DAY 12 : Breaking Up the Fallow Ground - Part 1
By Charles Finney
Charles Finney, one of the greatest revivalists of our nation’s history, lived during the time of the 2nd Great Awakening. In one year, 100,000 came to Christ through his ministry, while 500,000 came to Christ during the revival. Much of the success of the revival was due to Finney’s thorough and uncompromising approach to repentance.
“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness upon you.”
- Hosea 10:12
DEVOTIONAL
The Jews were a nation of farmers, and it is therefore a common thing in the Scriptures to refer for illustrations to their occupation, and to the scenes with which farmers and shepherds are familiar. The prophet Hosea addresses them as a nation of backsliders, and reproves them for their idolatry, and threatens them with the judgments of God.
A revival consists of two parts; as it respects the Church, and as it respects the ungodly. I shall speak on this occasion of a revival in the Church. Fallow ground is ground which has once been tilled, but which now lies waste, and needs to be broken up and mellowed, before it is suited to receive grain.
What Does It Mean to Break Up Fallow Ground?
To break up the fallow ground, is to break up your hearts--to prepare your minds to bring forth fruit unto God. The mind of man is often compared in the Bible to ground, and the word of God to seed sown in it, and the fruit represents the actions and affections of those who receive it. To break up the fallow ground, therefore, is to bring the mind into such a state, that it is fitted to receive the word of God.
Sometimes your hearts get matted down hard and dry, and all run to waste, till there is no such thing as getting fruit from them till they are all broken up, and mellowed down, and fitted to receive the word of God. It is this softening of the heart, so as to make it feel the truth, which the prophet calls breaking up your fallow ground.
How is Fallow Ground to be Broken Up?
If you mean to break up the fallow ground of your hearts, you must begin by looking at your hearts--examine and note the state of your minds, and see where you are. Many never seem to think about this. They pay no attention to their own hearts, and never know whether they are doing well in religion or not--whether they are gaining ground or going back--whether they are fruitful, or lying waste like the fallow ground.
Now you must draw off your attention from other things, and look into this. Make a business of it. Do not be in a hurry. Examine thoroughly the state of your hearts, and see where you are--whether you are walking with God every day, or walking with the devil--whether you are serving God or serving the devil most--whether you are under the dominion of the prince of darkness, or the Lord Jesus Christ.
Self-examination consists in looking at your lives, in considering your actions, in calling up the past, and learning its true character. Look back over your past history. Take up your individual sins one by one, and look at them. I do not mean that you should just cast a glance at your past life, and see that it has been full of sins, and then go to God and make a sort of general confession, and ask for pardon. That is not the way. You must take them up one by one. It will be a good thing to take a pen and paper, as you go over them, and write them down as they occur to you.
Go over them as carefully as a merchant goes over his books; and as often as a sin comes before your memory, add it to the list. General confessions of sin will never do. Your sins were committed one by one; and as far as you can come at them, they ought to be reviewed and repented of one by one. Now begin; and take up first what are commonly, but improperly, called...Sins of Omission.
PRAYER RESPONSE:
(Disclaimer: Some of what Charles Finney shares may seem blunt or initially offensive to our modern sensibilities. However, if we will maintain an open and humble heart, the Lord can use it to bring great freedom and breakthrough in our lives! Just as the Word of God can be piercing and sharp, just as He cuts deep [at times] in order to heal us, let's allow these points of repentance to cut deep - and to surrender what He brings to mind.
Remember on many occasions, Jesus was very direct and blunt in His words - but they all flowed from the truth, out of love and an invitation to restoration! Pray for the grace and desire to see the whole truth, and to remain unoffendable personally.)
1. INGRATITUDE
Take this sin, for instance, and write down under it all the instances you can remember, wherein you have received favors from God, for which you have never exercised gratitude. How many cases can you remember? Some remarkable providence, some wonderful turn of events, that saved you from ruin.
Set down the instances of God's goodness to you when you were in sin, before your conversion. Then the mercy of God in the circumstances of your conversion, for which you have never been half thankful enough. The numerous mercies you have received since.
How long the catalogue of instances, where your ingratitude is so black that you are forced to hide your face in confusion! Now go on your knees, and confess them one by one to God, and ask forgiveness. The very act of confession, by the laws of suggestion, will bring up others to your memory. Put down these. Go over these three or four times in this way, and you will find an astonishing amount of mercies, for which you have never thanked God.
(Take a pen and paper [or phone] and write down the things the Lord brings to mind. We will continue to add to this, in the coming daily times of repentance.)
========================
Interested in signing up for the 40 Days For Mercy? Join us in this critical moment in our nation, as we unite and plead the blood of Jesus over our families, communities & nation.
Sign up today!
========================
© 2022 LoveUnited. All Rights Reserved.