In Hag 1:14, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the spirit of Joshua, and the spirit of the remnant of the people to work in the house of the Lord. It was time to rebuild the house, so God stirred up the spirit of the people to work. Stir up is to inspire or drive someone from inaction to action; to provoke, often implying something latent awaiting provocation. When I was a kid, I couldn’t wait to hear the bounce of a basketball on our driveway, the crack of a bat against a ball in the vacant lot across the street, the scuffle over a football in the front yard, or the skid of a bicycle in our neighbor’s driveway, and I was out the door. We’ll see a few places in the Bible where some people got stirred up. They were:
Stirred up to give – Ex 35:21-22 “they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation…”. All the way back in Ex 25:1-9, the Lord commanded Moses to speak to the children of Israel about bringing an offering to the Lord for the tabernacle. Then from chapter 25 through chapter 30, the Lord gave Moses the details on the tabernacle, the priests’ garments, the anointing oil and the incense. When the time came to build and make the articles of furniture for the tabernacle, their hearts stirred them up to give. They gave so much, that Moses had to command them to stop bringing offerings for the sanctuary [Ex 36:5-7]. When you hear of special needs with which the Lord wants us to help, your heart ought to stir you up to give. Missions conference is a time where people get stirred up to give.
Stirred up to work – Ex 36:1-2 “Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it.” God put wisdom in the heart of men and women to do this work. Our text in Hag 1:14 says that the Lord stirred up Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of the people to work in the house of the Lord. In 2 Tim 1:6, Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift of God that was in him. God has given you a gift for the work of the ministry of our church. When you hear about the work of our church, your heart ought to stir your up to “come unto the work to do it.” Ashton Yeargin said, “Say yes as much as you can. Volunteer as often as you can. You’ll find your spiritual gift.”
Stirred up to preach – Acts 17:16-31 “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” Instantly, he began disputing with them and preaching [Acts 17:17-18]. There are times when you see an opportunity and you get stirred up to preach. Yesterday, the men at the Port came upon just such a situation. Several seafarers sat quietly in their rec room as our men preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. After Mitsuo Fuchida was saved, he participated in a street meeting. When the main speaker handed him the microphone, he didn’t hesitate; he preached boldly. He was stirred up; he wanted his people to know the peace that only comes from Jesus Christ. Don’t hold back when you get stirred up; preach.
Stirred up to remember – 2 Pet 1:12-15 “… as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance,” [2 Pet 3:1]. Peter wanted those to whom he wrote to remember some things that he had preached. So, he preached them again. And he wrote them down for us to read. Repetition is a great teacher. The Holy Spirit is the best teacher of the words of God, and he too brings things to our remembrance [Jn 14:26]. When it comes to the words of God, we try to stir you up by preaching and teaching doctrines repeatedly and by encouraging you to read and study these doctrines on your own, as well.
Conclusion: The opportunities to give, work, preach and remember ought to stir us up the same way I used to get stirred up as a kid. God does marvelous things when you get involved in the things that are important to him. Get stirred up!!