THE GOSPELS: The Ministry of Yeshua the Messiah begins – Luke 4:18 the GOOD NEWS: THE SEVEN STEPS ON THE NARROW WAY leading us to SALVATION, FREEDOM, HOLINESS and WHOLENESS

8 January 2026

We are proceeding to study Luke 4:14-32, Mathew 4:12 and Mark 1:14-15 about the beginning of the MINISTRY of YESHUA THE MESSIAH.

We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians. And use the Hebrew letters for the name of God, YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in English is indicated in capital letters in the Scriptures. The reason being that the Jewish writers removed the vowels in God’s name out of fear of transgression of the third Commandment of taking His Name in vain. And today there is a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of His Name.  We also refer to Him as Abba Father and use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

We are still focusing on Luke 4:18 about Yeshua who was ANNOINTED to announce GOOD NEWS to the POOR, and exploring what the Word tells us this GOOD NEWS is.

We are exploring the GOOD NEWS according to the New Testament as written in the Gospels and letters of the Apostles, with references to the Scriptures in the Old Testament, and we are looking at it in specific themes. From our study of the Word so far we confirmed that the GOOD NEWS is all about God’s ETERNAL LOVE for MANKIND and therefore saving people by setting us FREE from the hold of sin, sickness and death on us through the full price paid by Yeshua our Messiah, our Deliverer, receiving FORGIVENESS for our sins and HEALING in spirit, mind and body, and today we are focusing on the GOOD NEWS of:

THE SEVEN STEPS ON THE NARROW WAY leading us to SALVATION, FREEDOM, HOLINESS and WHOLENESS.

When we are born, we are introduced to the WORLDLY SYSTEM, which we know belongs to Satan and therefore is ruled by the FLESH as we read in Galatians 5:19-21, consisting of things like LUST, JELOUSY, ENVY, ANGER, HATRED and DIVISION which are quickly learned as we grow up in the world. We experience it in our relationships, and we also react in accordance with it. We can say evil is done to us and we solve our problems with evil in return, for example, if someone hurts us, we hurt them back, if someone gossips about us and we hear about it, we slander them and so forth. We live our lives in evil and envy; people hate us and we hate each other as Paul says in Titus 3:3-4 UNTIL THE DAY we get SAVED and UNDERSTAND the TRUE GOSPEL. Yes, unfortunately there is a FALSE GOSPEL. Trying to tell us that we can be SAVED and still KEEP our FLESH ALIVE by keeping on FEEDING it WITH EVIL and hating ourselves and retaliating to the EVIL people do to us and hating them. Obviously, this is a GOSPEL heading for DISASTER in this LIVE and the NEXT. Basically, it comes down to being utterly MISLEAD and MISLEADING yourself.

We read about the TRUE GOSPEL (the GOOD NEWS) in the Word, like in Isaiah 58 where YHVH our God tells us what He wants: releasing (freeing) those unjustly bound, untying the thongs (cords) of the yoke (oppression, burden, bondage), letting the oppressed (burdened, worried) go free, breaking every yoke, sharing your food with the hungry, taking the homeless poor into your house, clothing the naked when you see them, fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen (your family). If we do this, we are promised the following in verses 8-12 “Then, your LIGHT will burst forth like the morning, your NEW SKIN will quickly grow over your wound; your RIGHTEOUSNESS will precede you, and YHVH’s GLORY will FOLLOW you. Then you will call, and YHVH will ANSWER; you will cry, and HE will say, ‘HERE I AM.’ If you will remove the yoke from among you, stop false accusation and slander, generously offer food to the hungry and meet the needs of the person in trouble; then your LIGHT will rise in the darkness, and your gloom become like noon. YHVH WILL ALWAYS GUIDE you; He WILL SATISFY your NEEDS in the desert, HE WILL RENEW your STRENGTH in your limbs; so that you will be like a WATERED GARDEN, like a SPRING whose water never fails. You will REBUILD the ancient ruins, raise foundations from ages past, and be CALLED ‘‘REPAIRER of broken walls, RESTORER of streets to live in.” And in verses 13-14 we read about additional blessing if we keep the Shabbat (the Sabbath) and call it a DELIGHT, YHVH’s HOLY DAY, worth honoring.

James also tells us in chapter 1:26-27 what TRUE RELIGION is namely: “Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing. The RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE that GOD the FATHER considers PURE and FAULTLESS is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to KEEP oneself from being contaminated by the world.” We see similar words in Matthew 25:31-46 in Yeshua’s explanation of the sheep and goat judgement. The sheep will inherit the kingdom because when He was HUNGRY they gave Him food, and when He was thirsty they gave Him something to drink, He was a stranger and they made Him their guest, He needed clothes and they provided it, He was sick and they took care of Him, He was in prison and they visited Him. Then the people will ask Him when did they do these things to Him. And He will answer, whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for Me!” So again we see here, TRUE RELIGION is LOVING other people and CARING for them.

The TRUE GOSPEL written in the WORD of GOD is AVAILABLE to ALL whose BLIND EYES are opened by MESSIAH YESHUA after being STOPPED in our tracks and thrown off our high horses of RELIGION like PAUL was. And then we can be used like Paul to spread the TRUE GOOD NEWS to other people using our different GIFTS to open people’s eyes; so that they will TURN from darkness to LIGHT, from the power of the Adversary (Satan) to GOD the Father, and thus receive FORGIVENESS of sins and a place among those separated for HOLINESS by putting their TRUST (faith, belief, hope) in YESHUA the MESSIAH (read Acts 26:12-18).

This process is reflected in the TABERNACLE and the TABERNACKLE EQUIPMENT and involves SEVENS STEPS. Please also read the details about it in the published MESSAGES on the SEVEN FEASTS of YHVH. The feasts, known as the appointed times of YHVH serve as an annual rehearsal of these steps making sure, we develop our gifts, find and execute our purpose and grow each year closer and closer to God, our Creator and Savior.

STEP 1:

BEING SAVED as a FREE GIFT of the FATHER by GRACE through FAITH by accepting YESHUA the MESSIAH’s DEATH for us on the CROSS as the FULL PRICE PAID for our sins once and for all (read Ephesians 2:8-9 and Hebrews chapter 9 and 10).

Accepting Him gives us assurance of being SAVED from our SINS, SPIRITUAL DEATH and the SECOND DEATH. The second death entails being send, after the GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT ON THE LAST DAY, to the pool of fire where the antichrist/ antimessiah, the false prophet and Satan will go as well as ALL people who did not want to accept Yeshua the Messiah as their Savior and who did not want to follow Him in obedience to the Father. Read Revelation 19:20-21 and 20:11-15.

And this brings us to:

STEP 2 & 3: DYING to the FLESH (the Old Self, the Sinful Nature) and being RESURECTED as a NEW PERSON in YESHUA the MESSIAH

It is utter MADNESS or maybe let’s tone it down, it is proof of SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS to think we can KEEP our FLESH (old filthy self, full of sin) and be able to live forever with a HOLY GOD! We clearly read in Revelation 21:27 “NOTHING sinful will be able to enter the NEW CITY of JERUSALEM on the NEW EARTH.” So please do not let ANYBODY fool you!

Yeshua our Messiah tells us without a doubt in Matthew 16:24-26 to take up our CROSS, die to the old nature and FOLLOW HIM.

So, what exactly does this mean? Well the TABERNACLE picture tells us after we are WASHED with YESHUA the MESSIAH’s BLOOD at the CROSS we do not go back out of the GATE of the TABERNACLE to the CAMP or worse to the WORLD, like a dog returning to its own vomit or a pig wallowing in the mud again after being washed like Peter explained in 2^nd Peter 2:22. NO, we move FORWARD to the HOLY PLACE! But before we are able to ENTER the HOLY PLACE, we REACH the BRAZEN WASHBASIN! And it is here where the FLESH DIES in the WATER OF BAPTISM with YESHUA the MESSIAH and we are RESURECTED as a NEW PERSON (Read Paul’s excellent explanation of it in Romans chapter 6).

But this is not the end.  While we live on earth, we will unfortunately still be in close encounter with the sinful world each day and we will therefore commit unintentional sins, like losing our temper in an unguarded moment of frustration BUT a person who DIED to the FLESH will not commit WILLFULL, INTENTIONAL sin anymore. The principle is, YOU DIED TO YOUR SIN with YESHUA the MESSIAH and were RAISED as a NEW PERSON and a DEAD PERSON cannot sin! (Read Paul’s words in Romans 6:11).

So it makes sense, if you find you are still PLANNING to SIN INTENTIONALLY, DELIBERATELY, your FLESH is still well and alive and needs to be PUT TO DEATH so that YOU can be FREED from SIN, SICKNESS and DEATH, THEREFORE BE FREED from Satan and his evil forces stealing from you, and trying to kill and destroy you, and you can LIVE a NEW FULL LIFE! The LIFE Yeshua our Messiah ALREADY PAID for! (read John 10:10).

But for UNINTENTIONAL, ACCIDENTAL sin, we have the BRAZEN WASHBASIN, signifying DAILY REPENTENCE – we have been CLEANSED of our PAST SINS by the BLOOD of YESHUA the MESSIAH, but we still need to REPENT for DAILY UNINTENTIONAL SINS, (sins done by accident in unguarded moments as we are still on our way of growing stronger each day), to REMAIN CLEAN. It is very similar to WASHING our BODIES daily with soap and water. The SAME is required for our SOUL consisting of your MIND (thoughts), HEART (emotions) and FREE WILL (decisions), accidentally speaking fleshly words or doing fleshly deeds, to REPENT by DAILY WASHING with the WATER of the WORD of YHVH.

REPENTANCE is ACTUALY part of the GRACE of GOD – it is like WATER is part of the GRACE of GOD – without water, nothing can be washed. And without REPENTANCE in line with the LIVING WATER OF GOD (the WORD), we will be filled to the brim with FEAR, GUILT and ANXIETY resulting from all the sins of the flesh including lust, hatred, self-hatred and the like!

James tells us in chapter 5:13-16 “Is someone among you in trouble? He should PRAY. Is someone feeling good? He should SING SONGS of PRAISE. Is someone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the congregation (strong fellow believers who live righteous lives in obedience to the Word and will of YHVH). They will PRAY for him and rub olive oil on him (anointing him with oil) in the Name of the Master (Yeshua). The PRAYER offered with TRUST (faith, belief, hope) will HEAL the one who is ill – the Master (Yeshua) will RESTORE his HEALTH; and if he has committed sins, he will be FORGIVEN. Therefore, OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE your sins to one another, and PRAY for each other, so that you may BE HEALED. The PRAYER of a RIGHTEOUSS PERSON is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE.”

IF WE EAT the BREAD of GOD, HIS WORD EVERY DAY, our SOULS will be FED and NUTURED and HEALED because in HIS WORD we LEARN ABOUT LOVE, HIS EVERLASTING LOVE for us as WELL as the HEALING POWER WHEN we learn to LOVE ourselves and other people. And that is why Psalm 107:19-20 tells us: “In their TROUBLE they CRIED to YHVH, and HE RESCUED (saved, freed) them from their distress (suffering, pain, sorrow, misery); HE SENT HIS WORD and HEALED them, HE DELIVERED them from destruction.”

Paul explains this in Ephesians 5:8 “For you USED TO BE darkness; but NOW, UNITED with the MASTER (YESHUA), you are LIGHT. LIVE like children of LIGHT, for the FRUIT of the LIGHT is in EVERY kind of GOODNESS, RIGHTNESS and TRUTH – try to determine what will please the MASTER (YESHUA).

IF we follow GOD’s WAYS, we will LIVE a FULL, CONTENT (happy) and HEALTHY LIVE even if we still live in a broken world!

That is WHY David says in Psalm 103:1-5: “Bless YHVH my soul (my mind, heart and free will). Everything in me, bless His Holy Name! Bless YHVH my soul and forget none of His benefits! HE FORGIVES ALL YOUR OFFENSES (crimes, wrongdoings, sins), HE HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES (illnesses, sickness, syndromes/ conditions/ disorders), HE REDEEMS (buy back) YOUR LIFE FROM THE PIT (from hell), HE SURROUNDS YOU WITH GRACE and COMPASSION (kindness, gentleness, concern, consideration), HE CONTENTS YOU WITH GOOD AS LONG AS YOU LIVE, so that YOUR YOUTH IS RENEWED like an eagle’s.”

STEP 4:

Being FILLED with the FIRE of His HOLY SPIRIT. Then we become FEARLESS believers, an UNSTOPPABLE FORCE of LOVE and LIGHT following in our MESSIAH’s footsteps in OBEDIENCE to the Father in accordance with HIS WORD with HIS HOLY SPIRIT in us, strengthening us, reminding us of the WORDS of Yeshua our Messiah in all situations we face, comforting us and leading us in every step we take.

In Acts 10:38 Peter explains that God (the Father) anointed Yeshua from Nazareth with the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) and with power; and Yeshua went about DOING GOOD and HEALING ALL the people oppressed by the Adversary (Satan), because God (the Father) was with Him. This therefore tells us about Yeshua our Messiah’s earthly ministry.

Likewise, our ministries, discovering and executing our purpose by using our gifts, can ONLY start AFTER step four. We see the same is true in the life of the disciples. Their ministries only proceeded with POWER and FIRE after they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we will face more SPIRITUAL BATTLES because we are then part of God’s ARMY of LIGHT, exposing the DARKNESS as we are called to do in Ephesians 5:11 and therefore we have to daily put on YHVH’s our GOD’s WHOLE ARMOUR as explained in Ephesians 6:10-19, knowing:

• We grow POWERFUL in UNION with YESHUA our MESSIAH and MASTER with HIS MIGHTY STRENGTH.

• With the ARMOR and WEAPONARY that GOD the FATHER PROVIDES we are able to STAND against the tactics of the Adversary (Satan).

• We know that people are not our enemies and therefore our struggle is NOT against them.

• Our enemies and therefore our struggle is against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing the darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm.

• THEREFORE, we have to take up EVERY PIECE of WAR EQUIPMENT GOD the FATHER PROVIDES so that when the evil day comes, we will be able to RESIST (fight, attack, counterattack); and when the battle is WON, we will still be STANDING.

• Therefore, we are commanded to STAND! Having the BELT OF TRUTH (the WORD of GOD) buckled around your waist, putting on the BREASTPLATE of RIGHTEOUSNESS (always being in line with YHVH our God’s WORD and WILL, serving HIM in OBEDIENCE in the FOOTSTEPS of our MASTER YESHUA). Also read the description of our God as our Commander in Isaiah 59:17.

• And wearing on our FEET the READINESS that comes from the GOOD NEWS of SHALOM. We read in Isaiah 52:7 this means we announce the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION (redemption, deliverance from sin, sickness including oppression of the Adversary and his evil forces and from death) to people and that YHVH our GOD is their KING.

• We ALWAYS carry the SHIELD of TRUST (faith, belief, hope) with which we EXTINGUISH ALL the flaming arrows of the evil one.

• And we take the HELMET of DELIVERANCE (SALVATION), the sure knowledge of our FREEDOM in YESHUA our MESSIAH and that we BELONG to HIM as BLOOD BOUGHT CHILDREN of GOD the FATHER, and along with the SWORD given to us by the HOLY SPIRIT, the WORD of GOD as we PRAY at ALL TIMES with ALL kinds of PRAYERS and REQUESTS in the HOLY SPIRIT, vigilantly (watchfully) and persistently for ALL GOD the FATHER’s people.

• And we PRAY that God will help us, like Paul also asked, to give to us the WORDS to be BOLD in making the GOOD NEWS known even if it may endanger our lives.

STEP 5:

Praying, worshipping and praising God the Father, irrespective of the situation we are in as Paul tells us in 1^st Thessalonians 5:16-18 and David tells us in Psalm 34:1. Maybe the best example here is Habakkuk 3:17-19 saying: “For even if the fig tree doesn’t blossom, and no fruit is on the vines, even if the olive tree fails to produce, and the fields yield no food at all, even if the sheep vanish from the sheep pen, and there are no cows in the stalls; still I WILL REJOICE IN YHVH, I WILL TAKE JOY IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION. ELOHIM YHVH is my STRENGTH! He makes me swift and sure-footed as a deer and enables me to stride over high places.”

It is during tough times that our FAITH is TESTED, and we have to ability and opportunity to shine the brightest. By praising YHVH our God amidst our challenges, we affirm that our hope remains anchored in Him, and He never change and He will never leave, nor forsake us. Therefore, we are able to praise Him in times of joy and abundance as well as in the storms we experience in life.

STEP 6 & 7:

We live our lives until THE DAY our Messiah return in accordance to God the Father’s LAW of LOVE, HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS now WRITTEN on our HEARTS and MINDS (read Exodus 20, Matthew 5, Matthew 22, Romans chapters 2 and 13) while we KNOW we are not meant for God the FATHER’s JUDGEMENT because we are COVERED by the MERCY of YESHUA the MESSIAH, our HIGH PRIEST and ADVOCATE.