Break up your fallow ground

Jer 4:3  For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

These words were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah (who had been the high priest in the days of King Josiah). Israel at that time was and still is an agricultural community. The term fallow round was one they could readily understand. Who among us here does gardening or farming? Have you left the garden or farm alone and unattended to for at least a farming season? That's fallow ground.

Jer 4:3  ISV

 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, "Break up your unplowed ground, and don't sow among thorns.

What message is God passing to them, and to us? Indeed what message is God giving me? Jer 4:1-4  "Israel, if you return to me," declares the LORD, "Return to me, remove your detestable idols from my presence, and don't waver. If you swear, 'as surely as the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations will be blessed by him, and in him they will boast." For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, "Break up your unplowed ground, and don't sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskin of your heart, you men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem, or else my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to put it out, because of your evil deeds." 

God is asking me to return to Him and by fallow ground He is asking me to return to things I have neglected. Lk 9:61  Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Plowing here refers to discipleship.

Rev 2:5  Therefore, remember how far you have fallen. Repent and go back to what you were doing at first. If you don't, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent.

By unplowed ground it includes things I had never done I am supposed to do.

What is your fallow ground? Notice there it is not our fallow ground but your fallow ground. Mt13:38 the field is the world. Are there areas of my world I have neglected in the harvest? My world consists in my family, my neighbourhood, business environment and region of activity.

Fallow ground is hard ground not soft easy ground. Think of a group of people reaching with the gospel is going to be tough but they are in your sphere of activity. To me the Muslims, prostitutes represent my fallow ground here. A people I can't just start sowing in but need to break up the round with. Form relationships with first. In saline process we recognise cultivating is the largest and most difficult aspect of getting people to come nearer Jesus. And is needed for those who have little regard for Bible. Atheists, agnostics, free thinkers, those adherents of other faiths. Breaking up fallow round is part , indeed the first part of cultivating

Ask your neighbour "Where is your own fallow round?" Which area is hard that needs attention? 1Ti 4:14  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you. 

Let's read that together.

Is there a gift you've been neglecting? Perhaps when you manifested it there was a misunderstanding between you and the leadership or it's not a popular and sweet part. Kenneth Hagin shared he loved teaching and neglected the prophetic and God rebuked him for it. Indeed he had an elbow injury which never fully healed to remind him.

What area of service has God called me has God called us into that we have left off for a while? Look into your neighbour's eyes and say "Break up your fallow ground!"

What area of your marriage has been neglected? How about the one on one times with your spouse with the children? Pro 13:23  Unused fields could yield plenty of food for the poor, but unjust people keep them from being farmed. Is my fallow round some service to the poor? Fallow ground is a potential provision for the poor.

How do you break the ice? The word of God spoken into an area breaks it up Jer 23:29  Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? In prayer, training, speaking to it in the spirit. Begin to pray deliberately about that service, that people group that gift, and seek training on how to express it better, then wait for the right opportunity and courageously use each one.

Let us pray