Break Up Your Fallow Ground

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Introduction: Fallow ground is a field that has been sown with crops in the past and has yielded much fruit, but has now been left unworked for a time. It is hard and full of ruts. It yields nothing but weeds now. This is a picture of a land that used to be known for its righteousness but has now turned from God and grown cold toward Him. It is a perfect picture of America today. The verses leading up to verse twelve reveal the circumstances of the times.

·        Their wicked rebellion (v.1-5)

o      As an empty vine, they bring fruit only to themselves (v.1)

o      Their heart is divided and found faulty (v.2)

o      As they rejected the Lord, so they reject all authority (v.3)

o      They speak many false words (v.4)

o      The glory of the Lord is departed (v.5)

·        Their coming judgment (v.6-11)

·        Their only hope (v.12) 

I.       REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE –the fallow ground used to be a fruitful field 

A.   Learn From the Former Days (Job 8:8-10) 

B.    Remember What We Have Lost (Revelation 2:5) 

C.   Preserve the Ancient Landmark (Proverbs 22:28; Revelation 3:2 – “strengthen the things that remain”) 

II.    RECOGNIZE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY – “your fallow ground” :the fallow ground is unworked ground 

A.   For the Condition of the Ground (Nehemiah 1:1-7) 

B.    For the Correction of the Situation (Acts 9:6); if not you, who? 

III.             PREPARE THE GROUND (last part of verse 11) 

A.   Plow the Field – Prayer (Colossians 4:2-4) 

B.    Break the Clods – Brokenness – “his clods” (Psalm 34:18; 51:17) 

IV.            SOW THE SEED 

A.   What to Sow – the Word (Luke 8:11) 

B.    Where to Begin – to yourselves (2Timothy 2:15) 

C.   How to Sow – in righteousness (1Timothy 6:4-5; see also Ecclesiastes 11:1-6) 

D.   Where the Sow – in the field; that is, the world (Matthew 13:38) 

V.   SEEK THE LORD – only God can bring the rain  

A.   Seek the Lord (1Chronicles 16:11) 

B.    Seek Him Urgently – “for it is time” 

C.   Seek Him Continually – “till he come” 

D.   Seek Him Expectantly – “and rain righteousness” 

E.    Seek Him Personally – “upon you”

Conclusion: Will you have a part in these last day fallow ground ministries? God seeks such to follow Him.