Introduction: Fallow ground is a field that has been sown with crops in the past and has yielded much fruit, but has now been left unworked for a time. It is hard and full of ruts. It yields nothing but weeds now. This is a picture of a land that used to be known for its righteousness but has now turned from God and grown cold toward Him. It is a perfect picture of America today. The verses leading up to verse twelve reveal the circumstances of the times.

• Their wicked rebellion (Hosea 10:1-5 [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] 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. [5] The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
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• As an empty vine, they bring fruit only to themselves (Hosea 10:1Israel 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.
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• Their heart is divided and found faulty (Hosea 10:2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
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• As they rejected the Lord, so they reject all authority (Hosea 10:3For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
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• They speak many false words (Hosea 10:4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
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• The glory of the Lord is departed (Hosea 10:5The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
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• Their coming judgment (Hosea 10:6-11 [6] It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. [7] As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. [8] The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. [9] O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. [10] It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. [11] And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.
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• Their only hope (Hosea 10:12Sow 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.
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1. REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE –the fallow ground used to be a fruitful field 
1. Learn From the Former Days (Job 8:8-10 [8] For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers: [9] (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) [10] Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
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2. Remember What We Have Lost (Revelation 2:5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
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3. Preserve the Ancient Landmark (Proverbs 22:28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
   See All...; Revelation 3:2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
   See All... – “strengthen the things that remain”) 
2. RECOGNIZE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY – “your fallow ground” :the fallow ground is unworked ground 
1. For the Condition of the Ground (Nehemiah 1:1-7 [1] The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, [2] That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. [3] And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. [4] And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, [5] And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: [6] Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. [7] We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
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2. For the Correction of the Situation (Acts 9:6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
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3. PREPARE THE GROUND (last part of Hosea 10:11And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.
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1. Plow the Field – Prayer (Colossians 4:2-4 [2] Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; [3] Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: [4] That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
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2. Break the Clods – Brokenness – “his clods” (Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
   See All...; Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
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4. SOW THE SEED 
1. What to Sow – the Word (Luke 8:11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
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2. Where to Begin – to yourselves (2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
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3. How to Sow – in righteousness (1 Timothy 6:4-5 [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
   See All...; see also Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 [1] Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. [2] Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. [3] If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. [4] He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. [5] As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. [6] In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.
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4. Where the Sow – in the field; that is, the world (Matthew 13:38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
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5. SEEK THE LORD – only God can bring the rain  
1. Seek the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:11Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
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2. Seek Him Urgently – “for it is time
3. Seek Him Continually – “till he come”
4. Seek Him Expectantly – “and rain righteousness”
5. Seek Him Personally – “upon you”

Conclusion: Will you have a part in these last day fallow ground ministries? God seeks such to follow Him.