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 155: The Second Census

In Numbers 26, the people were about to enter the Promised Land when the Lord gave Moses these instructions:

“Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses" (Numbers 26:4).

Moses obeyed and came up with a total of 601,730 men over the age of 20. This number didn't include women or children, so the total in the Wilderness could easily have numbered several million. The Lord had no problem caring for all those people along with their flocks and herds in the desert. What a mighty God we serve.

The previous census Moses had done when the people left Egypt totaled 603,550, so the Lord had taken care of that number of people for 40 years. When the second census was completed, the Lord revealed the reason He wanted it:

These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun (Numbers 26:63-65).

Why did the Lord want the second census? He did so to prove His promise that none who had doubted Him in the desert would ever get into the Land, except for Joshua and Caleb, had been fulfilled. Notice that the Lord made sure the number of people in the second census was almost exactly that of the first. When God makes a promise and invests Himself in fulfilling it, the end result will be precise and exactly as He wants it. He replaced the doubters of the first generation with the children of the second generation man for man.

Are you walking in faith like Joshua and Caleb, or are you panicking in fear as those who died in the Wilderness did? Are you trusting the God of the census to provide for you in your desert times? Are you looking forward to the fulfillment of His promises to you, delivered just as He promised? Keep in mind that Joshua and Caleb had to wait 40 years to see their promise fulfilled. If you are waiting, make sure you're thanking God for the ultimate outcome and not despairing of His goodness during the days and years spent in your own wilderness.

Purpose Study Bible 154: Not For Sale

As Israel traveled through the land, their reputation preceded them: "Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites" (Numbers 22:3). So the king of Moab decided to enlist the services of a prophet named Balaam to come and curse Israel so they would not succeed. We don't really know who Balaam was or how he came into such a prophetic ministry since he was not part of Israel. However, God did speak to him as we read, "But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed" (Numbers 22:12).

The king was used to getting his way, however, so "Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first." Balaam answered, "Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God" (Numbers 22:18). It's safe to assume that Balak made a better offer to Balaam on the second trip, but Balaam held out for even more, which is why he hinted that he wasn't for hire—while he really was.

We then read, "That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you” (Numbers 22:20). God had already told Balaam not to go but then gave him permission only to oppose him on his way through the bizarre incident of the talking donkey.

Have you put your spiritual gift, the talents and strengths God has given you, up for sale? You may say, "God forbid" or you may not see how you have done so with the wisdom or faith God has bestowed upon you. The best way to ensure you will never do so is to find ways that the people of God can benefit from who you are while you also earn your living through sources outside the church.

What's more, if the church doesn't have a way to benefit from your gifts, are you open to inventing ways on your own to bless others whom God would have you bless? That can happen by starting your own ministry to orphans or widows, for example, or some other creative expression built around who God made you to be.

Purpose Study Bible 153: Inspired Words

As Israel made their way through the Wilderness, it seems that their creative people were working, even though desert conditions were difficult. Here are three examples:

That is why the Book of the Wars of the Lord says: '. . . Zahab in Suphah and the ravines, the Arnon  and the slopes of the ravines that lead to the settlement of Ar and lie along the border of Moab" (Numbers 21:14-15).

"Then Israel sang this song: 'Spring up, O well! Sing about it, about the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank—the nobles with scepters and staffs'" (Numbers 21:17-18).

"That is why the poets say: 'Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;  let Sihon’s city be restored. Fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the citizens of Arnon’s heights. Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters as captives to Sihon king of the Amorites. But we have overthrown them; Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon. We have demolished them as far as Nophah, which extends to Medeba'" (Numbers 21:27-30).

Some of the eyewitnesses were taking the time to record what they were witnessing, expressing their creativity in the process (a historian, a song writer, and a poet). The result was that the author took what they had composed and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, made what they wrote part of God's inspired Word.

Have you said you are too busy to create? Yet look at these three instances when people took the time in less-than-ideal circumstances to create something. Have you dismissed your creative ideas by thinking "Who will read or sing what I write?" Until you create something, no one will be able to enjoy or benefit from your creative gift or insight. And finally, have you ever thought, "My insight isn't special or unique enough for God to use"? Yet each of these three examples was simply reporting on historical occasions, putting what they saw into words. Are you ready to take your place among God's creative army to report what you see, hear, and know, giving God something to use if He chooses to do so?

Purpose Study Bible 152: Make a Snake

No sooner than Moses had gotten into trouble for striking the rock, the people were complaining again about their living conditions so the Lord sent venomous snakes among them. When the people confessed their sin, Moses prayed for them and then the Lord spoke:

“Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived" (Numbers 21:8-9).

The people would have been in trouble if Moses did not have the creative ability to make a snake from bronze. For him to do what he did meant that he had to shape and fashion the snake from heated metal and then finalize its likeness into a reasonable facsimile. In other words, it was a piece of art.

We know that this replica lasted for centuries because we learn much later in the history of Israel that the people still had and were worshiping the snake on the pole. That indicates Moses did a good work on the project because it endured desert heat and multiple moves.

Is the Lord asking you to do something with your creativity? Are you dismissing it as not important or irrelevant? What latent creative skill do you have that you don't think much of, take for granted, or have forgotten about and thus neglected? You may want to ask the Lord to help you answer that question and then ask Him if He wants you to put what He shows you to use.

Purpose Study Bible 151: Speak to Your Rock

Deserts are dry places and God had Israel walking through a desert to teach them to trust in Him. When they complained that there was no water, the Lord told Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock that was following them and water would come forth. However, an angry Moses adjusted the plan when he stood before the people:

He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them" (Numbers 20:10-12).

Later we learn that the rock following them was actually Christ: "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:3-4). When you are pursuing purpose and creativity, you can go through a dry place for a lot longer than you thought you would. When you do, it's important not to become discouraged or angry over the process God is putting you through.

Are you angry? Angry at people who have disappointed you? Angry at God for not moving fast enough to come to your assistance? What are you speaking in response? Words of faith that will release your living waters or words of anger and frustration to force God and others to do your bidding? Don't forfeit a trip into your Promised Land because you hit the rock in your day of trouble instead of praying in faith to see provision come from the hard place God has you in.

Purpose Study Bible 150: Your Priestly Provision

God took care of the people's needs in the Wilderness through manna and quail, but in Numbers 18, He turned his attention to the provision for the priests and Levites since He gave them no land as He did the other tribes:

"I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest. All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours. Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it. . . The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites" (Numbers 18:12-13, 18).

In the New Testament, we learn that all believers are priests: "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5) and "[Jesus Christ] has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father" (Revelation 1:6). Therefore, since God spelled out with great detail how He would provide for the Old Testament priests, how much more will He now do the same for us who serve His new order:

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:32-33).

Where are you living below your assigned provision as a priest of God? Where are you allowing concern for what you will "eat and drink" to interfere with your Kingdom service and assignment? Where have your low or limited expectations of how and how much the Lord will provide been fulfilled?

Purpose Study Bible 149: Overnight Delivery

In Numbers 15 and 16, we read about the people rebelling against Moses and Aaron. When the earth swallowed some of the rebels, the people blamed the leaders for their deaths! Then the Lord proposed this solution to settle the people's discontent and murmuring:

"Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites" (Numbers 17:2-5).

So Moses did what the Lord directed and this was the result:

The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds (Numbers 17:8).

Notice what the Lord said: "The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout." When you're in your purpose or expressing your creativity, you're a chosen vessel. God will empower you not only to bud and blossom but to produce fruit. What's more, God didn't pay attention to the normal time line for Aaron's rod to bear fruit; it happened overnight. He can do the same thing for you, reducing the time and effort required to achieve the desired results.

When you think of fruit and productivity, you should keep in mind what Jesus said: "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:8) and "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last" (John 15:16). When God is with you, you'll bear fruit and do so in a supernatural manner—if you want to do so.

In what areas has God chosen you to bear fruit? Is it fruit beyond your normal capability to produce? Have you accepted that He has chosen you to represent Him and His presence in the areas of your gifts and purpose? What more can you do to cooperate with God's choice and presence when you express your purpose to bear fruit?

Purpose Study Bible 148: Faith Facts

We have seen that the majority report from the Promised Land reconnaissance was the inhabitants were too big and powerful to overcome, which Caleb and Joshua disputed. The people weighed both reports and came to this conclusion:

And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” But the whole assembly talked about stoning them (Numbers 14:4-10).

if you're going to be effective for God in your purpose and creativity, and if you're going to set lofty, faith-inspired goals, you must be careful whose voices you listen to and how you process their conclusions. You must consider the facts but not allow the facts, or others' interpretation of the facts, to have the final say. Faith facts must be front and center in your decision-making process. Once you allow a negative report to take root in your mind, it will only amplify the downside, drowning out the voice of faith.

Where is your focus these days? On the problems or the faith facts? Have you given voices not consistent with God's voice to rule and overrule your faith? Isaiah 53:1 states, "Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?" As the song says, "Whose report shall we believe?" The answer must be, "We shall believe the report of the Lord!"

Purpose Study Bible 147: Belittling

Last week, we examined the report of the spies who came back from a reconnaissance mission into the Promised Land. They reported that the land was good but the inhabitants formidable:

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them" (Numbers 13:31-33).

Did you notice how the people evaluated themselves when compared to the local inhabitants? "We seemed like grasshoppers"is quite an exaggeration, but it said a lot about how they saw themselves. The belittled themselves in their own eyes. Dictionaries define the verb belittle as to make (someone or something) seem unimportant; to speak slightingly of; to represent or speak of as unimportant or contemptible; or to cause to seem little or smaller than something else. Even though these people had seen God do great things for them, their own self-image was so poor that they could not assess their situation properly.

When you compare yourself to someone else, do you make them bigger than they truly are because your image of yourself is so small or deficient? When you compare your creative gifts to others, do you immediately compare them to the masters of the ages, like Rembrandt, Beethoven, or some giant of literature or industry? Why is that?

It's because you, like the people in Numbers 13, don't see yourself through eyes of faith, thus belittling who you are in your own thinking. It's true that you may not be the best at what you do, but that doesn't mean God can't use you as you are. Ask God to show you where you are belittling yourself in your own eyes and then do some work to change your thinking so you can rid yourself of your grasshopper mentality and take your rightful place as a champion of the purpose God has assigned you.

Purpose Study Bible 146: "Let's Be Realistic"

Before the people entered the Promised Land, Moses sent out men to survey and spy out the land.

After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak!" (Numbers 13:25-28, NLT).

Ten of the scouts saw the problems in the Land while two only saw the promise of God: "But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. 'Let’s go at once to take the land,' he said. 'We can certainly conquer it!'" (Numbers 13:30). The ten responded by basically saying, "Let's be realistic!": "But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” (Numbers 13:31, NLT).

What do you see when you try to fulfill your purpose or express your creativity? Do you want to start a business but only see how poor the economy is and how much money you need but don't have? Do you want to take a missions trip but are afraid because the world is a big place and you are so small and insignificant? Do you want to open an art studio but then think, "Who am I to think such thoughts?" The truth is, who are you not to think them?

If you want to do great things, you will have to stop being "realistic" and focus on the truth in Ephesians 3:20: "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Amen and amen. What could you do if you were more like Caleb and less like his ten comrades?