Having Your Spirit Stirred

Scripture Reference

Acts 17:16 — “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.”

Introduction

Today’s sermon title is “Having Your Spirit Stirred.” Dr. Terry LeQuieu shows us from Acts 17 how the Holy Spirit worked in the heart of Paul when he came to Athens. Paul’s inner stirring produced outward action: preaching, debating, reasoning, and declaring the Gospel. This passage challenges every believer—especially young adults—to allow God to stir us spiritually so that waiting becomes productive, compassion becomes action, Scripture regains first place, and our lives and worship reflect a passionate devotion to the Lord.

Revival is not only an event on a calendar — it is a work of God in stirred hearts. Will you let Him stir you?

Outline

1. Productive Waiting
   1. Paul’s practice while waiting — Paul “waited” in Athens but did not sit idle. He reasoned in synagogues and the marketplace (Acts 17:17). Waiting for others or for circumstances does not excuse inactivity when God gives a burden.
   2. Application — When God stirs your spirit, make the waiting season a ministry season: read Scripture, pray, witness, and serve. Small faithful acts prepare you for greater responsibilities (Luke 16:10 principle).
2. Provocative Wickedness
   1. What stirred Paul — The city was “wholly given to idolatry” (Acts 17:16). Sin provoked compassion, not hate. Paul’s stirring was not mere anger; it was spiritual grief leading to mission.
   2. Why it matters — Seeing wickedness rightly moves us to intercede and evangelize. If we are indifferent, we are missing the Spirit’s work to make us holy-hearted for the lost.
3. Preeminent Word
   1. Scripture first — Paul disputed and reasoned “out of the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2; 17). He shared the gospel, not opinions. The Word is the instrument God uses to revive hearts.
   2. Learn and verify — Bereans “searched the scriptures daily” to confirm what Paul taught (Acts 17:11). Christians must test sermon truth by Scripture and cultivate personal study.
4. Perturbed World
   1. Resistance expected — The world will not always welcome the gospel. Philosophers mocked (“What will this babbler say?”) and brought Paul to Mars’ Hill (Acts 17:18–19).
   2. Stand ready — When your spirit is stirred and you witness faithfully, expect pushback. Prepare to give a biblically grounded answer (1 Peter 3:15) and respond with humility and love.
5. Passionate Worship
   1. Worship in spirit and truth — Paul identified the “unknown god” altar and declared the living God (Acts 17:23). True worship rejects ignorant idolatry and embraces God revealed in Christ (John 4:23–24).
   2. Visible devotion — Passionate worship includes prayer, singing, praise, obedience, and holy living. Let worship overflow from a stirred and sanctified heart.
6. Practical Patterns from Paul
   1. Go where people are — Paul visited synagogues and public marketplaces. To reach people, engage their contexts; effective witness often begins where people already gather.
   2. Speak plainly of Christ — Paul pointed to Jesus and the resurrection. Bold proclamation of Christ and the resurrection remains central to effective evangelism.
   3. Live consistently — The world judges our message by our lives. Be an “epistle” that validates the gospel (2 Corinthians 3:2–3).

Summary

Acts 17 shows us a pattern: the Holy Spirit stirs a believer’s heart; that stirring becomes productive waiting, compassion-driven engagement with sin, a renewed commitment to the Word, a willingness to face opposition, and passionate worship. Paul’s example is not just for apostles; it is for every believer. God does not want us to live comfortable, covert lives while the lost perish. He wants our spirits stirred so we obey, witness, study, and worship.

He saw the city wholly given to idolatry and what did he do? He decided to go and preach to them Jesus Christ and to tell them what great things God had done!

Application for the Week

Practical, actionable steps to respond to having your spirit stirred. These are designed for busy young adults and all believers who desire to grow in faithfulness.

1. Turn waiting into witness
   1. Make a short plan for any waiting time this week (commute, waiting room, breaks) to pray for two lost people and ask God to open a door to speak to one of them.
   2. Keep a small stack of Gospel tracts or a short Scripture verse on your phone to share when opportunity arises.
2. Study like a Berean
   1. Pick one sermon point from this message and find 2–3 KJV passages that support it. Read them daily this week.
   2. Set aside three 10–15 minute blocks this week to read and meditate on Scripture; ask honest questions and write one thing God shows you.
3. Speak the Gospel plainly
   1. Memorize a short gospel summary this week: (1) We are sinners, (2) Christ died and rose for sinners, (3) Believe and repent to be saved (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 3:19).
   2. Intentionally invite one person this week to church, a Bible study, or a casual gospel conversation.
4. Expect opposition, respond in love
   1. Pray for boldness and gentleness. If you meet resistance, answer calmly and offer to look up Scripture together.
   2. Practice 1 Peter 3:15 readiness: prepare a simple, Bible-based answer to the question, “Why do you believe in Jesus?”
5. Restore passionate worship
   1. Identify one way you can worship this week outside the building: sing a hymn aloud in your home, start or join a short prayer time with roommates/family, or write a brief psalm of thanks and read it aloud.
   2. In church this week, engage: sing with intent, pray with honesty, and let your life reflect the truths you proclaim.

These steps are small and practical, yet when the Holy Spirit stirs your heart they compound into life-changing obedience. Ask God to stir you, make you ready like the Bereans, and give you courage to take the next step for Christ.