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 214: Meltdown

Before the people went into the Land, Joshua dispatched two spies to go and check things out. While on their mission, they encountered a woman named Rahab who gave them this feedback:

“I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea. ... They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us" (Joshua 2:9-10, 24).

The people in the Land were having a fear meltdown because they knew who the Hebrews were and why they were coming. How did they know? They had no Bible or prophet, yet they had accurate information about what God was doing. They could only have known because God showed it to them! God was speaking to them because He wanted them to be saved, but only one woman had the sense to have faith and ask God to spare her and her family. What's more, God used Rahab to encourage the spies who brought back this report from their journey: “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."

What is your current status? Are you in a fear meltdown that has paralyzed you or a faith explosion that propels you on your way? Do you see that God can use even those who don't serve Him to encourage you? Are you open to encouragement or have you closed yourself off from it, instead hunkering down in your status quo in a feeble attempt to protect what little you have? God has a Promised Land of purpose and creativity for you, but you will have to have the right mindset and attitude if you are ever going to enter into its fullness.

Purpose Study Bible 213: Be Careful

As Joshua was about to enter the Land, the Lord warned him about opponent that he would face and that we have discussed throughout this Bible study:

"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:5-9, emphasis added).

What was this nemesis Joshua was about to face? It was none other than fear. And notice that the Lord didn't suggest or recommend that Joshua not give in to this inevitable fear; He commanded him not to do so. That meant it was a choice for Joshua to remain steadfast and bold. However, there's another command contained in these verses and that's to "be careful." About what was Joshua to be careful? He was to be careful to follow the "Book of the Law" which Moses had compiled. Joshua wasn't to have a casual relationship with the Book; He was to mediate on it day and night.

And now you are on a journey to your own Promised Land, part of which is your purpose as it was for Joshua. Are you afraid? Don't answer too quickly, for sometimes the fear is so well disguised that it appears to be rational and perfect natural. What is fear costing you? You won't really know until you find out what you're afraid of.  What can you do to combat or overcome your fear? Like for Joshua, it seems the key is not to tolerate fear, no matter what you're facing, but to make a decision to be careful to do all that God has for you to do. Only then will God stand with you and work on your behalf to bring you success.

Purpose Study Bible 212: A Man of Purpose

This week, we start to study a new book by the name of Joshua, which features the work and ministry of Moses' successor in bringing the people into their Promised Land. At the beginning of the book, we read,

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Joshua 1:1-5).

We don't know Joshua's age when he found out he was to follow Moses as the people's leader, but his purpose was clear from the time he is first mentioned in Exodus. God wants you to have that kind of purpose clarity because He wants you to fulfill your purpose more than you do and is prepared to give you whatever you need to get the job done—spiritual gifts, financial assistance, His presence, open doors, and willing followers.

In these opening verses, Joshua received an awesome promise that "no one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life." That's because God partnered with him as he carried out his divine assignment, which He does for you when you are active in your purpose. Are you clear as to what your purpose is? Do you sense God's presence with you as you function in it? What may be preventing His help in your thinking or actions? How can you be more bold in your purpose?

God is a purposeful God and He has given you something to do that only you can do, just like He did to Joshua. As we move through this next book in the Old Testament, determine to be a Joshua to your generation and learn from the man whose purpose was clear from his earliest days.

Purpose Study Bible 211: Your Special Place

The Lord had a set place where He would meet with the people and leaders on their journey to the Promised Land, which they simply referred to as the "tent of meeting."

The Lord said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent (Deuteronomy 31:14-15).

It was a place where God would reveal Himself to them in an actual physical manifestation, in this instance a pillar of cloud.

Jesus seemed to have this kind of place called the Garden of Gethsemane where He went the night of His betrayal. It also seems that the desert wilderness in Matthew 4 was also such a place. After Jesus' Resurrection, He told the disciples to meet in Galilee, even though they were already assembled in Jerusalem. It was there that He gave them what we know to be the Great Commission to go to all the nations.

Sometimes, there is a special place that you also seem to find the Lord whenever you go there. It may be what some call a "prayer closet," a place in your home or office that is a dedicated place of prayer and worship for you. But it doesn't have to be a "holy" place. It may sound strange, but for me, it's live sports events or travel that seem to refresh me and serve as places where God reveals Himself to me.

For you, perhaps it's a museum, or travel, or the mountains, or the beach. It's important that you pay attention to where that place is and get there as often as you can. Have you ever given thought to where your "tent of meeting" is? Where is that special place for you? Keep in mind, it may not be a place, but an activity like writing poetry, reading certain kinds of books, study, or teaching. Just pay attention to where you are and what you're doing that produces a sense of joy and wonder, and you will have found a key to a productive life and thriving relationship with the God of your special place.

Purpose Study Bible 210: Confidence

The Lord gave the people this directive if the people of the Land refused to come to terms with their presence:

^"If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city" (Deuteronomy 20:12).

Do you know how they laid siege to a city? Basically, they surrounded the city and waited until the inhabitants ran out of food or water and surrendered. If the attacking army ran out of provisions first, then they would call off the siege and the inhabitants were safe.

Usually, the attacking army built fortifications around the city to ensure that no one could get in or out. Who built those fortifications? It was those who had the creative skill to build. And who organized the siege? It was those who had the insight to lay out the plan and the leadership to communicate it and organize the troops. The point is that a simple command like "lay siege to the city" required people of purpose who were creative. They had to know what to do and when to do it.

When God gives you an assignment, He doesn't give you one you can't complete. You may not be sure you have the wherewithall to get it done, but God does. Where have you been trying to talk God out of what He has given you to do? Where have you been delaying, trying to talk yourself out of it? Are you supposed to be part of a team where what you can do will complement the rest so the task can get done?

In short, it's time for you to exhibit the same confidence in yourself that God has in you. Or perhaps it's better to say it's time to have the confidence that God knew what He was doing when He gave you your gifts and then the assignment that involves using them.

Purpose Study Bible 209: The Flame of Faith

Last week, we saw that the priest and army commanders were to weed out the fearful as the army went into battle. That's because both fear and faith are contagious and the army didn't need anyone spreading fear germs. Then once the fearful had been removed, we read

"When the officers have finished speaking to the army, they shall appoint commanders over it" (Deuteronomy 20:9).

The leaders weren't chosen until the fearful were gone, which meant that faith, not battle prowess or physical strength, were the most important characteristics to be looked for in the commanders. The same is true for you.

If you are going to be purposeful and creative, you have to deal with your fear and have faith. We read in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." You may memorize that verse but that doesn't guarantee you aren't full of fear about certain things. What's more, most of us ignore the context for that verse, which we find in 2 Timothy 1:6: "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

The context for "no fear" is in expressing "your gift." You are to "fan into flame" the gifts God has given you. That means you are to be a raging inferno and not "this little light of mine" that you then cover with a bushel because you don't want to draw attention to yourself. Where is fear controlling your actions? Could you lack of promotion from God be cause of your fear? What gifts do you have that are like a fire? What can you do to fan those gifts into a more significant flame?

Your flame is to act like the burning bush that Moses was attracted to. That bush burned but was never consumed. When you are in your purpose and when you have confronted your fear, you will serve as a bright beacon of encouragement for others to give themselves permission to be who God made them to be because they see you doing the same.

Purpose Study Bible 208: Contagious

Moses prepared the people as best he could for what they were about to face when they entered the Promised Land and unfortunately that included times of warfare:

"When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. He shall say: 'Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.' ... Then the officers shall add, 'Is anyone afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too'” (Deuteronomy 20:2-4, 8).

It was the priest and not their generals or leaders who was to encourage the troops, first of all reminding them that the Lord was going with them to fight against their enemies. Therefore, they were forbidden to be "fainthearted or afraid." That indicates fear is a rational decision and is the opposite of faith and trust.

If someone was not willing or able to overcome their fear, then they were to go home. Why "So their fellow soldiers will not become disheartened too." That indicates that fear is contagious, and thus the fearful had to be segregated from the faithful. If fear was contagious, then it must mean that faith is contagious too. Consequently, your fear and your faith are transferable. Someone can catch either from you because you are contagious—you don't exist to be by yourself, but to fight alongside others.

Where have you decided to live with fear, making peace with its presence? Have you "gone home" so to speak, not willing to pay the price to fight for God's promises? How can you make your faith a source of inspiration and encouragement for others? Through a testimony? Your actions? How can you keep the truth uppermost in your mind that as you go, God has already gone before you to give you the victory? Fear or faith? Which do you want to be known for? I hope you choose faith but if not, don't allow your fear germs to infect and weaken other people.

Study Bible 207: Comparison

When Moses died, this was the testimony of the people:

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land (Deuteronomy 34:10-11).

Moses was such a "giant" in the lore of Israel so much so that centuries later, people were still "following him" when Jesus lived and taught. Yet that didn't prevent other prophets after him from accepting and fulfilling their prophetic call, even though Moses was the "best" and God spoke to him face to face.

When you look to express your purpose and creativity, you can be intimidated by others who are more gifted, skilled, or anointed than you are. In fact, no matter what you do, there's always someone you look at and say, "Wow, I wish I was more like them," which means you can never feel good enough to be who you are. This speaks to one of the obstacles to being effective in your purpose and that is the habit of comparison. When you look at what you do and compare it to what others have done, it can cause you to stop being creative.

In your opinion, you aren't "as good" as the other person (and of course, you always compare yourself to the best in your field that ever was). Stop and think about that. What is good where creativity is concerned? Is creativity a process and can your simple efforts today lead to stellar creativity tomorrow? Is it wise to compare your initial or even mature efforts to what someone else may have spent a lot of time developing? 

Paul described an important principle that he used when he looked at his work: "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12-13). Why not do something creative this week, or take a purpose step, and discipline yourself not to compare it to what anyone else has done? Is it the best it can be right now? If it is, then I would say you have done a good job.

Purpose Study Bible 206: Wisdom for What?

God helped Moses take care of a succession plan for after he died. Joshua was the man and we read in Numbers 27 what Moses did to identify Joshua as such:

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence" (Numbers 27:18-19).

As Moses was about to die, we then read this:

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses (Deuteronomy 34:8).

In one instance, Joshua had the spirit of leadership and in another the spirit of wisdom. Is it a fair and logical conclusion then that Joshua had a spirit of wisdom to lead because leadership was his purpose in life? Then can we also assume that this wisdom was to help him do creative things as leader for he was certainly going to face problems and challenges no one had ever faced before which were going to require God's creative wisdom to address them?

It's not enough to know your purpose; you then need to know what to do with it and how to fulfill it. That will involve creative wisdom for no one has ever tried to be who you are for you are a unique being. For me, I need wisdom to build in Africa, to write, and to publish around the world? "God, give me specific wisdom for those endeavors!"

If you were going to ask for the spirit of wisdom, what would it be for? Would it be to teach, to lead, to build, to give, to learn? Is there someone in your life or even online who can mentor or impart something to you like Moses did to Joshua? It's sort of like raising a child. Their birth is the easy part, the hard part is the next 21 years! To raise them you need wisdom and the same is true for your God-given purpose. Ask for it in faith and then expect to receive it so you can be effective doing what God created you to do.

Study Bible 205: Family Business

Last week, we looked at part of Moses' blessing he bestowed on the tribe of Judah. This week, let's look at it in its entirety:

“Your Thummim and Urim belong  to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah. He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.' He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant. He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar. Bless all his skills, Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more" (Deuteronomy 33:8-11).

A Levite wasn't called into a Levitical ministry; they were born into it. In a sense, that was their family business and they were to carry on the tradition in accordance with God's requirements. In modern families, this can be carried too far when parents insist children follow in their family's footsteps or work in the family business. But there are situations where that is normal and appropriate.

What talents or skills does your family have? What trades or careers have they pursued? What talents have your family members have? Could those answers hold clues to your purpose in life? It could be that God doesn't want you to follow your family's tradition, or perhaps He does. And if He does, you will do it in a style and creativity that is consistent with who He made you to be.

The point this week is to seek God's will and not automatically assume it is His will or assume that it isn't. Or maybe it's His will for you to start a family business that is cross-generational. As you seek your purpose, don't overlook the obvious that God put you in your family for a reason so that you can carry on a purpose that was established before you were even born.