On September 11, 2007 Russia successfully exploded what it claims is the largest Thermobaric Bomb ever made, leveling a multi-story block of apartment buildings with a power greater than that of the smallest diallable-yield nuclear weapons at their lowest yield settings. Russia named this particular ordnance the “Father of All Bombs” in response to the United States developed “Massive Ordnance Air Blast” (MOAB) bomb whose backronym is known as the “Mother of All Bombs” and previously enjoyed the accolade of the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in history. Thermobaric: Sometimes called fuel-air explosives, the name comes from Greek and literally means “heat” and “pressure.”
Thermobarics first disperse a flammable mist of underoxidised fuel which ignites to create a gigantic explosion of immense destructiveness. The explosion of the SMAW-NE is effective in three main ways. Firstly, it is accompanied by a massive fireball which incinerates all in its path. Secondly, it creates a massive pressure wave capable of rupturing the internal organs of all those nearby and so powerful that it can reduce load-bearing walls to rubble and bring down buildings. Finally, the explosion also sucks all the oxygen out of the air, asphyxiating anyone in the immediate vicinity. Basically, if you’re in the building when it hits, it’ll kill you. As a result, a fuel-air explosive can have the effect of a tactical nuclear weapon
without residual radiation.
In Acts 2 God drops the True Father of All Bombs. An explosion so powerful it shook the four corners of the globe. People from around the world were gathered. They all heard the explosion.
BOMBS FOR DUMMIES
Now, as we already learned, with thermobaric bombs, there is an explosion that releases a powerful liquid or powder that is highly explosive. Then another explosion sets off this powder or liquid. The resulting blast creates a vacuum by literally sucking all the oxygen out of the area. There is Heat from the blast and there is Pressure that will kill.
Here at Pentecost we have a very similar situation. A Bomb is detonated in stages. There is both Heat and Pressure. Only the damage that results is the slaying of Satan and Man’s idea of religion.
Now what Detonated this Bomb?
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 1:14 says that they were in one accord in prayer and supplication.
Jesus said “I want you to wait and when the Holy Spirit comes, you will receive Power!” So while they waited, they prayed! What did they pray? I think I know.
The disciples had asked Jesus: Teach us to pray. Not Teach us how to pray, but teach us to pray. So I know how they were praying in the upper room. They were praying the following:
6:9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV)
The disciples were gathered together before the throne of almighty God. They were Honoring His Name!
Holy is your name.
Elohim – All Powerful Creator
El elyon – God Most High
El Shaddai – God Almighty
Jehovah –The Lord our Covenant Keeper
El Olam– Everlasting God
Jehovah Roi – the Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah-Jireh – the Lord our Provision,
Jehovah Shalom – the LORD our Peace
Jehovah Rophe – the LORD our Healer
Jehovah Tsidkenu -the LORD our Righteousness
Jehovah Nissi – the LORD our Banner
Jehovah Shammah – the LORD is there
Jehovah Mekaddishkhem – the LORD that sanctifies
Then, they were praying:
YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE:
They were earnestly desiring God’s Kingdom. God’s Will. Before they were quarreling over who would sit at the right hand, who would have this power or that. But not now. Now it was all about God’s Kingdom and God’s Power!
When you are kneeling before the throne, when your heart is focused on how awesome and how mighty He is, You sense how tiny and worthless you are. When all your being is desiring His Will in your life, It’s hard to be mad at Sister Susie who made that snide comment. Its hard to hold something against brother Peter because he forgot your birthday. When your heart is focused on God and what He wants to do in and with your life, those things that use to irritate and get you upset will just roll off your back. When God Ignites us with His Love, it burns away the flesh with all of it’s hurts and resentments and jealousies.
- God used Prayer to Unite these believers.
- God used Prayer to Ignite these believers.
There have been times in my life when I was discouraged, thinking I was washed up, or unfit for use. I have had a friend since Bible College, that has always been a source of prayer encouragement for me. Our friendship was cemented as we spent hours in prayer-as we preached revivals together, as we held prayer meetings in the dorm. God has enabled me to help him, but I believe he has helped me more. Prayer with Don has more than once ignited me to keep on serving the Lord. Who do you pray with when you are down? Who do you have encouraging you in this Christian walk?
PRAYER was the DETONATOR
Suddenly there came a Sound from Heaven of a mighty rushing wind.
Normal sound is 70 decibels. Whisper is 40 decibels.
Crank up your stereo at home 117-123 db
128 db the loudest scream measured at 8’
128 db human head hair starts to crawl
133 db average gunshot. 44 mag can be 160
140 is Blast of Wind
143 db Feels like someone just tackled your chest.
145 db human vision begins to vibrate
154 Toy Balloon pops
163 NHRA Dragster 5000 to 7000 horsepower, liquid nitroglycerin fuel
164 Internal Sound level of Jet Turbine motor
174 db Air begins to Heat up due to compression
180 db 1 pound of TNT at 15’
195 db Human eardrums rupture 50% of time
212 db Average Sonic Boom
240 db F5 Tornado with winds of 300mph
310 db Krakatoa Volcano Eruption (cracked 12” concrete 300 miles away)
(Ultimate Sound Pressure Level Decibel Table, William Hamby 2004)
Now there is no scientific proof, but this sound that was heard had to be somewhere between 240 decibels and 174 decibels. I would place it at just under 190 decibels. The sound of a small explosion.! It could have been louder, but I think God wanted to preserve their eardrums.
If Prayer was the Detonator, what provided the EXPLOSION?
The Holy Spirit Provided the Explosive Power
Jesus had told them earlier in Acts 1:5 “you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
I can think of no more explosive force on earth or in heaven than the Holy Spirit of God!
When Their Prayer ignited the explosive Holy Spirit, it made a sound so loud that it sounded like a bomb had gone off. The change in pressure filled the entire room. The increased pressure created heat, and we see tongues of fire on each of the disciples. Not on just a few, but on everyone.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now I don’t mean to imply that what happened on Pentecost was an explosion of some sort. I only want you to see how what happened compares to an explosion. What happened that day was actually mightier than any explosion in history.
Even mightier than the Eruption of Mt Krakatoa. With that eruption rock were thrown to a height of 34 miles, dust and debris fell continuously for 10 days. Shock waves “echoed” around the earth 36 times and lasted for about a month!
Loving the Word with the MudPreacher 