Words of Jesus Christ in "Red"  The Bible is indeed an amazing Book. It uses the topic of plowing to teach us many truths. Let's study and see what it has to say on this particular subject. Every Christian is called to be a spiritual farmer, whether it be in the cultivation of his own heart or also in the hearts of others. Hence, throughout the Scriptures, we find terminology pertaining to plowing, threshing, harrowing, sowing, reaping, watering, and feeding. Each saint of God is called to be a plowman. He has a job to do, and he must stay focused in order to accomplish it. There are plowmen who are working toward a good end, while others are attempting to reach an evil one. In this day and hour, there is a desperate need amidst the Body of Christ for a deep and thorough plowing to occur which will render the soil of the hearts of the people fit to receive the Seed of God's Word without resistance or hindrance. In this message, we would like to examine "six different Scriptural illustrations for the plow". May we all be strengthened and edified in our study today.
What is "fallow ground"? How do we break it up in a spiritual sense? "Fallow ground" is that which had once been tilled but has long remained uncultivated. It is land slightly plowed and full of weeds and thorns. This is a picture of many Christian's hearts who daily and weekly are trying to receive the seed of God's Word into their hearts. It is no wonder that after a period of time there is no marked change in their lives. "This ought not to be!" Especially when considering that the Word of God is full of supernatural power - it is living and active. It is capable of bringing about change in anyone's life. So what is the problem? The problem lies not in the seed but in the soil which receives the seed. Many are sowing the Word of God "among thorns" - in "fallow ground" - ground that is untilled, unplowed, or unprepared. The Jesus, in Luke, gave us a perfect illustration of this:
Here we have a heart that is "fallow ground." It is untilled, unplowed, and unprepared. It is full of "thorns" - "cares and riches and pleasures of this life." Just as the seed that falls into "fallow ground" cannot produce any fruit, even so the Word of God, falling on a heart that is "fallow ground," becomes fruitless. This is the reason why the Prophet Jeremiah admonished the people to "break up your fallow ground." Even though they were the people of God, possessing the oracles of God, they were unchanged and acting like heathen. Even so is the case today with many in the church. They appear as heathen. Their hearts are unchanged and unfit soil to receive the Word. At one time, they were ploughed and tilled through repentance, tears, godly sorrow, the Fear of God, and exposure to the Holy Spirit. But over a period of time, these same people allowed their hearts to become hardened through sin, worldliness, idols, compromise, complacency, indifference, and spiritual slumber. Eventually, the "cares and riches and pleasures of this life" grew and filled their hearts. What is so desperately needed in the Church today is the hot and heavy, heart-searching preaching that plows deeply within the hearts of the people. It severely convicts any and all of sin and worldliness. It causes hearts to melt like wax before the piercing light of the Holy Spirit and rivers of tears to flow in godly sorrow for sin. It breaks up the soil, strips it of all weeds and thorns, and renders it fit to receive the seed of God's Word, which works effectually in all who believe and brings forth fruit even an hundredfold. Where are the preachers who would dare to plow the ground of their people's hearts until every heart is fit soil to receive the Word of God and bring forth fruit abundantly! What is also needed in this day and hour is for all Christians to plead with God in fervent prayers for the torrential rains of the Spirit of God which will pound upon their hardened hearts until they become softened once again in true humility. Also, that they would plead for the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash away all corrupt affections and lusts. We should make this song our earnest plea today as we seek for a fresh plowing of our hearts: Lord, send the rain,
A people who once walked in their own ways would now serve the Lord and follow His rule. God would be their judge. He would put an end to all contentions and strifes among them. Nations at war with each other would be brought to peace. The very instruments of war would be transformed into instruments of agriculture. "Swords" would become "plowshares." "Spears" would be turned into "pruninghooks" - a long piece of wood with a crooked knife attached to it, used in cutting the limbs of trees or vines. The Gospel would act as a spiritual, farming implement to cut at the hearts of men, softening their spirits, and disposing them to be peaceable rather than at war with each other and God.
At first we have an illustration of Ephraim being as one broken in the yoke and tamed - "And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught..." She "loveth to tread out the corn..." Corn in the East was threshed by means of oxen trampling it out under their feet. They traveled in a circular fashion, drawing a cylinder containing an iron harrow which is a cultivating tool, containing spikes, teeth, and disks used in pulverizing the soil. The "heifer" loved to "tread out the corn" because she was not muzzled and could freely stop and eat. The picture here is reversed however by the word "but..." Instead of peaceably treading out the corn, Ephraim would be made "to ride." God would pass "over her fair neck." What does this mean? It signifies that Israel would come under severe afflictions, troubles, and punishment - "I passed over her fair neck." She would no longer be able to eat of the corn. She would be brought under a strict yoke. God would set a rider on her (Assyria) in order to master, tame, and bring her into submission. "Judah shall plow" - Like Ephraim, she would be restrained from treading out the corn and receiving instant fulfillment. She would be made to "plow" - be placed under the yoke to labor and receive gratification only after the necessary harvest was accomplished which was to once again come into subjection to God's rule and commands. "Jacob shall break his clods" - "Clods" were lumps or masses of earth or clay which hindered the growth of the seed. Spiritually speaking, these were areas of their lives which produced hardness of heart and hindered any spiritual growth. They were broken up by using a harrow or plow.
To "plow iniquity" or "wickedness" is an apt illustration for pursuing a course of sin. Every day, sinners form plans and carry out sinful purposes for a harvest. As they lead their wicked lives, they are like farmers who prepare the groundwork for their ungodly projects by sowing wickedness and reaping iniquity, expecting some type of gain in the end. They work hard at their unholy pursuits. They labor sinfully, taking great pains to accomplish their goals which are in total opposition to what God commands. With hearts that are stubborn and hardened, they pursue after lies and the false worship of themselves - "thou didst trust in thy way" - or "mighty men." Just as God has His ministers who prepare the soil of the people in order to receive the Word of God, even so does Satan have his ministers who purposely harden the soil of the hearts through sin, rebellion, stubbornness, error, deception, idols, and distractions. These "ministers" preach that it is acceptable before God to sin a little every day in thought, word, and deed.
The farmer who plows does so in hope of a harvest. He cultivates the earth with the main prospect of enjoying the fruits or success of his hard labor. The Apostle Paul is making the analogy here between the farmer and the minister of righteousness who sows the seed of God's Word into the hearts of His people. Just as the farmer plows the ground and then sows the seed for a harvest, even so does the preacher labor for the Lord, expecting to reap a harvest. Using the analogy of husbandry, Paul, in this entire passage of Scripture, deals with the fact that ministers of the Gospel are to be supported by the financial blessings of God's people.
The ministers of the Gospel labor heartily sowing "spiritual things" - the Word of God - unto the people of God. In turn, the Holy Ghost speaks through the Apostle Paul in saying that these preachers then should reap the "carnal things" or financial support of those to whom they minister. According to the Scriptures, every minister who is touching the lives of God's people has a claim to their financial support. And this support should not be given grudgingly but should be considered as only fair and right as fruit for their toils. We are not to give to a ministry out of obligation or pride. Many give to their churches not because the Pastor is preaching the unadulterated Word of God, causing them to grow spiritually and live victoriously over Sin and the world's enticements, but because they want to make a good impression on others or because they sing in the choir, teach a Sunday School, or are on the deacon board and feel under a certain obligation to do so. None of these are Scriptural reasons for giving. Then we have those who give to a ministry to get something in return. They are not being changed and established in the Faith by the Word coming forth. In some cases, it is plain error that is being preached. Yet, in spite of it all, they give out of a lust for an autographed book, a new Bible, or a trinket of some sort like oil from Bethlehem or Jerusalem. Again, this is antiScriptural reasoning for giving. The only justifiable reason for the Body of Christ to financially support a ministry is because the Truth of God's Word is being preached and taught, and the people are being changed, transformed, established, strengthened, and edified by it. Any other reason for giving will be burnt up in the fire on Judgment Day. Those ministers who are plowing are plowing in the hope of being rewarded for their labors. God has ordained that those to whom they minister be the ones to supply their "carnal things" which is among other things - financial support.
Every Christian is called to be a farmer who cultivates the soil of his own heart, keeping himself fit for work in the kingdom of God. He has a very important mandate. He must solemnly and intently keep his focus on the goal that lies ahead of him, not veering to the right hand or to the left through the many distractions that lie along the sidelines. He is called upon to love the Lord Jesus with all of his heart. At no time or under no circumstances is he ever to look back regrettably at the worldly pleasures, wealth, honors, pursuits, favor, and friendships that he relinquished in coming to Christ. The Prophet Isaiah prophesied of the ministry of John the Baptist when he said:
This same ministry is needed today. God is calling all of His plowmen to get busy. The day is coming when no man will be able to work. 
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