A Reminder: Persecution Still Exists in Cuba!

Seeing news images of President Obama doing “the wave” at a baseball game and dancing the tango in Cuba, it would be easy to think that this small communist country is now completely free and open to the gospel of Christ.

But while President Obama was watching baseball, Pastor Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso was sitting in a police station. Barroso, a Baptist pastor, blogger and friend of VOM, was thrown to the ground, handcuffed and detained at his home (which also serves as his church) just hours before Air Force One landed in Havana. A few hours after the president left Cuba, Pastor Barroso was set free and returned to his family. He was tired and weak, having fasted throughout his detention, but happy to be home.

Pastor Barroso is a bold pastor and outspoken advocate for religious freedom in his nation, and as such he is seen as a threat to the communist government of Fidel and Raul Castro. The Cuban government decided to make sure there would be no “distractions” during President Obama’s visit, so Barroso and dozens of other dissidents were detained by police in the days leading up to the president’s arrival.

Pastor Barroso’s name is already familiar to many American Christians who have committed to pray each week for persecuted believers at iCommitToPray.com. More than 400 people in 27 nations have already prayed for the pastor and his wife, who was threatened with imprisonment in 2014.

Each week, VOM posts a specific prayer request on iCommitToPray.com and invites Christians around the world to join in prayer for that request and to type their prayers on the website. Other believers — even believers in hostile and restricted nations — can then be blessed by and join in agreement with those prayers.

Please pray for Pastor Barroso and his wife, Yoaxis, as the pastor recovers from his recent detention.

Sign up on iCommitToPray.com to receive a new prayer request like this one via email each week.

... this blog entry is a copy and paste of a recent V.O.M. Commit to Pray Newsletter.

The Observer

For Those Who Still Think Torah Has Been Done Away With, In Less Than 4 Minutes

The Observer

It's Time To "Lay Down the Law" - Part 15

Let's continue our study of the word "Law" in the New Testament.

If you've followed this series you know that, in general summation, we have discovered Peter (Kefa/Cephas) telling us to be aware when reading Sha'ul (Paul). Peter tells us we will make the error of the "lawless" if we misread Paul. We also have Paul continually reaffirming Torah at each step and using the word "law" in various ways to make his points. We have learned that Salvation is just the first step in our refinement in Messiah, that if we do not actually do what He instructs, we do not love Him! We have learned that our "works" do not give us Salvation, rather they are the fruit of our Salvation, showing others that we love Him enough to actually do what He says to do. We have learned that these things He wishes us to do is Torah and everything else is man's Tradition.

I have often been asked the question, "How can you believe that our Church Fathers and all the great men that have come before us got it so wrong?" The answer is; does any Protestant think the Roman Catholic Church got "things wrong"? Do we ignore history? Do we ignore the plain truth of the biblical text? Do we ignore the historical evidence of manuscript manipulation and outright textual malfeasance in our Bibles? Why has Tradition taken over?

because ...

When one is faced with torture or going along with the "system", most people go along with the system. I once asked a Muslim neighbor of mine; "Where are the reformation Muslims?" "Where are the ones who want peace, love, and charity?" He answered, "They are all dead, murdered by radical Islam"! Is it any wonder why peaceful Muslims stay quiet? Well, guess what, Christians have been murdered throughout history as well. For those who can't believe things have gone so wrong, here is some history to consider. Remember, the early Christians were "Jews" who had Christ; who attended Synagogue, who celebrated the Sabbath, Feasts, and Torah! Something changed! And all of you Protestants out there! You are really just protesting Catholics! Before we continue to Galatians, I suggest you watch this well documented video on Church history and ask yourself if the modern day Church is following Yehovah-Yeshua, or Rome - Christ, or Antichrist!



Galatians is the "go to" book of the New Testament for "Christians" who wish to say Torah has been done away with. We will go through it slowly because it's easy to misunderstand. I also recommend another video; The Pauline Paradox 5b: Galatians, by 119 ministries. It goes into much more detail.

The Context of Chapters 1-2:

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
Gal 1:2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
Gal 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal 1:4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Gal 1:5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.
Gal 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
Gal 1:7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

[Note: Please remember, man has placed chapter beginnings and endings to Scripture. This is actually one whole letter to the Galatians. Sha'ul makes it clear that he was sent by God, not man, according to who's will? The Father's will - Yehovah! Has the Author of the Torah ever said His Torah is now finished? Have you ever read 1 Timothy 4? That's the passage relating to "Doctrines of Demons". I have actually had Christians tell me that by following Torah, I'm following a doctrine of Demons. I point out to them they are calling the Father a Demon and I ask them if that's wise? You see, they have it backwards. When people deny others to marry and deny certain foods or meats "sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer", they are breaking Torah. Required vegetarianism and Catholic Priests not marrying are doctrines of demons. Saying that 1 Timothy 4 allows one to eat pig is a misunderstanding of what food is, biblically. Food is never considered to be unclean animals in Scripture! What do we believe when the Bible says, "sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer"? This statement means it's sanctified in Torah. These people who say it's OK to force vegetarianism, keep Priests from marriage, and eat unclean animals are all followers of doctrines of demons. They are denying Torah. So, what "gospel" are the Galatians deserting? They are deserting Torah! Which "gospel" does the B'rit Hadashah say we should follow? The same one given to Israel in the desert! The "gospel" once delivered to the Saints! See Gal. 3:8, 2 Cor. 11, and all of James. Do a word study on "gospel" in the New Testament. What gospel does it reference? It references the gospel given to the Israelites - you know - Torah. What Scripture is Paul referencing here in Galatians? The Torah and the Prophets! Why are these men who preach a contrary gospel accursed? See Deuteronomy 11, 28, 30. I give you blessings and curses! The context of Galatians is clearly stating they have abandoned the true gospel - Torah!]
...
Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Gal 1:11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

(Paul is laying a foundation here. He is saying, what he teaches is not Tradition, but Gospel!)

Gal 1:13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;
Gal 1:14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

(He used to be zealous in Jewish Tradition (Oral "Law")! Men's Tradition! Paul will bring up the Galatians "tradition problem" in chapter 2!)

Gal 1:15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, was pleased
Gal 1:16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
Gal 1:17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

(To this day, the Church thinks Mt. Sinai is in the Sinai Peninsula because Constantine's pagan mommy, Helena, said it was. No, Mt. Sinai is in modern day Saudi Arabia where the Bible says it is. Some say Paul went to the cave of Elijah which is located there.)

Gal 1:18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and stayed with him fifteen days.
Gal 1:19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother.
Gal 1:20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)
Gal 1:21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
Gal 1:22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ;
Gal 1:23 but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy."
Gal 1:24 And they were glorifying God because of me.
...
Gal 2:1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.
Gal 2:2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
Gal 2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

(Ah! Now we see the introduction to the tradition problem.)

Gal 2:4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
Gal 2:5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
Gal 2:6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.
Gal 2:7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised
Gal 2:8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles),
Gal 2:9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

[Note: Folks, when a Catholic tells you Peter was the First Pope, show them these verses. Peter was the Apostle to the Jewish people. Paul was the Apostle to Gentiles. If they wish to claim a First Pope, it should have been Paul.

False Brethren, later described as the "Circumcision Party", were telling new converts they must be circumcised in order to receive Salvation. But as Sha'ul states, God shows no partiality. The Egyptians who accompanied the Israelites into the desert were not circumcised until later. Abraham received Salvation first and was circumcised later. If one wishes to join Judaism, even today, one must be circumcised first! This requirement is Talmud, man made Tradition, just as it was in Paul's time!

Yes, the Torah requires circumcision, but only after the individual makes the choice and understands why he is doing this. He wants to officially become part of the Olive Tree, called Israel. Salvation was the first step, even for Abraham! The Church is stuck on Salvation, still drinking milk, and not caring to eat the real meat of Scripture!]

Gal 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor--the very thing I also was eager to do.
Gal 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
Gal 2:12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

(Peter weakened and rejoined his Jewish friends in man made Tradition. Paul "disciplined" him.)

Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

(That is, by man made Tradition!)

Gal 2:15 "We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;
Gal_2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

(Just like Abraham!)

Gal_2:19 "For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.
Gal_2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

[Note: Churchy Christians will actually say, "See! The Law is dead! We are dead to the Law!" No, Paul is simply saying that in order to follow Torah correctly, one must die to Torah as a legalistic means of achieving Salvation, and only follow Torah with a circumcised heart, out of Love, Obedience, and Devotion to Yehovah! Only then can Torah perform the purifying work it does to go beyond Salvation. This, in a nutshell, is the entire context of Galatians, Ch. 1 & 2.

You see folks, the Church, just like me years ago, is still following man made tradition and teaching. They don't realize it (yet), but they are actually following Antichrist. It is my desire to awaken them, so they may come out of Babylon, just as I did.]

The Observer