Physics of Tsunamis

I was talking to my great friend Pete yesterday - which was a hard day for us both - and we were discussing how incredible it seemed that we are a mere fortnight away from "Together on A Mission 2007" - which looks set to be the most incredible conference ever and one in which we hope God visits in a dimension of power not even dreamed of. Yet despite that we are both going through really hard personal times. It suddenly occured to me that this might fit in with my dream about the tidal wave. I shared this dream with my new pastor in Birmingham and he said straight away: "Tsunami" - without me going into too much detail. I am aware that sharing this puts me in danger of being accused of many thanks and probably being mocked. But this website is devoted to trying to explore what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

So I read a little about the physics of tsunamis. If this is the picture or type that God is speaking about then can we learn something as to how they actually work? Whether we may or not I found some interesting detail;

"Earthquakes generate tsunamis when the sea floor abruptly deforms and displaces the overlying water from its equilibrium position. Waves are formed as the displaced water mass, which acts under the influence of gravity, attempts to regain its equilibrium".

So it takes a shock to begin the tidal wave.

"The speed of the tsunami is related to the water depth, as the depth of the water decreases, the speed of the tsunami diminishes".

I wonder if there is a principle here that we can learn from? All too often revivals have petered out because the people involved within them stopped reading, stopped studying the Bible, stopped praying, stopped writing. That was the heart of Ern Baxter's sermon; "Ditch Diggers Revival". As the depth of the water decreases - the speed of the tsunami diminishes. Can the same be said of the Spirit's move in revival? As He encounters believers of decreasing depth, the speed and power of His work is slowed?

"When a tsunami finally reaches the shore, it may appear as a rapidly rising or falling tide, a series of breaking waves, or even a bore".

I've been accused of placing all my hope in God coming in power at Brighton in July. I never said that and God never placed a date on the dream. The two factors that were present in the dream were the location - Brighton - and the event - a tidal wave. That is why I found it so incredibly significant when Rob Rufus said at Prayer and Fasting; "I have never encountered a people so hungry - so desperate for God". Why Brighton? Not because they are more spiritual or righteous - but because they are hungry.

"Since science cannot predict when earthquakes will occur, they cannot determine exactly when a tsunami will be generated".

There it is again. Revivals - tidal waves - cannot be predicted. God comes by His Spirit when He so pleases. But His sovereignity is no excuse for our apathy in prayer. We simply MUST come before Him and plead and pray that He visits this nation again in the power and depth He has promised. We must intercede for our land. We must stand in the gap and ask Him in wrath to remember mercy. We must repeat His promises back to Him - that as surely as He lives ALL the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Come Holy Spirit!! Glorify the risen and reigning Lord Jesus!