The Fallow Ground

The Fallow Ground

Introduction: The Urgency of Spiritual Fruitfulness

I read an article by Brother DeLuca about "the fallow ground," and it really made me think about how critical it is for me to produce fruit. It doesn’t make any difference what time of year, the circumstances, the conditions, or my personal state—it’s important that I sow the right things. If I sow the right things, I will reap the right things. So, when we're around others, what we do for or to them will either leave them better off or worse.

Hosea's Message: Break Up Your Fallow Ground

The prophet Hosea made a statement that causes us to reflect on what kind of ground we are. Hosea 10:12 says, “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” Our conduct is to be governed by righteousness—doing what is right. The prophet illustrates this with the concept of farming, a familiar image to his audience. The land Hosea sees is lifeless, useless, and non-productive—what the Bible calls "fallow." It had not been used for anything good. This is a vivid picture of carelessness, apathy, and indifference. The people were not trying to produce fruit.

Jeremiah Echoes the Warning

Jeremiah used a similar image in Jeremiah 4:3: “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.” Unproductive ground must be broken up before it can be useful again. If we are not producing fruit, we are ineffective as Christians. God has never desired unproductive lives from His people. Whether under the Patriarchal, Mosaic, or Christian age, God expects fruit.

Sowing Wind, Reaping Whirlwind

Hosea 8:7 says, “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” Do we want a personal faith that produces no fruit? Are we content with a Christianity that makes no difference? The fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22–23—“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”—are the kind of fruit God wants. Are we producing these? The world is watching us, and Satan wants us to remain fallow and fruitless.

Breaking Up the Ground

So what must we do? Break up the ground. Remove what is bad so we can plant what is good. Sometimes our spiritual ground has weeds like unbelief or apathy. These must be uprooted so good fruit can grow. In John 15, Jesus emphasizes fruit-bearing: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” Even productive branches are pruned so they bear more.

Affliction May Spur Growth

Sometimes fruit comes through stress. An old practice involves driving a rusty nail into a fruitless tree to stimulate growth. Spiritually, trials and tribulations can spur fruitfulness. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” Verse 75 adds, “In faithfulness You have afflicted me.” Acts 14:22 confirms that “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 that God comforts us in all our tribulations so that we may comfort others.

Unfruitful Christians and a Nation in Decline

Fallow, fruitless Christians are a tragedy. They fail to reflect God’s character. And what about our country? There’s been a terrible moral decline over recent decades. Could it be because Christians haven’t produced the right fruit? Christianity is mocked in media and entertainment. Perhaps we have not been the salt and light Jesus spoke of in Matthew 5. We cannot be ashamed of our faith.

Greater Is He Who Is in Us

1 John 4:4 tells us, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” We must root out sin and evil passions. The world needs to see Christians bearing abundant, godly fruit. That requires repentance. Hosea 10:12 says, “Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord.” We seek Him through prayer and His Word. Psalm 72:6–7 paints the picture: “He shall come down like rain upon the grass... In His days the righteous shall flourish.” But that promise is conditional—we must break up our fallow ground.

Living Fruitful Lives in Christ

We must do the hard work of destroying sin and cultivating righteousness. When we produce the fruit of the Spirit, we glorify God and bless the world. Satan is active, but God is greater. The Bible says Satan will flee from us. Our lives matter. Our actions matter. What we do influences the world. But to produce fruit, we must be in Christ.

Entering Christ and Becoming Fruitful

To be in Christ, as seen in Acts 2, we must believe in Him, repent of sins, confess our faith, and be baptized. Then we rise as new creatures, ready to bear good fruit. Let’s break up the fallow ground. Seek the Lord. He will reign righteousness on us.

Sermon Outline

I. Introduction: Fruitfulness and the Christian Life

• Producing fruit regardless of circumstances
• Our influence on others

II. Hosea’s Warning: Break Up the Fallow Ground

• Hosea 10:12
• Ground left lifeless and unproductive

III. Jeremiah’s Echo: Do Not Sow Among Thorns

• Jeremiah 4:3
• Apathy, indifference, and uselessness

IV. Unproductive Sowing: The Whirlwind Result

• Hosea 8:7
• The need for spiritual fruit
• Galatians 5:22–23

V. Breaking Up Ground: Removing Spiritual Weeds

• John 15: Fruit-bearing emphasized
• Unbelief and apathy hinder growth

VI. Trials and Growth: Producing Fruit Through Affliction

• Psalm 119:67, 75
• Acts 14:22
• 2 Corinthians 1:3–4

VII. National Impact of Fallow Christianity

• Moral decline in culture
• Need for boldness and light
• 1 John 4:4

VIII. The Call to Fruitfulness and Repentance

• Hosea 10:12
• Psalm 72:6–7

IX. Entering Christ to Bear Fruit

• Acts 2:38
• Belief, repentance, confession, baptism

Call to Action

Don’t be content with a fruitless faith. Break up your fallow ground. Root out sin and plant righteousness. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Enter into Christ, be joined to the vine, and bear much fruit. The world needs your example, and God is glorified when we bear good fruit abundantly.

Scripture Reference List

• Hosea 10:12 – Call to break up fallow ground
• Jeremiah 4:3 – Warning against sowing among thorns
• Hosea 8:7 – Reaping the whirlwind
• Galatians 5:22–23 – Fruit of the Spirit
• John 15:1–8 – Necessity of bearing fruit in Christ
• Psalm 119:67, 75 – Affliction leads to obedience
• Acts 14:22 – Tribulations are necessary
• 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 – Comfort in affliction
• Matthew 5:13–16 – Salt and light
• 1 John 4:4 – Victory over the world
• Psalm 72:6–7 – God reigns righteousness
• Acts 2:38 – Becoming a Christian

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO

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