Stirred

So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the Spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God. [Haggai 1:14]

When was the last time you felt stirred? By that I mean stirred on the inside in such a deep and moving way it prompted you to action. Haggai prophesied and God stirred the spirit of the people. It might surprise you to learn what that word stirred means. It means to agitate, to disturb, and to provoke. So let me ask you again. When was the last time you felt stirred on the inside, provoked, disturbed, or agitated by God?

In my estimation this is just good old fashioned conviction. Many times over the decades I have watched people fall  under conviction while I preached. Some were convicted to be saved, many of sin in their lives, and others about areas of disobedience. Only God can do this. Only God can truly provoke, agitate, and  disturb a soul so much that it translates into action.

This is something the modern church age has forgotten. This type of stirring cannot be conjured up by emotional manipulation like I have seen happen at many camps. The worship leaders know how to manipulate the crowd with music. The preacher knows how to play on the worn out emotions of students especially toward the end of a long camp week. Tears fall. Scores come to the front many not knowing why they are crying. Those type of decisions seldom if ever last.

This type of stirring cannot be programmed. My mailbox gets stuffed with the latest and greatest programs that promise to transform the church I serve. They never do. Programs do not change lives. GOD DOES.  He might use a program but never forget God is the one stirring lives and changing hearts Yet, churches run around in a frenzy to create or implement another program looking for a short cut to ministry success. Nobody stops long enough to look at the results of decades of programs that have not produced the promised results. When God stirs a life it people change.

People go through the programs but come out not stirred. The type of stirring I am writing about today only comes from God through His Holy Spirit. When God brings conviction it may prompt an emotional response but emotionalism is not the end result. A changed way of living is the ultimate goal.

In Haggai's day people got their priorities out of line. They neglected to rebuild the temple while building and dwelling in nice houses. God sent his prophet to call them out about this sin. Haggai delivered his God commissioned message and then the spirit of God stirred the people. They were provoked, agitated and disturbed. They could not stay the same. They were moved to change their priorities and to action.

God stirred them and they went to work and completed the job. How many times have I seen somebody emotionally respond to a sermon and never follow through with what they said. I've seen it repeatedly. When God stirs a soul there will either be obedience or  rejection. A truly God stirred life produces sorrow that leads to repentance and a new way of life.

I need God to stir to my soul continually. So do you. We need this as we gather corporately for worship. We need God sent stirring. I need God to send it through this writing. I am not writing without an agenda. My agenda is that God might let conviction fall on you like rain bringing you to repentance and in alignment with His will and purposes. May we all be stirred. May your reading this agitate you, disturb you, and provoke you as God stirs you to repentance and action.