WAS CALLED BARREN
A passionate plea from Joel Haynes to be a witness for Christ. Preached at the Global Independent Baptist Fellowship meeting in Tampa, Florida on February 18, 2025.
Sermon Notes
God has placed a message on my heart from Luke 1:35-37. Elizabeth was called barren, but God gave her a child. And I want to preach on this truth: Barrenness does not have to be permanent.
Just as Elizabeth experienced a miraculous transformation, I believe God can take the spiritual barrenness in our lives and churches and turn it into fruitfulness. But we've got to recognize the misery of barrenness, the marks of barrenness, and, most importantly, the miracle of transformation.
1. The Misery of Barrenness
Nobody wants to be barren. Whether it's a couple struggling to have children or a church struggling to bring in souls, barrenness is miserable.
In Scripture, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah, and Elizabeth all knew that sorrow. And just like them, I’ve met believers who desperately long to see new life—not just in their families, but in their ministries.
I’ve sat across from couples whose hearts break over their inability to conceive, and every time, I am convicted. Do I desire to see spiritual children born into the family of God with the same intensity?
Church, we ought to have a hunger for souls to be saved! But too often, our churches have become intensive care units (ICUs) instead of maternity wards—just trying to survive instead of bringing forth new life.
A church that isn't winning souls loses its joy. I've been in churches where everyone is waiting for transfers instead of going after sinners. Brethren, we cannot settle for that. We need to press through the reality of ministry and keep going until we see fruit!
2. The Marks of Barrenness
You can always tell when a church or a believer is barren. There are certain marks of spiritual barrenness, and I’ll give you three of them:
(a) Foolishness
When Sarah got tired of waiting for God’s promise, she came up with a fleshly idea—Hagar. And let me tell you, when churches stop seeing fruit, they start coming up with fleshly solutions.
I’ve seen churches bring in rock concerts, gimmicks, and worldly programs—all because they aren’t seeing results the right way. Listen, Jesus wasn’t like the world to win the world. He was as different as light is from darkness, and it was that difference that drew people to Him.
You don’t need entertainment to bring people in. You need the power of God!
(b) Fighting
A barren church is a fighting church. You want to know why some folks in your congregation are arguing about the carpet color, the song schedule, and who gets to lead what ministry? It’s because they have too much energy!
Listen, my wife has given birth to five boys. Every single time, after labor, she was exhausted. The last thing she wanted to do was argue or fuss. Why? Because bringing forth life takes all your energy.
A church that's too busy winning souls doesn't have time for petty fights. Instead of fighting each other, let’s fight for the lost!
(c) Forfeiting
Some churches think that because of their history, traditions, or past revivals, they can just coast and expect God’s blessing to remain.
But God doesn’t have to keep His hand on your church. If you stop focusing on winning souls, He can take His hand off and put it on someone else.
I fear God way more than I fear men. And I’d rather see our churches humble themselves and get back to the main thing—reaching people for Christ—than to see us lose what God has blessed us with.
3. The Miracle of Transformation
Now, here’s the good news: barrenness does not have to be permanent!
Look at what God did for barren women in Scripture:
Sarah → Isaac, the promised seed
Rebecca → Jacob, father of Israel
Rachel → Joseph, the provider
Hannah → Samuel, the prophet
Elizabeth → John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ
Every single one of these women experienced a miracle. And if God can work that kind of miracle in their lives, why wouldn’t He do the same in His own bride, the Church?
Let me ask you: have you ever led a soul to Christ?
If you have—how long has it been?
If it’s been a long time—does that bother you?
Brethren, God is still able! He can take a barren church, a barren preacher, a barren believer, and bring forth abundant fruit.
Conclusion: Three Things You Need to Do
If you’re tired of spiritual barrenness and you’re ready to see God move, here’s what you need to do:
1. Pray Like Hannah Did
Hannah wanted a child so badly she wept until she looked like a drunk woman at the altar. When was the last time you prayed that way for a soul?
We cry over a lot of things—our struggles, our disappointments—but when was the last time you wept over a lost soul?
2. Get Someone to Pray With You
Rebecca and Isaac prayed together for God to open her womb, and He did. When you’re struggling, find someone to pray with you.
Go to your pastor, your spouse, your friend, and say, “It’s been too long since I’ve led someone to Christ. Would you pray with me?”
3. Keep Trying
How long do you keep trying? Until God answers.
Abraham and Sarah waited 70 years to have Isaac. That’s 840 months of disappointment—but they kept trying.
I don’t know how long it will take. I don’t know when that breakthrough will come. But I know God is able, and if we stay faithful, our barrenness will become past tense.
Church, let’s repent of spiritual barrenness. Let’s beg God to give us a hunger for souls. Let’s refocus on the Great Commission.
God, give me children, or else I die!
Brethren, let’s pray, let’s partner together, and let’s keep trying. Barrenness does not have to be permanent!
