Live the Word Bible Studies

Purpose Study Bible 264: Your Part, Our Part, His Part

The first line of Deborah's song sung to commemorate Israel's victory was:

“When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves—praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:2).

The leaders in Israel finally led and the people responded accordingly, and then the Lord got involved:

“When you, Lord, went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water. The mountains quaked before the Lord, the One of Sinai, before the Lord, the God of Israel" (Judges 5:4-5).

You have a purpose, something for you to do that only you can do. It may involve leading or you may be required to contribute your gifts to a team that you are not leading. The important thing is for you to know who you are, what you can do, and then get busy doing it—preferably with others who also know who they are. When that happens, God is released to do what only He can do because His people are accepting responsibility to do what He created them to do.

What were you created to do? Do you know? Are you willing to pay the price to find out? With whom can you fulfill your purpose and express your creative gifts? It says in Zephaniah 2:17, "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs" (NLT). That's the dynamic we see in Judges—when the people engaged, God was activated.

In Judges 5:2, Deborah and the people were singing, but our goal is to have God sing over us because of us. That will only take place when we each accept our role in God's plan and go about joyfully being who God made us to be.

Purpose Study Bible 263: Creative Commemoration

After Deborah led a victory for God's people over their enemies, we read what she and the others did:

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song (Judges 5:1).

And what was "that day" referred to in this verse?

On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites. And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him (Judges 4:23-24).

Deborah composed and sang a song to commemorate God's faithfulness after the battle was won. In other words, she and the people engaged in a creative act and the words of that act were recorded so every generation could read and celebrate what God did.

I'm not equating your creativity with the inspired Word of God, but I'm simply pointing out that creativity is a God-given human response to life. You've enjoyed victories and suffered setbacks in your life's journey. One of the things God gave you to help interpret and respond to the events of life is for you to express your creativity in both high and low times.

What is your creative strength? Is it baking, cooking, sewing, composing, writing, rhyming, painting, singing, speaking, dancing, teaching, building, or some other expression? How are you using that strength, as a hobby or an important weapon and tool in your worship arsenal? Do you celebrate your victories in God by producing something creative that's consistent with who God made you to be?

Deborah and the other leaders didn't go home and carry on with their day-to-day duties until they had produced a creative work that described and commemorated God's faithfulness in their deliverance. Isn't it about time for you to use your creativity as a means to testify to others of God's goodness to you?

Purpose Study Bible 262: God's Part, Your Part

Deborah was a prophet and leader in Israel who played a significant role in the defeat of one of Israel's oppressors name Sisera. She advised Barak, one of the judges, to attack their enemies and encouraged him with these words;

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” (Numbers 4:14).

God had "gone ahead of" Barak, having already delivered Sisera into his hands. In other words. God had given His people the victory but they still had to walk out the actions necessary to realize that victory. The same is true for you.

Whatever God has directed you to do, He has already "gone ahead" of you to ensure your success. However, just like in this story, you're going to have to exert yourself to see it happen. If God has assured you that you'll write a book, He'll see that it's produced, but you have to write it. If He wants you to participate in a missions trip, He'll go before you to ensure your success, but you'll have to raise the money, get on a plane, go to where He wants you to do, and then once you're there do what He wants you to do. You won't be taking God there; He's already gone before you.

Where are you waiting on God to do what only you can do? He'll help you learn a language but you'll have to invest the time to study and practice. Where has God's promise of success caused you to be passive, waiting on the Lord, while He's waiting on you? Waiting on God isn't inaction, but rather taking appropriate steps that will ensure you are equipped to finalize and realize what God has promised. Where are you waiting to receive something from God in one place while He has promised to give it to you in another? God isn't just the God of your final breakthrough, but also the God of where and how you'll receive that breakthrough.

God has promised you the victory, but you have a role to play in it. Don't be fooled into thinking it's all God and none of you. You must play an active role in anything if you want to come into whatever God has prepared for you.

Purpose Study Bible 261: No Apologies

Israel had entered a new season in their history with God when people referred to as judges led them and handled their disputes:

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided (Judges 4:4-5).

In these verses, we see that God appointed a woman named Deborah to be Israel's judge, a married woman who was also a prophet. We don't know anything about her husband, but we know a lot about her or at least we have one story to consider during her stint as a judge.

God's purpose for each individual is sovereign. He has His own reasons for choosing who He chooses and He explains Himself to no one. In this case, He chose a woman to lead the people, and that woman had already distinguished herself as a prophet. God obviously didn't care that she was a woman, and He did not assign another woman after her to be a judge as far as we know.

God can assign you a role that your culture or even your church usually assigns to someone of the opposite sex. A woman can lead, a man can work with children, a woman can build, a man can nurture or counsel. If God isn't concerned about your gender when He gives you your gifts and purpose, then you shouldn't be concerned either. Just be who God made you to be.

What has God assigned you to do? Are you hesitant to do it because others think it is inappropriate according to their customs and standards? Then perhaps God wants you to go where you will be appropriate and accepted and that's why you are experiencing opposition where you are now? The bottom line is God won't apologize for His choices, so it's best you get on with the plan and do what God wants you to do.

Purpose Study Bible 260: Spirit Power

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God came upon certain people to help them accomplish specific purposeful tasks:

The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war (Judges 3:10).

In this case, the Spirit came on Caleb's brother to successfully lead the people to freedom. Now in the Pentecost era, the Spirit doesn't come on a select few like He did back then. He comes upon all who call on the name of the Lord and put their faith in the finished work of Christ. But He doesn't come just to deliver and preserve us from sin. He comes to empower us to live a creative and purposeful life.

The Spirit also comes to "lead you into all the truth" (John 16:13). That is not just doctrinal truth but the truth of who you are, who God made you to be. The Spirit reveals to you your gifts and your purpose, and then guides you into the ways you can utilize and fulfill them—if that's what you want. If not, you will have access to all kinds of Spirit power but won't be taking advantage of it.

Are you living a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life? Are you achieving things that verify the Spirit is with you, giving you victory in the goals you set and your purpose for life? Is your creativity full of Spirit presence? Are there any obstacles to this life of power, things like doubt, small thinking, or ignorance of God's purpose for your life? The same Spirit that raised Christ back to life dwells in you. Make sure you make the most of His presence as you live a life of creative purpose.

Purpose Study Bible 259: One Person

After the people came into the Land and Joshua died, God was with them until they decided to no longer be loyal or obedient to Him:

After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals (Judges 2:10-11).

When the people strayed, God gave them into the hands of their local enemies. Yet God had promised to help His people even when they wandered, and He kept His promise.

Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders (Judges 2:16).

God raised up men and women called judges to lead and deliver the people. Not just anyone could fulfill this role but only those who God "raised up." This indicates that one person and only that person can make a difference according to their God-assigned purpose, just like those judges did. Therefore, it matters who does and says what, for their actions and words are empowered and sanctioned through God's presence. One person can make a difference.

That's the reason it's important for you to be who God made you to be and do what He wants you to do. No one else can take your place. If you don't create it, it won't be created. If you don't start it, it won't get started. What is your unique purpose? What creative gifts do you have? Do you take them seriously or consider them something you will get around to expressing one day?

This is no time to be passive or to think that it doesn't matter if you don't do something that's in your heart to do. It does and you do—matter and make a difference. So get busy taking the place only you can take in the plan and economy of God. People's welfare, edification, and even salvation are depending on it.

Purpose Study Bible 258: God Is With You Too

In this entry, we begin a new series in another book of the Old Testament, the book of Judges. We read in the opening chapter,

The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country. ... Now the tribes of Joseph attacked Bethel, and the Lord was with them (Judges 1:19, 22).

Joshua was gone and so the tribes began a whole new chapter in their history. We learn in the first chapter that they were still busy taking the land God had given them and ran into many obstacles and opponents along the way.

You too need to be busy doing the purpose work God has given you to do. There is no rest or retirement from purpose or creativity for there are always new things to learn and master. The good news is you're not alone as you work and battle, for God is with you and that should make a significant difference in your life's work and the results you obtain. It makes me think of what the Lord said to His people centuries later:

I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand'" (Isaiah 41:9-10).

What difference is God's presence making in your life? Can you list specific instances where His power enabled you to do certain things? What were those things? How do you measure them? Where are you not tapping into the active partnership you have with the Lord? What more can you do, or rather, can the two of you do?

Purpose Study Bible 257: The End

This is the final verse in the book of Joshua and it wasn't even about Joshua himself:

And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim (Joshua 24:33).

And that's it. No conclusion, no summary, no final words. We are simply told that first Joshua died, then Joseph's remains were buried in his tribe's land, and then Eleazar died.

When you think of it, your life isn't very long when compared to the rest of creation. The rocks that were here in Abraham's time are still here. The water of the oceans has been recycled again and again from their inception. And then for contrast there are people, and James described our tenure on earth as follows: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14).

While it is good to plan and have goals, it's also good to keep them in perspective. One day, they will come to an end as will you. So what's it all about? It's about making a difference while you're here and then passing on to your existence in the next life.

Do you live like your days are numbered (because they are)? Are you making the most of your days? You must have a purpose for you're still here but one day, like Eleazar and Joshua and Joseph, you won't be. Are you maximizing your time and impact? The good news is that while the book of Joshua ends rather unceremoniously, the narrative continues and the people move on as we learn in the first verses of the next book:

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands" (Judges 1:1-2).

Determine to make a difference in the days you have left, but also be ready to face your own mortality, having left a purposeful mark in the days God has given you.

Purpose Study Bible 256: Helping Others

As the people were about to enter their land under Joshua's leadership, the Lord directed them not to focus just on themselves and their well-being:

"You are to help them [the other tribes] until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them" (Joshua 1:14-15).

The tribes were to help and support one another until everyone came into the inheritance God had for them. The same is true today. From my experience, when someone finds their purpose, they often want to share their journey with others. If they are creative and enjoy what they do, then doors will open for them to share, teach, and encourage others.

When I was a pastor, I started a monthly creativity encouragement group and it met for nine years! When I embraced my creativity instead of running from it, I not only created but I taught and about creativity to help others express theirs. I have done the same with my purpose insight through books, coaching, and seminars.

What can you do to help others be more purposeful and creativity? How can others hear about your faith stories so they can be inspired? Are you managing your time so that you have opportunities to help others find creative purpose? The tribes were to help everyone find their place after they each had found theirs. That was good advice then and it's still good advice now.

Purpose Study Bible 255: One Day

When Joseph died in Egypt, he requested that his bones be taken back to his homeland when his people returned. This was a statement of faith that God would be faithful to restore His people to their Promised Land.

Two hundred years later, Joseph's descendants complied with his request. Finally, Joseph was home on the land his father had purchased and from where Joseph had been sold by his brothers into slavery. This meant that they had to remember his dying request, take his bones with them as they left, transport those bones through the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and then deposit his remains in his family's land:

The body of Joseph, which the people of Israel had brought from Egypt, was buried at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of silver. This land was inherited by Joseph's descendants (Joshua 24:32).

His family had to make this legacy a priority. By doing so, some family members were inconvenienced by having to administer Joseph's wish through all kinds of weather, desert travel conditions, wars, and family funerals. What faith projects are you working on that could affect your family's future in a good way? What faith declarations are you making about your purpose and its role for posterity?

You could do this by starting a business or ministry that can carry on into the next generation. You could write a book or craft a last will and testament that includes your testimony. Give some prayerful thought to something you can do that can outlive you and perhaps God will energize it like he did when Joseph simply requested that they take his bones home ... one day.