A) INTENTLY Again, the prophet is not speaking to the pagan, idolatrous nations of the world. He is speaking to the people of God saying, “Break up YOUR fallow ground.” If the “fallow ground” is to be broken up, then it can only, and must only be done intently. It requires a decision of your will. It requires an exercise of your volition. With great intent you decide, “I’m going to break up the fallow ground of my heart.” Notice that he does not say that he will break up their “fallow ground;” nor, does he say that God will break up their “fallow ground.” No, he says, “You break up your fallow ground.” What does that mean? The word “break” is the interesting Hebrew word nir. The word is translated “lamp” 35 times, “candle” 9 times, and “light” 4 times. Thus, it literally means, “to glisten, or shine.” In other words, we must give God permission to pull His John Deere out of Heaven’s barn, and allow the deep plow of the Holy Spirit to dig as deep as He will. It means that we allow God’s backhoe to dredge deep within the recesses of our heart to pull up everything that is there, and bring it to the surface. It means that we are willing to come clean before God, confess any known, or unknown sin of commission or
were many people who reached for Jesus, but ONLY ONE DESPERATE WOMAN TOUCHED HIM. We cannot change the past and we cannot control the future. However, if we allow the past to change us and the future to control us, our hearts will become like “fallow” ground. We cannot wait any longer. TODAY is the day. NOW is the time! But, if you are not willing to intently and immediately allow the plow of the Holy Spirit to break up the “fallow ground” of your heart; then, YOUR BEST DAYS OF SERVICE TO GOD ARE OVER! But, if down on the inside of you “deep calleth unto deep,” and you desire to experience the fulness of God like never before, then “IT IS TIME” to “break up your fallow ground” and “seek the Lord.” 3. A TREASURE to be FOUND! What happens when we “break up the fallow ground” of our hearts and begin to “seek the Lord.” My dad used to say, “God does business with honest people.” If that is true, and I believe it is, then business is about to pick up, because of: A) A PERSONAL VISITATION When we are willing to allow the plow of God’s Spirit to dig deep, and break up the “fallow ground” of our heart; and, we begin to “seek the Lord,” in confession and repentance something glorious happens. It is revealed in the words,
“Till he come.” In other words, when He comes, the natural is replaced with the supernatural; the dull is replaced with the dynamic; the fruitlessness is replaced with fruitfulness; the tradition of men is replaced with the truth of God; repentance is replaced with refreshing; and the gloom is replaced with glory. I think of the song: When Jesus passed by, When Jesus passed by; Oh what a difference, When Jesus passed by. I can’t explain it, And I cannot tell you why, But, oh what a difference When Jesus passed by. Notice that we are to “break up the fallow ground” and “seek the Lord” UNTIL “He come.” The idea is of being persistent and consistent. We don’t know when He may come; we are only promised that He will come. And when He comes through a personal visitation there will be: B) A POWERFUL REVELATION The farmer’s almanac of Heaven indicates that those who will “break up the fallow ground” and “seek the Lord” will enjoy a time when He will