GOOD NEWS

From Genesis to Revelation, beginning to end, we see a full picture of the plan set forth by Abba Father, from Creation to Death & Resurrection to Eternity. In all settings and in all books, the Word points forward to the Messiah or looks back, pointing to the Messiah. The Good News.

2098. euaggélion – the Gospel – literally, “God’s good news.”

The Gospel (2098 /euaggélion) includes the entire Bible, i.e. it is not limited to how a person becomes a Christian.

Bible Hub: Strong’s Concordance

From a prison cell, Paul speaks of this Good News, a message that isn’t limited to just a few chapters in the Scriptures. He’s experienced the Word come alive in him and he’s willing to stand fast in the face of adversity and trial. He’s being held in chains for being a follower of Jesus (Y’shua), counting it all joy and considering it an advancement of the Word. His witness is incredible! He has people trusting his Master and being BOLD to speak fearlessly and spread the message out in the world… all due to his witness and his willingness to walk out the Good News.

This week’s Torah portion is from Leviticus 14-15, laws or instructions about the leper and how to handle a bodily discharge. The readings continues the discussion of being set-apart as holy before the Almighty God. Here we see specific guidelines for the safety and health of a leprous person and also a woman dealing with any discharge of blood. This includes her niddah (monthly menstruation) or an abnormal discharge. Also we see Yah give instructions for male emissions of bodily fluids. In any of these situations, we are to be mindful of any surface our bodily fluids touch. Surfaces are unclean & flesh is unclean when in contact with leprosy, blood or semen. We are instructed to wash ourselves and are unclean until evening. Some instances and situations call for a longer span of uncleanness. What we see here is a part of the Good News, which includes being washed by water and being made clean. “Let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.”

Yeshua came and made a way for us to come boldy to the throne of grace, receiving his mercy and his finding his grace (Heb 4:16). He was prophesied in Isaiah to lead the blind, to make darkness light and to make crooked places straight. Does this mean we won’t experience “chains” like Paul? Does it mean bad things won’t befall us? Absolutely not! But those things will hopefully, if we allow it by dying to our flesh, advance the Good News!

If our Creator is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do, we should take seriously the need to be set apart and clean, having eyes to see and ears to hear, washing ourselves in the water of His Word and the blood of the sacrifice of the Lamb. To be prepared for when the hard times come so that we aren’t caught off-guard and unable to stand fast through the trials and temptations.

“When you pass through the waters, I am with you; and through rivers, they do not overflow you. When you walk through fire, you are not scorched, and a flame does not burn you. For I am יהוה your Elohim, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ĕl, your Saviour.”

Isaiah 43:2

We have witnesses to this truth! Daniel in the lions den. The Israelites fleeing Egypt. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire. There are many more but two or three are really all we need! We can trust Him at His word that He cares for us, is making a way for us in the “wilderness” of this world.

This portion is a timely reminder to humble ourselves and with all trembling to FEAR & OBEY YAH! To sanctify ourselves so that we bear fruit of the Spirit that is righteous, being defenders of the whole Word of Elohim our Father and Yeshua our Savior so that love might be extended more in knowledge and discernment. For the Good News to be spread unto all the earth.

Euaggelion. The Gospel of Yeshua, for Elohim’s glory! HalleluYAH!

Be sure to join us again next week for the Weekly Scripture Reading.