All Stirred Up!

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

120 men and women in the upper room gathered in prayer.  They were all together in one place with one mind and one purpose.

They were not gathered for a motivational speech or to be entertained by jokes and stories.  Nor did they gather for a social club or mixer.  It was not about fulfilling their Sunday religious ritual.  They did not meet as a duty but maintained a passionate focus of mind to seek their God.

This is a beautiful picture of what church should look like. Believers gathered to wait on the Lord in prayer.  This was also an obedient response to Christ’s command.  (Acts 1: 4-5)  And being assembled together with them, He  commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

We too are commanded to gather together on a regular basis to seek the Lord and encourage one another in our walks.  (Hebrews 10: 24-25) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

To stir up is one word in the Greek (3948) paroxusmos.  It means an inciting and to provoke.  This word comes from the word paroxysm (3947) to make sharp, sharpen, to stimulate, spur on, urge.

The concept of gathering as Christians may be likened to lit hot coals piled upon one another.  As they are stirred and poked they grow hotter, bringing up a flame.  As one is upon the other, the fire keeps smoldering.  Separate one coal from the rest and it will become cold and die out very quickly. 

What are your habits concerning church attendance?  Are you committed to showing up to church?  Or, are you hit and miss.  Are you part of the hot pile of church going Christians who urge, stimulate and sharpen one another to grow?  Or do you find yourself, separate and growing cold? 

Oh, how we need to be stirred up on a regular basis!  Oh, how we need one another to remain hot for the Lord!  Brothers and sisters, let’s get to church.  And when we get there, let’s intentionally seek to urge, incite, sharpen, stimulate, spur on and stir up one another in Christ.

Dwight L. Moody – Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.