Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Usage:In biblical terms, "stirring" often refers to the act of arousing, awakening, or inciting emotions, actions, or spiritual awareness. It can denote both positive and negative connotations depending on the context in which it is used. The concept of stirring is frequently associated with the movement of the Holy Spirit, the awakening of faith, or the incitement to action, whether for good or ill.
Old Testament References:1.
Stirring by God: In the Old Testament, God often stirs the hearts of individuals or nations to fulfill His divine purposes. For example, in the book of Ezra, God stirs the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to make a proclamation allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Ezra 1:1 states, "In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and to put it in writing."
2.
Stirring to Action: The stirring of the spirit is also seen in the context of motivating individuals to take action. In
Judges 13:25 , the Spirit of the LORD begins to stir Samson, preparing him for the role he would play in delivering Israel from the Philistines: "And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol."
New Testament References:1.
Stirring of the Holy Spirit: In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in stirring the hearts of believers. The Spirit's work is evident in the early church, where believers are moved to speak boldly and act in faith.
Acts 4:31 describes such an event: "After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
2.
Stirring Up Spiritual Gifts: The Apostle Paul encourages believers to stir up the spiritual gifts within them. In
2 Timothy 1:6 , Paul writes to Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." This stirring is an exhortation to actively engage and develop the gifts given by God for the edification of the church and the advancement of the Gospel.
Theological Implications:1.
Divine Initiative: The concept of stirring underscores the divine initiative in human affairs. Whether it is God stirring the heart of a pagan king or the Holy Spirit moving within the church, it highlights God's sovereignty and active involvement in guiding history and individual lives according to His will.
2.
Human Responsibility: While God initiates the stirring, there is an element of human responsibility to respond. Believers are called to be attentive to the Spirit's prompting and to act in obedience. This dynamic interaction between divine stirring and human response is central to the life of faith.
3.
Spiritual Awakening: Stirring is often associated with spiritual awakening and revival. It signifies a renewed awareness of God's presence and a call to return to Him with fervor and commitment. This awakening can lead to personal transformation and communal renewal, as seen in various biblical revivals.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to remain sensitive to the stirring of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This involves regular prayer, engagement with Scripture, and openness to the Spirit's leading. By doing so, they can discern God's will and be empowered to act in ways that align with His purposes. Additionally, believers are called to encourage one another, stirring up love and good deeds within the community of faith, as exhorted in
Hebrews 10:24 : "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Stir.
2. (a.) Putting in motion, or being in motion; active; active in business; habitually employed in some kind of business; accustomed to a busy life.
Greek
5016. tarache -- a disturbance,stirring up... a disturbance,
stirring up. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: tarache
Phonetic Spelling: (tar-akh-ay') Short Definition: a disturbance, tumult
...2796. kinesis -- a moving
... a moving. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kinesis Phonetic Spelling:
(kin'-ay-sis) Short Definition: a moving,stirring Definition: a moving...
1326. diegeiro -- to arouse completely
... Word Origin from dia and egeiro Definition to arouse completely NASB Word Usage
got (2), stir (1), stirred (1),stirring (1), woke (1). awake, raise, stir up....
5015. tarasso -- to stir up, to trouble
... root tarach- Definition to stir up, to trouble NASB Word Usage disturbed (1),
disturbing (2), stirred (3),stirring (1), terrified (2), troubled (9). trouble....
Strong's Hebrew
1519. giach -- to break forth... 1518, 1519. giach. 1520 . to break forth. Transliteration: giach Phonetic
Spelling: (ghee'-akh) Short Definition:
stirring. Word
...6696a. tsur -- to confine, bind, besiege
... besieged (1), besieged* (10), besieging* (5), bind (2), bound (1), enclosed (1),
laid siege (1), lay siege (1), laying siege (1), set (1),stirring (1), tied (1...
Library
Stirring the Eagle's Nest.
...STIRRING THE EAGLE'S NEST. "As an eagle... again. That is how God deals with
you and me. Has he beenstirring up your nest? Has he...
A ShortStirring to Meekness, and to the Work of this Book.
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SECOND CHAPTER A shortstirring to meekness, and to the work
of this book. A shortstirring to meekness, and to the work of this book....
That a Man Should Weigh Each Thought and EachStirring after that...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER That a man should weigh each thought and each
stirring after that it is, and always eschew recklessness in venial sin....
Showing How the Spirit Goes Out through the DivineStirring
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER LII. SHOWING HOW THE SPIRIT GOES OUT THROUGH THE DIVINE
STIRRING. Now, through this touch, Christ says inwardly...
In his Other Psalms He Proceedeth to Speak of the Works of God...
... THE THIRD CENTURY 92 In his other psalms he proceedeth to speak of the works of
God over and over again: sometimesstirring up all creatures to praise God for...
That a Man Shall not Take Ensample at the Bodily Ascension of...
... in the work of this book, that although they read "lift up" or "go in," although
all that the work of this book be called astirring, nevertheless yet them...
Of the Shortness of this Word, and How it May not be Come to by...
... And reasonable thing it is that thou give account of it: for it is neither longer
nor shorter, but even according to one onlystirring that is within the...
How God Will be Served Both with Body and with Soul, and Reward...
... And why is that? Surely for the cause of this comfort; that is to say, the
devoutstirring of love, the which dwelleth in pure spirit....
Of Some Certain Tokens by the which a Man May Prove Whether He be...
... in this reading or hearing think it a good and liking thing, be never the rather
called of God to work in this work, only for this likingstirring that they...
On Grace.
... these two, no man can do thoroughly what he ought, that should help him to health
of his soul; for neither free-will, without this gracestirring, nor this...
Thesaurus
Stirring (20 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Stirring (20 Occurrences).
... Whoever stepped in first after
the
stirring of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.
...Stir (57 Occurrences)
... 8. (vi) To rise, or be up, in the morning. 9. (n.) The act or result ofstirring;
agitation; tumult; bustle; noise or various movements. 10....
Mix (10 Occurrences)
... of, as of two or more substances with each other, or of one substance with others;
to unite or blend into one mass or compound, as bystirring together; to...
Stirreth (16 Occurrences)
Yahweh (6653 Occurrences)
... of these captive Jews in Babylonia which is reflected and they who are addressed
at the waning of the long night of captivity by thestirring message recorded...
Kneading (7 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Hosea 7:4 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that the
baker stopsstirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened....
Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)
... of these captive Jews in Babylonia which is reflected and they who are addressed
at the waning of the long night of captivity by thestirring message recorded...
Leavened (16 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Hosea 7:4 They are all adulterers. They are burning like an oven that
the baker stopsstirring, from the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened....
Leavening (1 Occurrence)
... Hosea 7:4 All of them 'are' adulterers, Like a burning oven of a baker, He ceaseth
fromstirring up after kneading the dough, till its leavening. (YLT)....
Ga'al (8 Occurrences)
... 9:31 And he sent messengers to Abim'elech at Aru'mah, saying, "Behold, Ga'al the
son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they arestirring up the...
Resources
What happened at the Pool of Bethesda? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about sedition? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I know if I am being called to preach? | GotQuestions.orgStirring: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
