Spiritual Land
Anchor scripture for April 10
“You did not choose me. I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other. - John 15:16-17
Scriptures
Genesis 1
Genesis 2
John 15:1-17
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
What is the state of your spiritual land?
Today’s fast includes a reflective exercise that is designed to help us identify the state of our “spiritual lands/gardens”. Everyone’s spiritual land looks different as everyone’s lives are completely different. Some people have the look of fruitfulness from afar, but up close they are fruit-less. Others may appear to have less fruit on their land, but are extremely fruitful in all they have. And there are some that have planted the seed, watered it and the Lord has spoken, but they are just waiting on the harvest. Today, take time to examine the areas of your life and truly seek God as to why you may be experiencing fruitlessness or a delay in fruitfulness.
Let’s start from the beginning
Fruitfulness is a blessing and command that was given to mankind from the very beginning of creation according to Genesis 1:27-28 and is achieved in partnership with God.
Genesis 1:27-28 — So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
We see fruitfulness referenced all across both the Old and New Testament. It’s used to repeatedly describe the promised land for the Israelites. It is used to help us identify the works of the spirit and the flesh (fruit of the spirit and the fruit of the flesh) according to Galatians 5:16-26. We see it referenced as a means of identifying those that are of God and those not of God (Matthew 7:15-20) and a way to identify the state of one’s heart in receiving the word of God (Mark 4).
Matthew 7:18-20 — “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
We also see in Genesis 2:5-8, that before man, the earth was self-sustaining and it wasn’t until he created man that God now had someone to “work the ground”. Needless to say, figuratively and symbolically speaking, everyone has a spiritual garden/land, but the question is, what is in your land? Is it well-kept and fruitful, or is it neglected and fruit-less? What have you planted there or allowed to be planted that is now affecting you? What seeds have been sown, for it is God that gives seeds to the sower.
Genesis 2:5-8 — “Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed.
Fruitfulness vs Fruitlessness
FRUITLESS: In the context of the Bible, the term "fruitless" often refers to the lack of spiritual productivity or the failure to produce good works and righteous living that are expected of believers. This concept is frequently illustrated through metaphors involving trees and plants, which are expected to bear fruit as evidence of their health and vitality. The biblical theme of fruitlessness serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of living a life that reflects the values and teachings of Scripture. It calls believers to examine their lives, ensuring that they are producing the fruit of righteousness and good works as evidence of their faith and relationship with God.
FRUITFUL: The term "fruitful" in the Bible is rich with spiritual, moral, and physical connotations, often symbolizing abundance, prosperity, and the manifestation of God's blessings. It is used both literally, in reference to the fertility of the land and the multiplication of offspring, and metaphorically, to describe the spiritual growth and productivity of individuals and communities.
Fruitfulness Reflection
This is the expansion of an exercise that I was able to do with my small group at church that I believe can be helpful in breaking out of the habit of just going through the motions of living our Christian life. If we are not careful, we can be “Consistently Fruitful” in one area of our life, (ex: business), but be “fruit-less“ in another area (ex: friendship) because we are primarily fixated on one area.
Fruitfulness: (a.) Full of fruit; producing fruit abundantly; bearing results; prolific; fertile; liberal; bountiful; as, a fruitful tree, or season, or soil; a fruitful wife.
Fruitlessness: 1. (a.) Lacking, or not bearing, fruit; barren; destitute of offspring; as, a fruitless tree or shrub; a fruitless marriage. 2. (a.) Productive of no advantage or good effect; vain; idle; useless; unprofitable; as, a fruitless attempt; a fruitless controversy.
Step 1: Write down in your notebook, on a sheet of paper, or in your notes app, What does your spiritual land currently consist of? To make it simpler, feel free to limit it to 5 core areas that stick out to you.
Example: Jane’s spiritual land currently consists of: Devotional time with God, Bible study, prayer time, worship, ministry, overcoming fear, working on overcoming unforgiveness, leading a church group, working on overcoming pride, motherhood, family, her two children, friendships, business, being a wife, pursuing a college degree, health and wellness, working on punctuality, and writing a book.
Step 2: Taking this list (prayerfully), begin to rate those areas from 1 to 5.
RATING SCALE: 1. Fruit-less | 2. Occasionally Fruitful | 3. Somewhat Fruitful | 4. Fruitful | 5. Consistently Fruitful
Step 3: If the Lord has already spoken about an area, begin to pray into it again. If you have not heard from the Lord about that particular area, begin to look into what the word of God says in comparison to your rating and turn it into a prayer point.
Example 1: “I believe that I am somewhat fruitful (#3 out of 5) in the area of punctuality and time management. It’s something that I know I have to improve as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:12 NLT: “People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.” Father, help me to overcome lateness and to value time as you do. I want to be consistently on time and to respect the time that you have given me.
Example 2: “I believe that I have been occasionally fruitful (#2 out of 5) in the area of overcoming fear even as the Holy Spirit has brought Psalms 34:4 NLT to me a few times which states: “I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Father, I have seen moments where i’ve been fearless and bold, but I sometimes shrink back. Your word says that you have freed me from all of my fears, teach me and guide me into making this manifest in my life.
Where might fruitlessness or the appearance of it stem from?
Something that I have found interesting is that sometimes it can appear that we are fruit-less in an area even though we have “planted all of the right seeds” and “watered it” accordingly, but it seems like nothing is happening. It can be easy to get discouraged. But we have to also remember that first, we can do nothing apart from God and second, there are many other factors.
God gives the increase: (1 Corinthians 3:6-9) — 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
The importance of Abiding in Christ: (John 15:4) — 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
The importance of spiritual sight…Hagar ran out of water while wandering aimlessly with her son Ishmael in the wilderness and thought they would die there. But, then the Lord showed up for her and had to open her eyes so she could perceive — (Genesis 21: 18-21) 18 Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.” 19 Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink. 20 And God was with the boy as he grew up in the wilderness. He became a skillful archer…
It’s not yet the time: (Ecclesiastes 3:1 MSG) — “There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:”
Rebellion: (Proverbs 1:29-31 TLB) — 29 “For you closed your eyes to the facts and did not choose to reverence and trust the Lord, 30 and you turned your back on me, spurning my advice. 31 That is why you must eat the bitter fruit of having your own way and experience the full terrors of the pathway you have chosen. 32 For you turned away from me—to death; your own complacency will kill you. Fools! 33 But all who listen to me shall live in peace and safety, unafraid.”
Sin and not fully yielding an area of your life to God: (Romans 6:13) — 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.