
The door of the house referred to here is actually the doorway to the Holy of Holies in a future temple. The water that springs out from the temple gives life, and everywhere the river flows it brings life.
So in Daniel and Revelation we have a sea or ocean of humanity that brings forth evil, but in Ezekiel and in Revelation we have a river and sea of glass that brings forth things birthed from God. Things that bring life.
Let's go back to our first text now
PPT 9 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.
The nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea: with that as a background, I want you to understand that it could be saying the nations are in an anguish at what is happening in the great sea of humanity.
I thinks sometimes we look at the world so narrowly we miss the big picture.
Consider the anguish and perplexity of the nations that is going on right now.
Brexit. EU turmoil.
Our election, no one is really happy. No one saw that coming.
British Prime Minister May called for early elections - she didn't see the terror attacks that would change the political landscape of her nation.
France just had a tumultuous election, it will be interesting to see what happens in Germany in September.
I believe the world is heading to critical mass, but so is the church.
Jesus said the wheat and tares grow up together, often we only think about mature tares, or the evil that is going on in the world. I believe God is going to raise up a last days church, that is vibrant, alive and on fire for him. Just as the tares are excelling in sin, so too the wheat will be flowing in the grace and favor of our Lord.
Critical mass happens when the internal, combines with the external, and you throw in a dash of the eternal.
That is my introduction here is my sermon...
PPT 10 text
Jos 1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Jos 1:11 "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'"
Get stocked up on your supplies, make sure you are in a fit state, we are about to go into critical mass on possessing the promised land. The world is about to go critical mass about electing a world wide leader, whom the bible calls the man of sin.
The sea of humanity is about to spit up beasts and evil worse than any the world has ever seen, and they will worship it as God.
The church is about to enter a season of unparalleled favor of God for a last days outreach and the river of God is about to give birth to men and women who will walk and live and speak in a spirit that is in direct contrast to the spirit of anti-christ.
Get ready, fasten your seat belts, turn it up a notch, and pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers.
Joshua was told by God to tell the people to prepare provisions the dynamics they had walked in for the last 40 years were about to take off in a new direction, and they needed to be ready. Joshua also instructed the people with this admonition in chapter 3: Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
We have a season right now to get ready for what is to come. Church we need to rouse ourselves, stir up ourselves, get rid of the sins and weights that hinder, gird up the loins of our mind and ask God help us to be prepared. Catch up prayers may not suffice for what is coming, we need to be ready for in an hour we think not....
Close: Pray for those who desire to be ready for all that is ahead. Pry for those who sense they have a situation that is heading to critical mass, I want/need God to intervene!
