Live the Word Bible Studies

Welcome to Live the Word

I'm happy you have visited this site, where my goal since 2001 has been to help people all over the world understand and then apply the word of God in their lives. If you look on the right hand side of this blog site, you will see the name of each book in the New Testament, where you will find what I call a devotional commentary for every verse in those books. My goal was not to do a technical study, but rather a practical one that presented not only insights, but also questions and recommendations to help you apply or live the word. I have now published those studies in book form, but it's time to expand my work with something new (pictured here are two of my commentary covers, and they are all available in paper or Kindle format through Amazon).

Once I completed the New Testament, I wanted to continue my Live the Word series but wasn't sure how. For several years, I had the idea to develop a Purpose Study Bible, similar to others on the market like The Spirit-Filled Bible, The Leadership Bible, The African Bible, and The Student Bible. Each one of those incorporates insights about a particular topic right in the Bible itself, providing a convenient and easy-to-use commentary. I have been teaching on the topics of purpose, creativity, goal setting, time management, and faith since 1991, and have gained insight and often taught about or written about those topics from a biblical perspective.

For the remainder of my days, I want to share what I have learned with my readers on these five topics I have labeled the five Gold Mine Principles, and this format seems like an economical way to do so (since I'm not ready to undertake publishing a Bible) and a good next step for the Live the Word series. This particular study began with Genesis and is moving in an orderly fashion through the rest of the Old Testament. Should I live long enough, I'll finish the Old Testament and then move on to the New.

I also want to learn from my readers, so I invite you to post comments to supplement, adjust, or augment what I have written. My goal, however, isn't to make us all experts on what the Bible has to say about purpose or creativity or goals or faith, but rather to help us become people of purpose, for as Jesus said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). That's why my commentaries are called Live the Word, for that is what we are expected to do once we know it.

I hope you enjoy reading these studies as much as I enjoy writing them, and I hope you will be an active participant by sharing your own insight and testimonies. Thank you, and may the Lord bless the reading and study of His word!

Purpose Study Bible 281: No Family Support

God had used Gideon to defeat Israel's enemies but one of the tribes benefiting from the victory wasn't all that happy:

Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” And they challenged him vigorously. But he answered them, “What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” At this, their resentment against him subsided (Judges 8:1-3).

Gideon was of the tribe of Manasseh and the Ephraimites were their relatives, since the tribes' namesakes, Manasseh and Ephraim, were Genesis Joseph's sons. Instead of rejoicing and offering congratulations, however, Ephraim took Gideon to task for not including them in the battle. Of course, God was the One who had chosen the warriors He wanted to go with Gideon, so Ephraim's problem really wasn't with their brother; their problem was with God Himself.

When you begin to make progress in your creative purpose, sometimes people closest to you are threatened by your growth and may not be your most ardent supporters. If that happens, remember how Gideon handled their complaint. He did so humbly and diplomatically, but he did not change course or include them in his future plans. In a sense, he shrugged it off and moved on.

Are some people you expected to support, celebrate, or encourage you not responding as you expected? How are you you handling this painful and disappointing scenario? Are you trying harder to win their approval, or are you carrying on with the work God has given you to do?

You shouldn't expect a parade or a bouquet of flowers from anyone when you do God's will, even those closest to you. It's nice if that happens, but whether it does or not, your focus needs to be on one thing and one thing only: being true to who God made you to be and what He gave you to do.

Purpose Study Bible 280: Listening to Others

Gideon had asked for a sign and God gave it to him. Then God offered him another sign but Gideon had move out and go down to the enemy's camp to receive it:

During that night the Lord said to Gideon, “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp.

Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped (Judges 7:9-11, 13-15).

This confirming sign came through other people, which is how God often sends a sign to you. Perhaps you have received a compliment all your life about something: "You're so easy to talk to, you have such a good sense of color usage, I enjoy hearing you speak, etc." You haven't thought much about it, but could those be prophetic messengers coming to confirm God's will just like the men talking in the enemy camp were doing for Gideon?

What compliment or comment have you regularly heard about yourself from others? What clues could or does it have to help you understand your creative purpose? Are you willing for God to send you some messengers now to give you insight into how they see you? Can you be open to the fact that what they tell you is how God sees you? Gideon had to go down to the camp and listen to what the people were saying. Now it's your turn to listen in as others talk about you too.

Purpose Study Bible 279: "For the Lord and for Gideon"

“Gideon and His 300” (1907), Providence Lithograph Co.

Once Gideon got over his fears and insecurities as the leader who was to set his people free, he became quite creative in his leadership style.

Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon'” (Judges 7:16-18).

First, he asked the angel of the Lord for a confirmation that He was God's messenger when they met. Then he requested a sign which involved the fleece and the dew. Finally, Gideon asked for one more confirmation, and God allowed him to overhear someone who had a dream of a barley loaf striking the Midianites—the loaf representing Gideon and his army.

After God's will was confirmed, Gideon became a creative genius as a military leader, coming up with the plan to utilize his out-manned army in such a way that the enemy would be surprised and overwhelmed, thus defeating themselves. Once timid, Gideon boldly told his men to "watch me" and then to shout his name, along with God's, as the army's battle cry.

Like Gideon, are you bold in your approach to life and purpose? Do you devise creative strategies to accomplish the tasks God has assigned you to do? Are you waiting on God to do what He expects you to do? Are you willing to put yourself "out there" for people to watch for direction and inspiration? God is still looking for people who are willing to be purpose champions for others. I encourage you to make yourself available to be one of them.

Purpose Study 278: A Fleece

God was asking Gideon to do things he had never done before, including putting his life and the lives of others in danger, and he was apprehensive and fearful. Therefore, he asked God for multiple confirmations that what he was hearing was truly from God. Here's one of those requests:

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised—look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water (Judges 6:36-38).

This incident gave the name to a common phrase "putting out a fleece." It's refers to any petition asking God for a miraculous or unusual sign to confirm His will. In Gideon's case, God provided the sign on three occasions and Gideon went on to lead his people to victory, confident of God's presence and help.

While appropriate on occasions, the constant demand for a sign is not an act of faith but of unbelief. During Jesus' ministry, the Jews demanded a sign and He responded, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah" (Matthew 12:39). The sign of Jonah is His resurrection and we now have that as our sign if we are looking for a fleece.

If God raises the dead, He can do anything. He can provide money, resources, open doors, healing, and deliverance from your enemies. When He asks you to write, build, study, speak, go, or do, you don't need a sign. You already have one. However, God knows your heart and if He is giving you a "stretch" goal or task that is out of the ordinary, He will confirm it with a sign—something that is meaningful for you.

But if you're considering writing poetry, doing missions, being generous, or some other simple faith act that is already described in His Word, then asking for a confirmation is not appropriate. You should simply act in obedience and not wait.

Where have you been demanding a sign from God, confident you were doing so in faith, but only to be revealing your unbelief? To think that God would be required to give you constant confirmation is to ignore what Jesus said to the Jews: You have a sign, the sign of Jonah. It's time to stop asking God to jump through hoops before you consent to act. Faith requires action, so find a way to do something today and stop blaming your inactivity on God not giving you a confirming fleece.

Purpose Study Bible 277: Be Among The 300

To further reduce his army, the Lord directed Gideon to do the following:

When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the Lord told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream. The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.” So Gideon collected the provisions and rams’ horns of the other warriors and sent them home. But he kept the 300 men with him (Judges 7:5-8).

Some believe the 300 were chosen because they did not kneel to drink, while the others were comfortable kneeling, having knelt to other gods. Then there are those who say the men who knelt and drank were not vigilant to keep their head up to watch for an attack as a good soldier should do. Those explanations are plausible, but perhaps there is another reason why the 300 were chosen?

Those 300 men didn't conform to how the other 9,700 men were drinking. It took a little more effort and it was messier the way they did it. But they were about to fight a battle against a formidable enemy army with only pitchers and torches, so God was looking for warriors who didn't do things like everyone else—men who were comfortable with their distinctiveness.

Where are you trying to conform to how you should think, work, or express your creative purpose? Where are you resisting your own individuality and thus doing things as others expect them to be done? 

God made you unique for a reason, and expects you to function according to the 'operating system' He has installed in you. Don't kneel to the way things have always been done, but instead be true to who you are. Have the courage to flow in your unique style wherever and whenever you work, play, worship, or create.

Purpose Study Biblel 276: Disqualified

God had Gideon take the first step to reduce the army to the number of soldiers the Lord wanted:

"Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained (Judges 7:3).

God used fear as the first means through which they would limit the fighting men. And when you think of it, fear is still the great divider among God's people, often separating those who will talk about what they are going to do for the Lord and those who actually do it. If you look at the numbers, sixty-eight percent of the 32,000-man army was disqualified from fighting. Why? Because they were afraid. More than two-thirds of the men who had assembled disassembled when Gideon gave them permission to leave.

And how many of God's people are not in the battle today because they are afraid? Of course, only God knows. But the more important question is: Are you afraid? Where is fear keeping you from being in the front line of God's purpose for you? Where are the people of God missing out on the best of your creative purpose due to your fear? Those questions are easy to answer because God is ready to help you see you—if you are ready to ask for help.

We'll see in the next lesson that God wasn't done whittling down the army to a few hundred men, but the first reduction was massive when fear was the determining factor of whether they stayed or went. Fear is still an important, deciding factor in your own walk of purpose and you will have to deal with it one way or the other—you'll have to overcome it or you'll have to go home.

Purpose Study Biblle 275: Mighty In Battle

Once Gideon accepted his leadership position, he summoned Israel to fight until the Lord put a halt to his plans:

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me'" (Judges 7:2).

God was the one who had initiated the deliverance from Midian and He wanted the nation to realize when all was said and done that He was the one who had made it happen. So he gave Gideon a plan to reduce the number of soldiers so Israel would not say afterwards, "my own strength has saved me."

However, when you have "God will do it" thinking, it can create a passive attitude that causes you to sit back and wait. And that isn't what God wants to happen. Gideon still had to act and trust God for the results, despite the fact that God was going to reduce his army to a few hundred soldiers. And when God says He's going to help you in your creative purpose so you can't say, "I did this," you also have to act.

Perhaps a verse from Hebrews will help you understand: "who through faith . . . became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies (Hebrews 11:33-34, emphasis added). Do you see that they were not powerful before battle? They only got their power or help when they went into battle. The same holds true for you.

Where are you waiting for God's power or for God Himself to do something you yourself have to do and God will act through you? Do you need to write, build, sing, learn, or speak, but you have been "waiting on the Lord" to do it? God delivered Israel but Gideon and his remnant still had to do their part. And now it's time for you to do your part as you seek to bear purposeful, creative fruit for the glory of God.

Purpose Study Bible 274: The Spirit's Help

Gideon was finally ready to embrace his purpose and we read that he had some help to get started:

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them (Judges 6:34-35).

The Spirit came on Gideon as it did others in the Old Testament: Samson, the prophets, and Daniel, just to name a few. When the Spirit selected these chosen few, it was always to do or say something, never for personal enrichment, edification, or encouragement. In this case, Gideon blew a trumpet and began to assemble an army to deliver the people from their enemies in the power of the Spirit.

Now in the New Testament age, the Spirit comes upon all who put their faith in Christ. What's more, He comes not only to equip and edify, but also to empower God's people to function in their creative purpose—both individually and corporately. Let's be more specific: He comes to empower you to flow with and through Him in your creative purpose. Jesus said, "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth" (John 14:16-17). Part of that truth He brings is an accurate assessment of who God made you to be and what He wants you to do.

Where have you been a passive recipient of God's Spirit when He wants you to be an active one? What does He want to activate you to do? What can you do today and every day that is unique to who God made you to be but do it in the power of the Spirit? You're not alone in your pursuit of purpose; the Spirit is with you. It's time you take full advantage of this truth, not just to believe correct doctrine, but also to bear purpose fruit that brings glory to God.

Purpose Study Bible 273: Purpose Opposition

It's an interesting phenomenon that your opponents and enemies don't show up until you start to pursue your purpose. After God gave Gideon his assignment, we read,

The people of the town demanded of Joash, “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.” . . . Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel (Judges 6:30, 33).

The Bible doesn't tell us much about Gideon's life before his encounter with God, but it's safe to say it was pretty "normal." He grew up where he was, had friends and family, and was trying to eke out a living like everyone else. Then one day, God showed up and his life was never the same. Suddenly, he had people who wanted to kill him!

Most of us will never engage a purpose that's life-threatening, but each of us will encounter opposition of some kind when we step out to do God's will through our creative purpose. It may be opposition from within, like fear and doubt. It can be family opposition as they seek to direct us to where they think we should go. Or, it can be opposition from without, just like all the eastern peoples showing up to stand against Gideon.

Where is your greatest opposition coming from right now? Is it inside your head and heart, inside your circle of friends and family, or outside forces? Has this resistance stymied you, or are you pressing through it? Do you see that these opponents are actually doing you a favor by confirming you are on the right path?

If you had no opposition, you would never know God as your refuge and deliverer. What's more, your obstacles strengthen your resolve and bolster your confidence when God helps you move forward. If forces are pressing against you to keep you where you are, it's time to confront them and move on to achieve the creative and purposeful things God has given you the chance to do.

Purpose Study Bible 272: Family Support

When God directed Gideon to tear down his family's Baal altar, the townspeople were upset and demanded that Joash, Gideon's father, turn his son over to them for punishment. This is how he responded:

But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar" (Judges 6:31).

We don't know how much Joash knew about Gideon's assignment to lead the people, but when he was recruited to oppose his son, he refused and instead stood with him against the people. And we know that Gideon went on to fulfill his purpose and defeat Israel's enemies, thanks in part to his father's support.

Each member of a family should seek to know and then support one another's God-given purpose. While each one's purpose may be hard to understand or not clear initially, the family remains the best purpose support system one for another. Do you know your the purpose for your family members? What can you do to support them? Do they know yours? What can you do to better communicate what God is revealing to your family about your creative purpose?

There are some like David whose family did not support his purpose and there are others, like Esther and Daniel, who had no family that we know of (although Esther had her cousin Mordecai). However, God's best is for creative purpose to be revealed and nurtured in a family setting. Therefore, do what you can now and later to be a family of purpose, and help one another as each one pursues the will of God.