Steadfast In Honor: 4-in-1 Gospel and Church Beginnings

By Winner Torborg

I have talked to people all over about reading the Bible; but many of them would respond, “I’ve tried to read the Bible; but, ya know, I just can’t understand it. All I get from it is partial truths and double-talk. Maybe you can understand it; but I’ll just read the paper, at least I can understand that.”
So, in obedience to God we took on this enormously long project of writing this GIST-BIBLE. What a GIST-BIBLE is, is a “what it’s talking about”-Bible. What the BOLIM (Bread of Life International Ministries) group have done is we have read from many versions of the Bible, prayed about what we read, talk to seasoned ministers, read again, prayed and listen to the Holy Spirit and wrote what He said down in our own words.
Big G is the only true God that counts and Big J is His Son. There were many gods in the time when Israel was growing up, but Big G is the One true God: and there were many people named Yeshua (Aramaic), Jesus (Greek) and Joshua (English) in the time, but Big J is the One …

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781329173828

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Steadfast In Honor: 4-in-1 Gospel and Church Beginnings

Steadfast In Honor

4-in-1 Gospel and Church Beginnings

By: The B.O.L.M. Group

Pastor Winner Torborg

Bolim.jpg

Steadfast in Honor by BOLIM

Copyright © 2015 by Bread of Life International Ministries

ISBN: 978-1-329-17382-8

A Project of BOLIM Credentials

Everyone who has given input for this project is well qualified. Some have been in the ministry for over 30 years, some have been serving in their church all their life, and some have had great and undeniable life changing experiences.

Message to The Reader

I don’t understand the Bible.  How many times have you heard that said?  You might have even said it yourself. 

In this book we tried to make the truth about the Bible easy to read; we put it in everyday language so you can read it as if someone were talking to you.

The way we did this book was we would read many versions of the Bible, pray about what we read, talk to seasoned ministers, read again, pray and listen to the Holy Spirit and write what He said down in our own words.  Doing this we found that some things needed elaboration and other things were too wordy.  So, in some cases 1 verse might come out as 1 paragraph and vice versa, or 1 paragraph would be 1 page.

This is, in no way, supposed to take the place of your daily Bible reading. The way that I would suggest you should use this book, after you read it initially, is read it along with your favorite Bible version, and do that with guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Note From B.O.L.I.M.

The paraphraser of the story of Jesus decided to do a comparison of the four synoptic gospels.  Therefore, you will not find four different books, but only one with prayerful insights.

Before the Story of Big J

John 1:1-4

Before anything existed the Word of Big G was; this Word and Big G are always one and the same and they have created everything that we call reality.  The true light and true life of mankind originated from the Word of Big G.

John 1:14

This Word became a man and made his dwelling among mankind and here is a record of him.

The Story of Big J

Birth of John Foretold (Luke 1:5-25)

About 400 years after Malachi walked the Earth, during the reign of King Herod, king of Judah, a priest named Zechariah was in the Temple doing his priestly duties.  Suddenly, an angel of Big G stood before him; he was awestruck to say the least.  The angel said to him, Hey there, Zech, don’t be afraid, the Lord is here.  Hey, you and your wife, Elizabeth, have found favor in Big G’s eyes.  You’ve been praying for a son and, congratulations, you’re going to have a son.  Now, Zechariah was an old man and his wife, Elizabeth, was barren.

But, sir, we are old and Elizabeth is barren.  Yes, we’ve been praying for a son but I just don’t see how that can happen, Zechariah argued.

Hey!  Are you calling God a liar?  I am Gabriel and I stand before God; He doesn’t lie.  Or don’t you remember what He did for Abraham in his old age?  Don’t question the omnipotent God’s abilities!  But, since you already had, you are going to be mute until the boy is born and you call him John.  He will never drink wine nor any fermented drink, he will take the Nazarite vow, and he will be filled with the Spirit of God even from birth.  Now, we just can’t have you messing up the plan of God with your mouth.

When Zechariah exited the temple the other priests were waiting; and he tried to make hand signals to tell them what had happened.

Birth of Big J Foretold (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38)

Six months later Big G sent Gabriel to Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary, a descendant of Aaron the priest and a second cousin of Elizabeth.  Now, Mary was engaged to be married to a carpenter name Joseph, a man of the line of King David.

The angle said, Hey there, Mary, don’t be afraid, the Lord is here.  I bring you good news; you’re going to have a son.  This is all part of God’s plan.

I’ll go for that, she said,  you know I love children.  But, sir, how is it going to happen since I’m a virgin?

Good question; I think I can answer that.  The Spirit of God, Holy is His name, is going to plant in your womb a seed.  That seed will be holy, and the Son born to you will be the Son of God.  Oh, and you are to give Him the name Joshua; Big J He will be called.

Wow! she said, Hey, I’m a servant of the Lord, so be it just as you have said.  Big J is Lord.

Oh, before I go, the angel said, I must tell you more good news.  You cousin, Elizabeth, she is in her sixth month; she’s having a son too.

Mary Visits Liz, Mary’s Song (Luke 1:39-56)

So, right away Mary packed up and took a journey to go see Elizabeth.  When Mary entered the house and called out for her cousin the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped at the sound and Liz knew at that moment about Mary.

Mary, my cousin, you are blessed so highly!  But why should the mother of my Lord come to an insignificant such as me? Elizabeth exclaimed.

Then Mary said, "I praise and give glory to Big G and continually rejoice because of what He has done.  Everyone, from now on, will call me blessed when they see or hear of the wonderful things the Lord has done for me.   Big G has great mercy on those who fear Him, from all generations.  His acts of might are legendary.  But woe to the proud (with self-pride) for they are like dust in the wind; He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.  He fills the hungry with good but those who trust in riches are sent away empty.  He has remembered to honor his people Israel with mercy, and help the seed of Abraham.

Birth of John (Luke 1:57-80)

When Elizabeth was due, she had a son.  On the eighth day when he was circumcised the men in authority in her village wanted to name the boy Zechariah after his dad.  But Elizabeth strongly objected, No!  His name is John!

John!?  Wait a minute, they said, there is no one in your line, nor Zech’s, named John.  No, we’ll call the boy Zechariah.

Elizabeth remained strong, Before you do that let’s ask his dad.

So they gave Zechariah a tablet and asked him what the boy should be called.  Zechariah wrote, Call him John!  And with that his mouth was opened and he shouted, My son is John!

Then Zechariah prophesied, calling things to happen, Praise the Lord, the only true God of all, because He has redeemed us from destruction.  Salvation has come from the line of David, salvation from our true enemy, the one who hates all life.  He remembers His covenant that He had struck between Himself and our father Abraham.  Now we can worship and serve our God without fear of our enemies forever more.  And my son John is a prophet of God to prepare the way for our Lord.  Then Zechariah prophesied to his son, You will teach our people about the salvation through the forgiveness of sins.  Because of our God’s mercy He has sent His Son to shine on us and on those living in spiritual darkness and under the shadow of death.  And you will guide us in the path of peace.

As the boy grew he was to go out and live in the wild until his public appearance before all of Israel.

Joseph’s Sign (Matthew 1:20)

Mary stayed with Zechariah and Elizabeth for three months to help out with the birth before returning home.  When she returned home she was showing a little.  Joseph found out and was planning on sending her away in secret so she wouldn’t be stoned.

Then one night an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, Whoa, Jo, don’t send Mary away.  Go ahead and marry her.  The baby in her was put there by God, she is still a virgin.  This baby is the Immanuel that Isaiah talked about, give him the name, Joshua and nickname him Big J.

Birth of Big J, Angels (Luke 2:8-19)

Augustus, the Caesar of the Roman empire at the time, called for a census of his entire territory.  Therefore, everyone in Israel had to go to the town of his ancestral birth.  Mary went with her new husband, Joseph, to Bethlehem because his ancestor, King David, was born in Bethlehem.

Now, Mary was fat to the point of bursting with child and every innkeeper said there was no room in their inn. But one innkeeper showed them a stable where there was room and plenty of straw; even though it stunk and was lower than low class and they weren’t animals they took it.  That night she delivered and had a son.

Around that area there were open fields where shepherds watched their sheep.  That night an angel appeared to them and said, "Hey guys, don’t be afraid, the Lord is here.  Over in Bethlehem the Son of God has come, born as a baby.  This will be the Anointed One.  And this is how you will find him, he is wrapped in swaddling cloth and in a manger."

All of the sudden the sky was filled with angels singing and praising God saying, To the Most High give glory, and to all men on Earth, God isn’t mad at you.

After the angels had gone some of the shepherds went to see this baby.  So they ran and ran to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph and the baby just as the angel said so they told them and anyone else who would listen what the angel said.

On the eighth day, according to the Law of Moses, they went to Jerusalem and had the boy circumcised and named him Joshua.

There was an old man in the town of Jerusalem named Simeon.  The Holy Spirit was on this man and God had told him that he would not die until he came to see the One to be the Anointed One.

When the baby was brought in Simeon held him and said, "Thank you, Lord, for now I have seen the One who is to be the Anointed One.  He is to be the light in a dark world and a praise to the people of Israel."

And to the child’s Mother he said, This child will mark the fall and rising of many, he is a sign to many and is spoken against.  And a sword will pierce your very soul also.  Secret things of the heart will be revealed.

There was an old prophetess named Anna who spoke of Big J to everyone who was hoping for rescue from this sinful life.

And so the word which was in the beginning with Big G, the word which was Big G himself, became flesh and made His habitat among mankind.  This is the very word which was used to create everything that exists.

Astrologers Visit (Matthew 2:1-23)

Astrologers (wise guys appointed to the kings) from countries in the east noticed a new star in the heavens and perceived that a new king was born.  They noticed that the star shown over the land of Israel so they followed it.  After their long trek they entered the palace of King Herod to give him the obligatory greeting and to ask about the child who was to be the new king.

The king’s wise men found a saying of Isaiah that directed them to Bethlehem so the king bade them to go and find the child then bring him word so that he might go and worship the lad; secretly, Herod wanted to kill the boy.  The astrologers left there and found the boy in Bethlehem and brought out their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Then, being warned not to go back to Jerusalem, the men returned to their lands by a different direction.

An angel told Joseph, in a dream, to take the boy and his mother and flee to Egypt, King Herod has plotted to have the boy killed.   So, that very night, Joseph woke up and took his young family and fled to Egypt. 

News of what the astrologers did came quickly to Herod’s ears; so Herod, being incensed and overcome with rage, gave an order to have all male children up to 2 years of age slaughtered.

After a time Herod’s outrage caught up to him and he died a terrible death; his son, Archelaus, became the king in the land of Judea.  Joseph was told by an angel to move his family to Nazareth in Galilee; out of Egypt God called His Son.  The child grew in strength and wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him wherever he went.

The Child, Big J (Luke 2:41-52)

Every year the family would go up to Jerusalem at the time of Passover.  When Big J was about 12 or 13 years of age and the family was in Jerusalem the lad went missing, and the parents didn’t even notice, because of the crowd, until they were well on their way home. They came back to Jerusalem and cased the joint for Big J.  When they found him he was speaking to the religious teachers about God’s Word.  His mother asked him why he wasn’t with the crowd that was traveling back to Nazareth and he answer, Ma, didn’t you know that I am to be about my Father’s business. Prompted by the Father, Big J went back to Nazareth with his parents and stayed obedient to them.  But Mary kept all these events concerning Big J in her heart.  Now, Big J grew more in wisdom, broadened his understanding, and won great favor with God and man.

John Preaches (Matthew 3:1-12, Mark 1:1-8)

After fifteen years since Archelaus had become king in Jerusalem, though in name only, Big G moved on John to begin his ministry.  John had been living in the wilderness, living off the land.  So, as the Lord God directed, John went over to the Jordan River and began a ministry of baptism with the message, Israel has left their first love, God Almighty.  Turn back and be reconciled to him by repenting of your sins and being baptized.  Clear a path for Him and open your hearts to His glory. 

The prophet Isaiah had spoken about John when he said, This is he who will come first to clear a path for the Lord.  He will come out of nowhere and begin baptizing a baptism of repentance.

The Pharisees went out to him and asked him, Who do you think you are to be preaching?

I am a voice of one man calling in the desert, ‘Clear a path for Him.’ You are probably wondering if I think I am the Anointed One.   I am not Him, He is coming though, and very soon.  So clear a path for Him and open your hearts to His glory.

We don’t need you, an uneducated man, to tell us what to do.

John turned back to the crowd that was listening and began teaching them.  He said, "Now, I want you to understand that God loves you, but people don’t call Him Big G for nothing, He is a just God.  So, show fruit and keeping with repentance.  Let none of you think to yourself, ‘We have Abraham as our father, so we can rely on his righteousness.’  No, you can’t.  You are responsible for your own righteousness.

One thing you need to start doing is giving.  I’m not telling you to give two shirts if you only have two, but you can give one.

Some tax collectors came to be baptized and they asked him, What kind of fruit would reveal our repentance?  We know that we are doing something wrong.

Simple, said John.  If you are required to collect ten percent, don’t take any more than ten.  And get rid of the false counterweights.

And what about us? asked some soldiers.

Be content with your pay and don’t use force or fear to steal from the people.  Don’t go around thinking of yourselves as more important than the common people.

Still other people—people who just arrived—were wondering, actually hoping, if John was the One to be their savior.  He said to the crowd, I know what you are thinking, but I am not the One.  Soon, though, He is coming and you will see Him.  I don’t consider myself as even worthy enough to untie His shoes.  But be prepared, He is the Lord of glory and He is justified in His actions.  He will separate the good from the bad.

Joshua’s Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17)

A few years later Joshua, otherwise known as Big J, who was working in His dad’s (Joseph’s) carpentry shop heard from His true Father, Big G, and began His ministry.  He had heard that His cousin John was baptizing in the Jordan, and being directed by Big G went out there to be baptized.

When John saw Joshua coming he said to the crowd, Many years ago I spoke of the One who will be the savior, here He comes.  This is the Lamb of God, this is the One who will take away the sins of the world.

Big J went right down to John in the shallow spot where John was baptizing, He went down to be baptized.  You are my cousin, John, born to Elizabeth and Zechariah.  I come to be baptized.

John softly objected, My Lord, it is I who should be baptized by you.  So, why do you come to me to be baptized?

John, evidently this is how Big G wants it, so let’s do it.  Will you baptize me?

John said ok and under Joshua went, when he came up God baptized him in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by a dove landing upon Him and vanishing, and Joshua received Him.

Temptation of Big J (Matthew 4:1-11)

When Big J was leaving the area the Spirit of Big G led Him into the wilderness for a period of fasting and praying.  After forty days of fasting and praying Big J was hungry.  Satan took advantage of this opportunity and passed the thought to Him, Ha, you say you’re the Son of God, then turn these stones into food.

Hold on, snake dude; it is written, mankind lives not on natural food alone, but mankind needs the words of Big G.

Then