September 2016

Index to this edition

• Latest news stories
• Private interpretation forbidden
• A backdrop that tells a sad story
• A most abominable Bishop
• Beeke backtracking
• SERMON: The folly of unbelief
• SERMON: Job’s Christ
• Editor’s correspondence with ‘Father’ Patrick McCafferty: Part 9

Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church

Lord’s Day 9th October

Preacher: Rev Ivan Foster

Special subjects: 

11.30 am – “For whom has Christ reserved a crown?”

7.00 pm – “Which path will the Free Presbyterian Church choose? Repudiating Dr. Joel Beeke’s compromises or Displeasing the Lord of Glory.

All are welcome to these meetings.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints,” Jude 1:3.

Joel Beeke preaches for and publicly seeks closer links with sodomy-endorsing Dutch denomination!

His departure cannot get much worse and leaves his supporters with a stark choice.
How long are some ministers going to continue attempting to whitewash this man?
God’s warning stands sure: “Behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out,” Numbers 32:23.

Most of our readers should be aware of the controversy surrounding Dr Joel Beeke and his links with those whose standing should not be acceptable to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. In the past he has shared platforms with pro-sodomite speakers and sold books extolling the sodomite life-style. This can be checked out in Pastor Ralph Ovadal’s article: “The Downward Spiral of Dr. Joel Beeke’s Ministries Continues”.

However, as is the inevitable outcome of compromise, he has gone even further. On a preaching visit to Holland, he preached in pulpits which are occupied by sodomite-supporting ministers. But, not content with such a violation of God’s Word, Dr Beeke used the occasion to express a desire for his church, Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation, to have formal links with the Restored Reformed Church denomination which has endorsed the dreadful doctrine that a sodomite can be a true believer and even a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read more…

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Private Interpretation Forbidden

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation,” 2 Peter 1:20.

Many would challenge Peter’s assertion, though perhaps they do so without realising the significance of their actions. I say this in order to ameliorate their error because I do feel many are unaware that they are engaged in that which Peter here forbids.

Many believe that we must come to the Bible and “interpret” what it is God says! Now the word “interpretation” means “unloosing”. It is the process of “untying a knot”. That suggests that God has given us a “tangled skein” rather than a clear revelation!

It is what the combatants in the Second World War on both sides were busily engaged in. Most famously, the German military developed, after the First World War, that which was called “The Enigma Code.” It was a complex system of encoding its military communications, thus concealing them from their enemies. However, the Polish Cipher Bureau broke the code in the 1930s. Of course, the Germans were ever improving their code and so there was an ongoing battle of wits which I think we can say the Allies won, for during the latter part of World War II, the British knew much of what it was the Germans were saying and planning.

The USA likewise had broken the Japanese system of codes and were thus in possession of much of the communications coming out of Japan.

That is what interpretation means. Read more….

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A backdrop which tells a sad story

I was sent some pictures which allegedly appeared on the ‘Facebook’ page of the DUP leader, Mrs Arlene Foster.

Apparently, Enniskillen DUP held a breakfast meeting at the Horseshoe Bar and Saddlers Restaurant, one of the oldest public houses in Enniskillen.

For such a venue to be acceptable to the members of the DUP indicates a grave departure from the Party’s founding principles and practices.

There was a time when such a venue would never have been dreamed of and I am inclined to believe that it would still be the case for many local branches. Read more…

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The war that God provoked

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” Genesis 3:15.

What a wonderful gospel text this is.

It is the first gospel sermon and it was preached by the Lord Himself.

The mercy of the Lord is seen in how quickly the Lord utters this word of grace after the sin of Adam and Eve has been committed. Notice the words were directed against the devil. His rejoicing over his conquest of Adam and Eve was short lived. This word from the Lord ended such rejoicing the devil may have been deceived into engaging in. The pleasures of sin are but for a season says Paul when referring to Moses’ decision to reject the throne of Egypt. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,” Hebrews 11:25.

For Adam and Eve the words of God were welcome. There is promised to them victory over the one whose evil has plighted and destroyed their world. They would not have to live in subjection to him.

These words indicate that God is going to start a war between the devil and all believers and that for all of time. Read more…

Listen using the player below:

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A most abominable archbishop

In his response to the admission by the Bishop of Grantham, Nicholas Chamberlain, that he is in a sodomite relationship, the Belfast Newsletter of 5th September 2016, reports that Rev Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “I am and have been fully aware of Bishop Nick’s long-term, committed relationship.” He added: “He lives within the bishops’ guidelines and his sexuality is completely irrelevant to his office.”

This is one of the most wicked statements I have ever heard coming from the increasingly corrupt Archbishop of Canterbury’s office.

1. He states that he has been “fully aware of Bishop Nick’s long-term, committed relationship.”

Since nothing has been done to deal with this shameful defiance of G od’s Word, we can only surmise that Welby approves of such wickedness. Read more…

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Beeke Backtracking!!!

Not for the first time Dr Joel Beeke has been found wanting when it comes to honesty!
Recently, Pastor Ralph Ovadal published an article on his site, “The Downward Spiral of Dr. Joel Beeke’s Ministries Continues.” Click here to read the article.

That article contains the following statement:

Dr. Joel Beeke and Refo500 Together again, or more accurately, the illicit affair continues…it was recently brought to our attention that Dr. Beeke has not even ceased speaking at Refo500 events, as evidenced by the fact that he is a featured speaker at a Refo500 conference in the Netherlands scheduled for August 31—September 2, 2016. This Refo500 event is being held at the Theological University Apeldoorn where Dr. Herman Selderhuis is Professor of Church History and Church Polity.” Read more…

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The Folly of Unbelief

“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand,” 1 Samuel 27:1.

Based on a message preached at a special Saturday morning season of prayer attended by teachers, pupils, parents, Management Committee members and supporters of Kilskeery Independent Christian School, at the commencement of its 38th year.

The life of David provides us with many lessons for our pilgrimage here on earth. The trials and afflictions he endured present to us a true representation of what it is the Church of Christ may expect to encounter as it journeys to the “land that is fairer than day.”

As our school launches into its 38th year, we may take instruction, warnings and encouragement from this passage. Read more… Listen using the player below:

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Job’s Christ

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me,” Job 19:25-27.

(Based upon a sermon preached by Rev Ivan Foster in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church on September 4th, 1994)

Knowing that such is the greatness of this text that no sermon of mine could do it justice, I feel I must return to it this Sabbath morning for one more look at its glorious message. I would like to highlight truths that I did not touch upon in our last study.

Job had little hope of ever seeing a restoration of that lost in his trial and little hope of ever being vindicated before his friends in his lifetime. But he did have a firm assurance of seeing just such a vindication one day. To that day he appeals in this great outburst of faith. I wish to look at these words and see Job’s Christ. Read more…

Listen to a recording of this message using the player below:

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Editor’s correspondence with ‘Father’ Patrick McCafferty

Back in 2002, I entered into a correspondence in the pages of “The Burning Bush” with a Roman Catholic priest from Belfast. The correspondence arose after I wrote a letter in reply to an article by the priest in “The Belfast Telegraph” of August 24th, 2002.

I was grieved at such a platform being given to the errors and deceptions of Rome and commented on the priest’s article in a letter to “The Belfast Telegraph.”

It will be noted how our two replies to the priest were edited by the ‘Letters Editor’ of “The Belfast Telegraph” before they quickly closed the exchange after two exchanges.

The Word of God was not liked by that ecumenical newspaper back then and it is still the case. Every effort was made to shield and protect the priest of Rome from the rebuke of God’s Word.

We are republishing the correspondence, which continued for eight exchanges, and appeared in “The Burning Bush” from October 2002 until May 2003, because of the publicity given to the ‘warm relationship’ that was manifested between this priest and Pastor James McConnell during the recent trial occasioned by Pastor McConnell’s pulpit statements about Islam. Pastor McConnell asked ‘Father’ Patrick McCafferty to speak on his behalf during the trial.

All this “ecumenical camaraderie” between the pastor and the priest may appear to some to give endorsement of the teachings of Rome and it is for this reason we highlight again the errors this priest, like all Roman Catholic clerics, propagates.

Needless to say, it also highlights the folly of James McConnell!

Read Part 9 of the exchange here.

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Latest news stories

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More news

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