BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND

BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND 01/03/2022

JEREMIAH 4:1-4 & HOSEA 10

JEREMIAH 4:3 FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD TO THE MEN OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, AND SOW NOT AMONG THORNS.

HOSEA 10:12 SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND: FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU.
WHAT WOULD WE THINK OF A FARMER WHO ALLOWED HIS FINEST FIELD TO LIE FALLOW YEAR AFTER YEAR?
WE WOULD THINK HE WAS LAZY, AND CARELESS. YET MEN NEGLECT THEIR SOULS FOR MONTHS AND YEARS AT A TIME AND SOMETIMES FOREVER
BESIDES BEING UNPROFITABLE, THESE INWARD FIELDS BECOME FULL OF WEEDS AND EXCEEDINGLY DANGROUS FOR OUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELLBEING.
HOSEA WAS CALLED AS THE PROPHET WHO WOULD REVEAL THE WICKEDNESS OF ISRAEL IN FORSAKING AND IGNORING GOD.
THEIR DEEDS ARE SUMMARIZED IN HOSEA 10:13 YE HAVE PLOWED WICKEDNESS, YE HAVE REAPED INIQUITY; YE HAVE EATEN THE FRUIT OF LIES: BECAUSE THOU DIDST TRUST IN THY WAY, IN THE MULTITUDE OF THY MIGHTY MEN.
HOSEA BEGAN TO PROPHESY AT A TIME WHEN GOD WAS CONTENDING URGENTLY WITH THE SINFUL PEOPLE OF GOD
THEY FELL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LORD, BEFORE THEY WERE TURNED OVER INTO THE HANDS OF MAN.
JOHN 15:1-8 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
HOSEA BEGAN TO PROPHESY IN ISRAEL AT A TIME WHEN THEIR KINGDOM WAS FLOURISHING AND PROSPEROUS
MEN MUST NEVER BE FLATTERED IN THEIR SINFUL WAYS BECAUSE THEY PROSPER FINANCIALLY AND MATERIALLY
THEY MUST BE FAITHFULLY REBUKED, AND PLAINLY TOLD THAT THEIR PROSPERITY WILL NEVER BE THEIR SPIRITUAL SECURITY IN THIS WORLD AND WHEN THEY DIE
NEITHER WILL THEIR PROSPERITY LAST LONG IF THEY GO ON STILL IN THEIR TRESPASSES.
NOTICE WHAT THE SINS ARE WHICH WERE LAID TO ISRAEL’S CHARGE, THESE ARE NATIONAL SINS WHICH BRINGS NATIONAL JUDGMENT.
THE PROPHET DEALS PLAINLY WITH THEM; FOR WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO THEM TO BE FLATTERED? ¶ Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
1) THEY WERE NOT FRUITFUL IN THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. “AN EMPTY VINE” (VSS. 1)
HOSEA 10:1 ISRAEL IS AN EMPTY VINE; HE BRINGETH FORTH FRUIT UNTO HIMSELF: ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS FRUIT HE HATH INCREASED THE ALTARS; ACCORDING TO THE GOODNESS OF HIS LAND THEY HAVE MADE GOODLY IMAGES.
2.) THEY MULTIPLIED THEIR ALTARS AND IMAGES, AND THE MORE BOUNTIFUL GOD’S PROVISION AND MERCY WAS TO THEM, THE THEY WERE SERVING THEIR IDOLS.
IT IS A GREAT OFFENSE TO GOD, AND AN ABUSE OF HIS GOODNESS, WHEN THE MORE MERCIES WE RECEIVE FROM HIM THE MORE SINS WE COMMIT AGAINST HIM
THE MORE WEALTHY MEN BECOME THE MORE MISCHIEF THEY DO.
C). HOSEA SAYS THEIR HEARTS WERE DIVIDED THEY WERE IN CONFLICT WITH THEMSELVES THEREFORE THEIR WORDS AND WORSHIP TO GOD WERE WORTHLESS.
HOSEA 10:2 THEIR HEART IS DIVIDED; NOW SHALL THEY BE FOUND FAULTY: HE SHALL BREAK DOWN THEIR ALTARS, HE SHALL SPOIL THEIR IMAGES. HOSEA 10:4 THEY HAVE SPOKEN WORDS, SWEARING FALSELY IN MAKING A COVENANT: THUS JUDGMENT SPRINGETH UP AS HEMLOCK IN THE FURROWS OF THE FIELD.
THEY WERE DIVIDED BETWEEN GOD AND THEIR IDOLS.
ROMANS 7:14-25
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
THEREFORE HOSEA 10:12 SAYS TO THEM AND TO US TODAY, SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND: FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU.
AND NOW IS THE TIME. . NOW IS ALL THAT WE HAVE
IT IS TIME TO BREAK UP ALL OUR FALLOW GROUND  IN ORDER FOR GOOD SEED TO GROW THERE MUST BE SOME PREPARATION DONE. –
ISAIAH 28:23-25 GIVE YE EAR, AND HEAR MY VOICE; HEARKEN, AND HEAR MY SPEECH. 24 DOTH THE PLOWMAN PLOW ALL DAY TO SOW? DOTH HE OPEN AND BREAK THE CLODS OF HIS GROUND? 25 WHEN HE HATH MADE PLAIN THE FACE THEREOF, DOTH HE NOT CAST ABROAD THE FITCHES, AND SCATTER THE CUMMIN, AND CAST IN THE PRINCIPAL WHEAT AND THE APPOINTED BARLEY AND THE RIE IN THEIR PLACE?
JEREMIAH 4:3
3 FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD TO THE MEN OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND, AND SOW NOT AMONG THORNS.
WEEDS GROW WHEN WE SOW WITHOUT ANY PREPARATION.
DO NOT SOW NOT AMONG THORNS AND WHY IS THIS WARNING IMPORTANT?
LUKE 8:4-15
4 AND WHEN MUCH PEOPLE WERE GATHERED TOGETHER, AND WERE COME TO HIM OUT OF EVERY CITY, HE SPAKE BY A PARABLE:
5 A SOWER WENT OUT TO SOW HIS SEED: AND AS HE SOWED, SOME FELL BY THE WAY SIDE; AND IT WAS TRODDEN DOWN, AND THE FOWLS OF THE AIR DEVOURED IT. 6 AND SOME FELL UPON A ROCK; AND AS SOON AS IT WAS SPRUNG UP, IT WITHERED AWAY, BECAUSE IT LACKED MOISTURE. 7 AND SOME –
6 – FELL AMONG THORNS; AND THE THORNS SPRANG UP WITH IT, AND CHOKED IT. 8 AND OTHER FELL ON GOOD GROUND, AND SPRANG UP, AND BARE FRUIT AN HUNDREDFOLD. AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THESE THINGS, HE CRIED, HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR. 9 AND HIS DISCIPLES ASKED HIM, SAYING, WHAT MIGHT THIS PARABLE BE? 10 AND HE SAID, UNTO YOU IT IS GIVEN TO KNOW THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: BUT TO OTHERS IN PARABLES; THAT SEEING THEY MIGHT NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND. 11 NOW THE PARABLE IS THIS: THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD. 12 THOSE BY THE WAY SIDE ARE THEY THAT HEAR; THEN COMETH THE DEVIL, AND TAKETH AWAY THE WORD OUT OF THEIR HEARTS, LEST THEY SHOULD BELIEVE AND BE SAVED. 13 THEY ON THE ROCK ARE THEY, WHICH, WHEN THEY HEAR, RECEIVE THE WORD WITH JOY; AND THESE HAVE NO ROOT, WHICH FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, AND IN TIME OF TEMPTATION FALL AWAY. 14 AND THAT WHICH FELL AMONG THORNS ARE THEY, WHICH, WHEN THEY HAVE HEARD, GO FORTH, AND ARE CHOKED WITH CARES AND RICHES AND PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE, AND BRING NO FRUIT TO PERFECTION. 15 BUT THAT ON THE GOOD GROUND ARE THEY, WHICH IN AN HONEST AND GOOD HEART, HAVING HEARD THE WORD, KEEP IT, AND BRING FORTH FRUIT WITH PATIENCE. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? THERE IS NO FRUIT PRODUCED.
WE MUST SOW TO THEMSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. WE MUST PREPARE OUR HEARTS TO RECEIVE GOD’S WORD
HOSEA 10:12 SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND: FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU. EVERY ACTION IS SEED SOWN.
WE SEE THREFORE THAT THERE IS A PRINCIPLE OF SOWING AND REAPING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
GALATIANS 6:7-9 7 BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP. 8 FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO HIS FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING. 9 AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT.
PROVERBS 22:8 8 HE THAT SOWETH INIQUITY SHALL REAP VANITY: AND THE ROD OF HIS ANGER SHALL FAIL.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 6 BUT THIS I SAY, HE WHICH SOWETH SPARINGLY SHALL REAP ALSO SPARINGLY; AND HE WHICH SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY SHALL REAP ALSO BOUNTIFULLY. NOTICE: – 8 – YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
NOTE ALSO THAT YOU REAP LATER THAN YOU SOW AND YOU REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW.
WHAT MUST WE DO ?
1) WE HAVE TO SEEK THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS JER 29;11-13
2) PERSISTENCY IS COMMANDED
– “SEEK THE LORD UNTIL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU”
WE MUST LOOK UP TO HIM FOR HIS GRACE, AND PERSISTENTLY BEG OF HIM TO BLESS THE SEED SOWN.
THE HUSBANDMAN MUST PLOUGH AND SOW WITH HIS EYES ON GOD, ASKING HIM FOR RAIN IN THE SEASON.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT MOST OF US BECOME IMPATIENT WITH GOD .
IF YOU ARE A FARMER YOU HAVE TO LEARN A LOT OF THINGS ECC.3
3)GOD HAS HAS PROMISED CERTAINTIES OF REAPING MERCY & RAIN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
HOSEA 10:12 SAYS TO THEM AND TO US TODAY, SOW TO YOURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, REAP IN MERCY; BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND: FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU.
A. REAP A CROP OF MERCY
B. RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS NOTICE THE VERY THING THAT’S TO BE SOWN IS THAT WHICH WILL BE REAPED.
TRULY WE DO REAP WHAT WE SOW AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN WE SOW. –
GAL 6:7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
AND MAY GOD HELP US NOT TO GET WEARY IN WELL DOING
AND TO “SOW TO OURSELVES IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND REAP IN MERCY; TO BREAK UP OUR FALLOW GROUND: FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD, TILL HE COME AND RAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON US.

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