May 2026
Audio sermons
Click here to listen to all the sermons on this website!
KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Analysing Acts”
- No talks have been posted yet this month.
- See all the talks in this series here.
- See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.
Recently Featured Sermons
The Return of Christ, Pt 27preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Dec 9, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 26, 2026
The Return of Christ, Pt 26
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Thu Dec 4, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 19, 2026
The Return of Christ, Pt 25
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Dec 2, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 12, 2026
The Return of Christ, Pt 24
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Thu Nov 27, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 5, 2026
Click here to view previous featured sermons
Recently Preached Sermons
Deep sin within the Free Presbyterian Churchpreached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 26, 2026
Remember the days of old
preached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 19, 2026
Going forward by turning back!
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Fri Apr 17, 2026
View all recently preached sermons
Older Sermons Recently Added
Testimony of Rev. John Wyliepreached by Rev. John Wylie on Tue Jan 1, 1985
Reminiscences on her 70th birthday
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Oct 22, 2016
Barbed arrows repulsed
preached by Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley on Sun May 25, 1969
View all recently added sermons
Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here
Standing on the doorstep of apostasy!
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent,” Revelation 2:5.
I believe I may respectfully and reverently paraphrase the Saviour’s words in this manner:
“If you do not face up to the fact that you have backslidden and departed from what you once believed and practiced and return to your former ways, I will swiftly cast you off for you are on the doorstep of apostasy.”
We should remember that these words are addressed by the Saviour to a church which before was spoken of by Paul the Apostle in these words.
Ephesians 2:12-22
“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
It was a church of those gathered out of the darkness and ignorance of idolatry, a people without God, without hope and afar off. But they experienced reconciliation with God through the blood of the Lord Jesus and were now resting upon the foundation of the Holy Scriptures and enjoyed Holy Ghost fellowship with God the Father and were His holy habitation.
But see where they are just some thirty years later! They had “fallen”, no longer engaging in their first zealous works of holiness.
I. THE SAVIOUR CALLS UPON THEM TO REMEMBER FROM WHENCE THEY HAD FALLEN.
In this seventy fifth year of our existence as a denomination, just how much REMEMBERING of the stand taken by our founders and the generation that followed, has truly taken place?
I would claim there has really been very little.
Historical data
Oh yes, the details of the actions in Crossgar back in 1951, of Dr Paisley and the elders in the Lissara congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, have been repeated in a number of gatherings. The details of how the Presbytery of Down refused to allow a Gospel mission, at which Dr Paisley was the invited evangelist, to take place in church property, have been rehearsed.
But just how much of the ‘spirit of separation’ that our founders possessed and lived out, exists today amongst us?
There is not that much, in truth, when Free Presbyterian ministers can share meetings with ministers within the apostate denominations and our Presbytery has sanctioned such an ‘undoing’ of that step taken in Crossgar seventy-five years ago!
We are in grave danger of repeating the folly of Judah for which the Lord chided them by His servant Jeremiah. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-05-01 a 6:00 am
April 2026
Audio sermons
Click here to listen to all the sermons on this website!
KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Analysing Acts”
- Part 29, Part 30, Part 31
- See all the talks in this series here.
- See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.
Recently Featured Sermons
The Return of Christ, Pt 27preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Dec 9, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 26, 2026
The Return of Christ, Pt 26
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Thu Dec 4, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 19, 2026
The Return of Christ, Pt 25
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Dec 2, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 12, 2026
The Return of Christ, Pt 24
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Thu Nov 27, 2014
featured on Sun Apr 5, 2026
Click here to view previous featured sermons
Recently Preached Sermons
Deep sin within the Free Presbyterian Churchpreached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 26, 2026
Remember the days of old
preached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 19, 2026
Going forward by turning back!
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Fri Apr 17, 2026
View all recently preached sermons
Older Sermons Recently Added
Testimony of Rev. John Wyliepreached by Rev. John Wylie on Tue Jan 1, 1985
Reminiscences on her 70th birthday
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Oct 22, 2016
Barbed arrows repulsed
preached by Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley on Sun May 25, 1969
View all recently added sermons
Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here
Startling exposure of deep sin within the Free Presbyterian Church
This is a link to a courageous sermon preached by retired minister, Rev David Linden, in Larne Free Presbyterian Church, on the Sabbath morning 26 April 2026.
Please listen particularly from 24 minutes and onward.
We salute the courage of Rev Linden, and pray that God will use his warnings to awaken the many sleeping Christians within the Free Presbyterian Church to the great and increasing threat that faces our continuance as a body of believers enjoying the Lord’s blessing.
The departure within the Free Presbyterian Church has penetrated the Whitefield College of the Bible and if something is not done to stop this slide, then we will see a repeat of that which followed Prof J E Davey’s penetration of the College of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland some 100+ years ago!
“Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” 1 Corinthians 5:6.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret,” Ephesians 5:11-12.
“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. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ,” Jude 1:3-4.
The Editor
View a video of this sermon below:
Posted on 2026-04-27 a 10:55 pm
Checking the time on the prophetic clock
“But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away,” 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.
On a number of occasions, I have referred to certain events currently being referred to and reported upon in the news with increasing frequency, as indicating that the close of this age is coming very near.
The Christian has been given various matters to watch out for as signs of the approach of the end of this age!
Remember the Words of the Saviour.
“And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation (the Jewish ‘nation’ – Editor) shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Luke 21:29-33.
The two subjects I have referred to as indicating that ‘the time of the end’ has come upon us, are the increasing rise in antisemitism and the other is the spread of the availability and increasing use of drugs.
Here are recent headlines from news websites.
The first states:
Beaten for being a Jew on the streets of Britain: Outrage at ‘utterly abhorrent’ antisemitic attack on orthodox Jewish building inspector in Slough
The report begins: ‘A sickening video showing a Jewish man fearing for his life after a stranger shouted ‘dirty mother ****** Jew’ at him during an unprovoked assault has been condemned as ‘utterly abhorrent’ antisemitism.
Footage capturing the horrifying ordeal shows the victim, who was standing outside a property while carrying out work as a building inspector, being subjected to a torrent of racial slurs, including that he was a ‘baby killer.’
Update Wednesday 29th April:
Police declare terrorist incident after two Jewish men stabbed in north London
See also:
Hero bystanders who stopped Golders Green knifeman
Posted on 2026-04-27 a 6:02 am
Free Presbyterian minister sets aside the Bible to teach about the worship of God
A response to Rev. Marcus Lecky’s article on hymns and music
It is bewildering and deeply alarming to think that a Free Presbyterian minister should teach on the nature of the worship of God without making a single reference to the only standard of true worship, the Bible. A preacher without a Bible is a strange paradox indeed.
There are several issues I wish to raise in response to Rev. Lecky’s article. I am glad that he has voiced his views publicly and online as it gives opportunity to respond to them in the same manner. It has been startling to see the positive comments and support, even from other Free Presbyterian ministers, to such an obviously non-scriptural discussion of the worship of God.
1. Primary focus. Rev. Lecky is obvious setting out to refute the charge that Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) has infiltrated the Free Presbyterian Church. He does so by emphasizing repeatedly that the FPCoU has throughout its history used, what he terms, “current music”. In making this point he avoids the real issue entirely and raises a red herring. This wordplay either is based on ignorance of the real issue, or is an attempt cause confusion. The question of CCM in the church has NEVER been about the time when hymns or music was created. There is no intrinsic merit in the age of hymn. It is not better – or worse – simply because it is old or because it is new in a chronological sense. The date of writing is irrelevant.
CCM is a distinct genre of music first identified by the term “contemporary” in the 1970s in the context of the Jesus movement, a supposedly ‘christian’ hippie movement. It is a genre of music that blends Christian praise with the music of the ungodly world, initially from the hippie culture. It is contemporary, not in the sense that it is new, but in the sense that it copies the style of prevailing popular music trends. Simply put, CCM is contemporary because it is the music of this present evil age incorporated into the praise of worship. God-honouring praise is timeless and it is never determined to be God-honouring on the basis of the date of its production. The Bible speaks of the new song planted by grace in the heart of the redeemed (Ps 40:3). It is not new because it is recent, but new in contrast with the old songs of the pit which the old man previous enjoyed in an unregenerate state, and from which grace had redeemed him. It is still the new song of the new man, when a Christian has been singing the praise of God for a lifetime. Biblical praise is timeless.
Recognizing the irrelevance of Rev. Lecky’s misleading use of the term “current music”, the charge that contemporary worldly music has infiltrated the Free Presbyterian Church still stands. There is undoubtedly praise employed in the FPC today that is of a very different spirit than was used in the past. There has been an increasing adopting of the contemporary music of the world. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-27 a 6:00 am
My response to criticism of my message, ‘Going forward by turning back’, Psalm 80, preached in Markethill Free Presbyterian Church
Here is an email I received on Wednesday morning, 20th April. I have not altered it but publish it as I received it, including misspellings!
Good Morning Ivan,
I am emailing you having watched your sermon which you preached for the 75th anniversary service at Kilskeery.
Where I must say the message of the gospel was totally overshadowed by your personal views which for the most part are not grounded in scripture.
To me, the subject matter steemed from a place of personal resentment rather than any desire to promote the gospel. The FP church has seen a solid uptick in young folk which is crucial to the survival of the demonination and should be lauded. The atittude that ‘coffee mornings’ are a signpost on the way to damnation is not only sad but at the roof of it an inditement of where you feel the problems lie within the Church.
I think that if your ministry was more rooted in preaching of the true gospel and caring for your congregation rather than these personal rants you would have had more success in seeing members of your flock (and indeed family) comming to faith instead of falling by the wayside.
I prayfully hope that you take time to reconsider this attitude which most certainly drives true believers from Faith.
(The sermon under criticism may be seen or heard here: “Going Forward by Turning Back”)
Well Mr D,
It has obviously escaped your notice that there are times when a ‘defending’ the Gospel must take precedence over the proclaiming of it!
Paul said: “I am set for the defence of the gospel,” Philippians 1:17. Those words have been my motto text since I started preaching in 1964.
It only takes a cursory reading of Holy Scripture to see that God’s servants often gave priority to the rebuking of error and defending the truth! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-24 a 6:04 pm
Why no Bible references???
An answer to a very lengthy defence of ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ by a Free Presbyterian minister, in which there is not one mention of the Bible!
It seems to be forgotten by many that if praise is used in the worship of the Lord, it must be regulated by Scripture, irrespective of who defends it.
It is that lack which is the chief objection to ‘CCM’!
WHY NO BIBLE REFERENCES???
I understand that a very lengthy ‘thesis’ on the matter of hymnology has been mounted on Facebook by Rev Marcus Lecky. A copy was sent to me. In essence, it appears that he is defending ‘Contemporary Christian Music’.
At the first I was of a mind to simply ignore it for, in truth, it contributes nothing to the present debate on the serious matter of that parallel activity to the current departure from the preaching of the true Gospel, namely, the embracing of ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ by all too many true Christians.
Given that Rev Lecky recently commended the late Charlie Kirk and equated him with Christian martyrs, such as Stephen, the first Christian martyr, I would suggest that his opinion is to be carefully examined before it is accepted.
Back in September, 2025, I mounted an article entitled:
Let true Bible-believers be aware that Charlie Kirk was of the same spirit as Billy Graham!
In that article I said:
‘On a website, entitled: Charlie Kirk’s Wife:
What We Know About Erika Kirk’s Catholic Faith,
there is very interesting information on the unbiblical beliefs of Charlie Kirk!
There are links on that site to other articles which tell a very different story from the one the devil would have the true Christian believe! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-23 a 6:29 pm
'Reply to NSPCC's blasphemy' letter just published
A letter I submitted to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’, back at the beginning of April was some 1000 words long!
Original Letter: Reply to NSPCC’s blasphemy
That was understandably too long for the ‘letters column’ of that newspaper.
However, I was contacted and asked if I could edit it. This I did and I submitted the following which was published yesterday, 20th April.
I appreciate the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ printing my comments in answer to the evil words from the NSPCC!
Rev Ivan Foster
Letter: The Bible teaches clearly that ‘corporal punishment’ is essential to proper disciplining of a child
A letter from Rev Ivan Foster:
The views of Caroline Cunningham, policy and public affairs manager, NSPCC Northern Ireland, as published in your newspaper (End the physical punishment of children, Letters, April 1), are most offensive to those who love and live by the Bible, believing it to be the very Word of God.
Some campaigners say physical punishment of children should be banned.
But the ‘rules of life’ in God’s Word have been set aside at the behest of false prophets.
The Bible teaches very clearly that ‘corporal punishment’ is essential to proper disciplining of a child.
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes,” Proverbs 13:24.
Please compare Proverbs 22:15, 23:14. 29:15, 29:17 and the same God-ordained truth is set forth.
There is no justification offered in these verses for the brutalising of children that is often the consequences of alcohol or drug taking. The NCPCC ought to be campaigning against the availability of all dangerous drugs, especially alcohol. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-21 a 6:01 pm
Remember the days of old - Rev. David Linden
Rev David Linden, retired Free Presbyterian minister, spoke at the Markethill Free Presbyterian Church 75th Anniversary Services last Lord’s Day morning.
He preached on the subject :‘REMEMBER THE DAYS OF OLD’.
His message is well worth listening to.
View a video of this sermon below:
Posted on 2026-04-21 a 5:43 pm
Going forward by turning back!
Here is a recording of the message I preached in Markethill Free Presbyterian Church, Friday, 17th April 2026.
It was a part of the meetings recalling the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster.
I have attached the notes I compiled on the subject but which I was unable to really make full use of.
May what you hear and what you read be a blessing to you all.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
Read sermon notes here
View a video of this sermon below:
Posted on 2026-04-18 a 6:42 pm
Rev. David DiCanio's defense against the charges made against him
The following article is the defence made by Rev David DiCanio of his actions before the Free Presbyterian Church of North America’s Judicial Commission.
Rev. David DiCanio’s defense against the presbytery’s charges
(All BCO references are to the FPCNA Book of Church Order, not the Ulster edition)
Many Free Presbyterians here have no real knowledge of the issue, even members of our own Presbytery might be forced to acknowledge their ignorance of the full details.
That ought not to be and for that reason I have had this article mounted.
May it please the Lord to use it in helping to comfort those distressed by recent developments.
The Editor
Posted on 2026-04-17 a 6:00 am
You are invited . . .
Rev Ivan Foster’s subject on Friday evening is:—
‘GOING FORWARD BY TURNING BACK’
Posted on 2026-04-14 a 6:54 pm
A foolish boast born of ignorance!!!
‘As of April 6, 2026, the Artemis II crew has traveled further from Earth than any human in history.’
This is the sort of statement that has been often repeated during this recent flight, which has now ended and the astronauts are safely back on earth.
But is it really true?
Man has never been ‘behind’ in boasting of his achievements! Witness old Nebuchadnezzar’s bragging of ‘his’ kingdom!
“The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Daniel 4:30.
How wrong he was for “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will,” Daniel 4:25.
It is recorded in this same chapter that the Lord taught the king the truth in a fashion he would never forget. He was reduced to the level of the beast for seven years (verse 16).
“The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws,” Daniel 4:33.
Of course, men today still view their nation and its ‘achievements’ in the same way.
I will not quote the words of the USA Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, who ‘out-Trumped Trump’ in his bumptious declaration of total victory over Iran!
Almost immediately this was greeted by hoots of laughter and scorn for, as of yet, there is little or no evidence of this being true. Indeed, the whole ‘ceasefire’ agreement hangs by a very thin thread!
I fear it will not be long until it will be seen that Hegseth’s bluster is, in truth, as Shakespeare wrote, ‘Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’!
Wrong!
The statement regarding the four astronauts travelling further from the earth than any other human being is very wrong and that millions of times over!
I. HOW FAR AWAY IS HEAVEN?
There are three heavens!
* First of all, there are the heavens the birds fly in, just above our heads. That man has been able to explore ever since the days of hot-air balloons! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-13 a 6:00 am
How a Gospel minister is to deal with sin!
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear,” 1 Timothy 5:20
There are two procedures set down in the Bible that are to be followed by Christians when faced by sin in others.
I. WHEN IT IS A SIN AGAINST ONE’S SELF THEN THAT RESPONSE WHICH IS SET DOWN BY THE LORD JESUS IS TO BE FOLLOWED.
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican,” Matthew 18:15-17.
This is repeated in Luke’s Gospel.
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him,” Luke 17:3.
That which I have underlined in these verses is most important. This is the procedure that is to be followed by a Christian when they are wronged by another Christian.
Improper application
These verses are habitually quoted as to how we deal with public sin by those who are very much against publicly shaming transgressors, usually out of a friendship with the transgressors or an ignorance of the teaching of God’s Word and an utter lack of what Elijah called, a jealousy for the name and honour of the Lord!
“And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away,” 1 Kings 19:10.
Such a use of the two portions of the Gospels just quoted is in fact a misuse and an abuse of God’s Word. It is a twisting of what is plainly said by the Lord in order to accuse one who is obeying the Lord in publicly rebuking wrongdoing and to exonerating the real offender!
They are acting as did those Peter condemned. “As also in all his (Paul) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction,” 2 Peter 3:16. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-11 a 6:18 pm
Rev. John Wylie's testimony
This audio and video is of Rev John Wylie giving his testimony in Larne Free Presbyterian Church in 1985.
John had a wonderfully droll sense of humour and there are examples of this in the video.
But above all there is an honouring of the Lord, an exalting of the Lord Jesus and a passionate urging of sinners to repent and trust the Saviour.
Today’s generation of Free Presbyterians ought to be familiar with the witness of one of those who stood fearlessly for the Lord in the early days of our denomination.
Read sermon notes here
Watch a video of this presentation below:
Posted on 2026-04-08 a 9:59 pm
Dr S B Cooke’s testimony
The Armagh Free Presbyterian Church has printed a very attractively presented tract on the conversion of Dr SB Cooke and is offering free copies of the tract.
They can be delivered through your local FPC, or shipped to you, requiring only the cost of postage.
Contact Rev David McMillan at (revdavid7@yahoo.co.uk) or (1 Drummanmore Grange, Armagh, BT61 8RQ) with your request and let him know how many tracts you would like to have.
Here is the testimony of Dr Cooke as set forth in the tract.
Dr SB Cooke was one of the Founding Fathers of the Free Presbyterian Church. He was also for many years the highly esteemed deputy Moderator of the Denomination, and Professor of Homiletics and Pastoral Care. In addition, he pastored with great blessing the congregations in Mount Merrion, Rasharkin, and Armagh.
Dr Cooke was born into a Christian home, where both his parents desired that their children would get saved, and live for the Lord. The young Bert Cooke went regularly to many Church meetings, but he did not personally come to Christ in Salvation.
After he completed his education at Methodist College, Belfast he started to train as an accountant. He also really enjoyed swimming, ballroom dancing, and he was a devoted supporter of Linfield Football Club.
Sadly, at this time Bert was the black sheep of his family and was becoming increasingly worldly and godless. His mother was very concerned about the direction that his life was taking spiritually, and often when he came home late, he would find her on her knees pleading with God for his salvation.
There maybe someone in this meeting thinking I will wait to Sunday night to get saved, but Sunday night may be too late!’
In the Autumn of 1949, the internationally known Canadian evangelist, Dr Oswald J Smith came to Belfast to hold a two week Gospel mission, in McQuiston Presbyterian Church. Bert was encouraged to go to those meetings by his mother, and to please her he attended on the final Friday night, 30th September. That night the Lord spoke to his heart, and he knew that he needed to get saved, but in his pocket, he had two tickets for a ballroom dance that he wanted to go to on Saturday night. So, he decided that he would go to the dance, then return to the final meeting of the mission on Sunday evening and get saved then.
…My spirit shall not always strive with man… (Gen 6:3)
But as they were singing the words of the closing hymn, ‘I hear thy welcome voice’, Dr Smith stopped the singing and stated, “There maybe someone in this meeting thinking I will wait to Sunday night to get saved, but Sunday night may be too late!’ At that moment the words, “My spirit shall not always strive with man’ (Gen 6:3) came powerfully to Bert’s heart. He trembled as he thought of his spiritual condition, and as a result before he left the Church that night, he received Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Maybe you are planning to be saved at some later time but remember that could be too late. The first message that SB Cooke ever preached was on 2 Corinthians 6:2, *..Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation’. Let me urge you to hasten to Christ for Salvation right now, while you still have opportunity.
By Rev David McMillan
Posted on 2026-04-07 a 11:45 pm
The madness that has overtaken the United Kingdom!
DBE, Archbishop of Canterbury
“Whom the gods destroy, they first make mad.”
These are the words of a ‘proverb’, which is of classical Greek origin, but which, I am led to believe, first appears in English in exactly the above form in the Reverend William Anderson Scott’s book Daniel, a Model for Young Men (1854) and is there attributed to a ‘heathen proverb’.
An early precedent of the proverb appears in verses of Sophocles’ play Antigone. In that play is found a phrase which may be translated: ‘Evil appears as good in the minds of those whom god leads to destruction.’
The Bible
While these sentiments have appeared in Greek literature, that is not its primary source of the observation expressed by this proverb!
No! It comes from the Bible!
The inspired Word of God, the only source of true knowledge, informed men much more succinctly, a long time before the period of renowned Grecian literature (800 BC – 400 AD), of the truth observed by Greek scholars.
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom,” Proverbs 11:2.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall,” Proverbs 16:18.
“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit,” Proverbs 29:23.
Such truths as these came from the pen of Solomon, some 200 years before the emergence of the era of classical Greek literature.
Nebuchadnezzar
The word “pride” carries the meaning of an arrogance that is self-deceiving. It is best illustrated in the folly of Nebuchadnezzar, who, despite being warned by Daniel of what awaited him due to his pride, nevertheless forgot the words of the prophet and one year later gave way to the self-exaltation that spring from his depraved heart. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-07 a 6:00 am
Rev Ivan Foster's testimony to the Kilskeery Young People's Fellowship
This coming Lord’s Day will be the 62nd anniversary of Rev Ivan Foster’s conversion to Christ.
Rev. Ivan Foster met with the Young People’s Fellowship, and gave his testimony of God’s saving grace in his life.
The meeting was held 5 May 2017 at Kilskeery FPC.
“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad,” Psalm 126:1-3.
How I wish I could convey to you all THE WONDERFUL SPIRIT OF BLESSING IN THE 60s AND 70s.
How I wish I could adequately describe the spirit back then. Psalm 126:1-3 does help us to grasp something of the extraordinary joy and happiness that filled the hearts of many, especially when they were at worship.
Also, there is a need to understand THE UNUSUAL GROWTH OF AMONGST BELIEVERS.
There are times of the year that the gardener knows is best suited to planting.
Such was the season in which I was converted. There was rapid spiritual growth and progress!
Posted on 2026-04-04 a 6:00 pm
Reply to NSPCC's blasphemy
I have just submitted the following letter to ’The Belfast Newsletter’ (3/4/26) in response to the wicked and blasphemous campaign of the NSPCC in Northern Ireland.
Update: As of today, 10th April, the letter has not appeared on the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ website, though the NSPCC’s letter is still appears on its website!
Added note: Further evidence of the lawlessness of the undisciplined generation raised under the philosophy espoused by the NSPCC!
Clapham locals fearful after ‘unsettling’ nights of chaos in London: ‘You don’t feel safe!’
Dear Editor,
The views of Caroline Cunningham, Policy and public affairs manager, NSPCC Northern Ireland, as expressed in her letter, published in your newspaper, are most offensive to those who love and live by the Bible, believing it to be the very Word of God.
The Bible teaches very clearly that ‘corporal punishment’ is essential to proper disciplining of a child.
Here is something of what is stated in the Bible on this matter.
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes,” Proverbs 13:24.
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him,” Proverbs 22:15.
“Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell,” Proverbs 23:14.
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame,” Proverbs 29:15.
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul,” Proverbs 29:17.
There is no justification offered in these verses for the brutalising of children that is often the consequences of alcohol or drug taking. Such treatment undoubtedly ‘harm children’s wellbeing, damage relationships of trust, and increase the risk of behavioural and emotional difficulties later in life.’
For this reason the NCPCC ought to be campaigning against the availability of all dangerous drugs, especially alcohol.
The ban that the NSPCC would have all support, is an example of the usual folly of ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’!
The problem is not the Bible’s code of correction and discipline but the cruelty of depraved and sinful adults!
There is no more harm in Bible discipline, indeed most often far less, than that suffered by a child undergoing surgery or other medical procedures in order to restore health and often to save its life.
Why does the NSPCC include not the sufferings in the children’s hospital in their condemnation?
Obviously because such is necessary for the restoration of the health and welfare of the child that undergoes such treatment.
The physical punishment commended in the Word of God is FAR MORE BENEFICIAL THAN THAT OF ANY LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURES IN A HOSPITAL! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-03 a 11:17 pm
My answer to questions that perplex some Christians UNNECESSARILY!
The following article is in essence, my answer to a Christian who politely requested that I answer some questions that were puzzling him and some Christian friends.
The questions that were posed were very helpful to me in that they sent me back to my Bible to find the answers and also to thus reaffirm my views as a Free Presbyterian.
I hope you all find the article helpful.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
My answer to questions that perplex some Christians UNNECESSARILY!
Dear brother,
I always welcome questions like those you have posed, for the simple reason that they send me back to the Bible for answers!
Ignoring them would be a certain sign of resting upon one’s own opinion and an unwillingness to face the possibility, dreadful as it would be, that one is teaching the ‘commandments of men’ instead of God’s Word.
‘Separation’ is a vital truth throughout Holy Scripture and is an essential mark of grace in the life of the true believer.
There are no arguments in the Bible against separation! The separation commanded by the Lord most certainly requires ’secession’. There must be a withdrawing from that and those which are an offence to the Lord.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful,” Psalm 1:1.
Let me come to the suppositions you set down.
* The Old Testament Church. Yes, there were times of most serious backsliding which resulted in the Lord WITHDRAWING from His people for a time. His withdrawing of His blessing was a means of provoking repentance and a return unto the Lord in obedience.
“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. . . . “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD. And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel,” Judges 6:1, 6-8.
The sending of the prophet indicated that the Lord was ‘communing’ once again with His people.
That is perfectly in accord with the Lord’s dealing with His people in these days. Backsliding is not a reason or cause for the Lord turning His back completely and forever upon those guilty of such.
Did not Peter backslide terribly? – Matthew 26:74 BUT there was no utter rejecting of him by the Saviour.
“And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly,” Luke 22:60-62.
Remember Israel dwelt under a ’Theocracy’ – God ruled His people directly. The nation was ‘the visible church’ in those times. He often chastened them for their backsliding and thus restored them
BUT, when such chastening and rebuking did not bring about repentance and a return to obedience, the Lord SECEDED from their midst! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-03 a 6:00 am
A text that has been my constant companion for over sixty years!
“I am set for the defence of the gospel,” Philippians 1:17.
Today, March 27th, 2026, I read Philippians chapter 1 as part of my daily reading from the Holy Scriptures.
Shortly after I was saved and had entered upon my studies for the Gospel ministry back in 1965, I chose these words as my motto text.
I had noted that Dr Ian Paisley usually signed his signature accompanied by the words of Ephesians 6:19.
“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel.”
Seeing this, I sought for a text that I might embrace as my motto, watchword and guide for my life.
Summary
I do not recall how it was I came upon this text, likely just as today, it was part of my daily reading back then. It appealed to me as a very suitable summary of the objectives of one who sought to stand for the Lord in the midst of the ecumenical apostasy which was back then beginning to break forth on every hand amongst the three main denominations, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland.
The words became my companion, my guide and motivation since that time.
Inspiration
These were the words of Paul the Apostle, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul lived out these words all his days as a Christian. He was faithful to this holy determination and, in the end, it cost him his life.
He said of his life’s objective: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day,” 2 Timothy 1:12.
Later in this same epistle he wrote: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing,” 4:6-8.
He lived and died defending the Gospel!
I. THIS DETERMINATION SHOULD MARK EVERY CHRISTIAN’S LIFE.
1. Of course, it should especially mark the preacher’s disposition. We all, every preacher of the Gospel, should have the heart of David, the shepherd boy, who, when confronted by the blasphemous boasting of Goliath, instantly responded!
“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-04-01 a 6:00 am
March 2026
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Memories of the 1966 imprisonment of Free Presbyterian ministers
“Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison,” Matthew 4:12
On the evening of Friday 20 March 2026, Rev. Ivan Foster sat down and shared his memories of the 1966 imprisonment of Foster, Dr. Ian Paisley, and Rev. John Wylie.
That event lit a fire across Ulster, and resulted in unprecedented growth in the Free Presbyterian Church, with many new churches founded out of that persecution.
The meeting was held at Moneyslane FPC. Rev. Daniel Henderson introduced Rev. Foster.
Read sermon notes here
To read more about Rev. Foster’s jailhouse witness to IRA gunman Joe McCann in 1966, as mentioned in this presentation, please see Joe McCann, IRA gunman, and his three months under the gospel.
View a video of this event below:
While he was in prison, Rev. Foster was given this precious item by one of the men who was in jail for burglary. That man had taken a white hanky and decorated it with coloured inks, and mounted a picture of Ann, Rev. Foster's girlfriend and now his late wife. This item was given to Ann on her 20th birthday, a few days after Rev. Foster was released from prison on 23rd October, 1966.
"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love," Song of Solomon 2:4
Posted on 2026-03-26 a 11:51 pm
59th anniversary of the founding of Lisbellaw FPC
On Wednesday evening, 25 March 2026, Rev. Ivan Foster recounted the history of the founding of the Free Presbyterian Church in Lisbellaw 59 years ago.
Rev. Foster was the first minister of what was then the original Free Presbyterian Church in Co. Fermanagh.
From that founding church in the area, several additional churches sprang up, including the one in Kilskeery.
Read sermon notes here
Watch a video of this message below:
Advert for the special meeting:
Posted on 2026-03-25 a 10:51 pm
The not so secret or silent 'take-over'!
These headlines and comments have appeared in the press in recent days. I do not for one minute endorse everything found in such reports but I do see these comments as an indication of a growing recognition of that which has been increasingly taking place in recent years!
The European leader stressed it was “unfortunate” migration drove a non-Christian majority amongst the masses across Western societies.
“So it’s not just a natural tendency, it’s enlarged by the migration as well, because those who are coming in are not Christians, but basically Muslims,” Mr Orban clarified.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, GB News, 18/3/26.
Kemi Badenoch has said a Ramadan event in central London criticised by one of her shadow ministers should not have been allowed to go ahead at all.
It comes after shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described public prayers at the gathering in Trafalgar Square as an “act of domination”.
Labour has branded the comments “abhorrent” and called on the Conservative leader to sack Timothy from his frontbench role over the remarks.
But Badenoch has backed her party colleague, saying she “didn’t like what I saw” in footage she had seen from the event. (BBC 19/3/26)
‘Kemi Badenoch accuses Keir Starmer of ‘sucking up’ to Muslims to see off the threat from the Green Party as the row over Islamic public prayers deepens’, Daily Mail, 20/3/26.
The overwhelming majority of universities and hospitals in the country snubbed the Government’s offer of a free portrait of the King shortly after his coronation in 2023, GB News can reveal.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, blamed the poor take-up of the £131 picture of the King on managers in the public sector who were unnecessarily worried that people would be offended.
“All of this rubbish needs to stop,” she told GB News’ Chopper’s Political Podcast.
Mrs Badenoch added: “We should not be afraid of the word ‘patriotism’. It’s important.”
GBNews 20/3/26.
Australian PM chased out of mosque as furious worshippers swarm leader — GBNews 20/3/26.
Bev Turner instantly exposes GB News guest after he claims he’s ‘never heard of a primary school closing for Eid’ (Muslim festival marking the end of the month of Ramadan-Editor) GBNews 20/3/26.
Muslims by the 10,000s have been escaping their own lands and seeking the enjoyment of the western countries. However, while they speak of the cruelty of the regimes from which they have fled, they have brought with them and seek to impose upon the countries where they have sought refuge, the very cause of the cruelty from which they fled!
There is in the United Kingdom localities, which have been termed ‘no go areas’, where the dominant majority Muslim population, endeavour to impose their culture, customs and laws, which they have ‘imported’ from the land from which they have escaped, into the land where they have sought refuge! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-03-25 a 6:00 am
You are Invited ...
All are welcome to the services or to join in via Facebook
Posted on 2026-03-23 a 9:59 pm
Protestant in conviction - the Distinctives of the Free Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ivan Foster (Rtd) preached the concluding evening service of a series of meetings held at Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Free Presbyterian Church (17th March 1951).
The series was titled ‘The Distinctives of the Free Presbyterian Church’.
Read sermon notes here
Watch a video of the sermon below:
Posted on 2026-03-22 a 11:23 pm
Gerry Adams’ denial of ever being in the IRA
A blatant lie or an ‘Ignatius Loyola’ inspired deception?
Gerry Adams’ repeated denials of IRA membership and ever holding a position of leadership in the terrorist organisation, is to be seen in the light of the ‘moral code’ of the Roman Catholic Church, of which Adams is an active member.
To the Roman Catholic, the Bible, as a moral guide, is second to the ‘Canon Law’. Canon law is the internal legal system and set of rules governing the Catholic Church, designed to guide its mission, organisation, and faithful, particularly regarding sacraments, governance, and administration.
It is all authoritative and takes the place of the Bible within Romanism!
The ‘essence’ of the teachings of ‘Canon Law’ are derived from the ‘moral’ instructions laid down by Alphonsus Liguori (27 September 1696 – 1 August 1787). He is considered very highly within Popery, a ‘saint and a doctor of the church’, equal rank with Augustine and Chrysostom.
He is the author of Moral Theology, a nine-volume work concerning Catholic moral theology written between 1748 and 1785. The teachings of these volumes, it may truthfully be said, are a record from the pen of the devil!
Just consider these statements.
Posted on 2026-03-20 a 6:00 am
Something all should ever remember!
“Salvation is of the Jews,” John 4:22.
This morning the first chapter of my daily Bible reading was Exodus 28. In it there is reference to Aaron the high priest being adorned with ‘holy’ and beautiful garments (verse 2). Moses was instructed to engrave the names of the tribes of Israel upon two sets of precious stones mounted on the shoulders and over the heart of Aaron.The purpose of these engravings is explained by the Lord in verse 29.
“And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.”
Aaron pictures for us our Great High Priest, Who at this moment “is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us,” Romans 8:34.Is this not another reason for Christians to think and pray for the very people that at this moment Christ bears up before His father?
This morning (14/3/26) I read what is one of my favourite chapters in the Bible. I always feel reluctant to refer to any portion of God’s Word as one I enjoy above all the other parts of the Bible. In truth, I recognise that as I read through the Bible, many, many portions are considered by me as my ‘favourite portion’ for the simple reason that coming upon a chapter that particularly meets the need of my soul at that moment, I am inclined to elevate it to the position of being my favourite chapter.
Our own physical appetite illustrates our changing ‘tastes’! There times when we think of a particular food and desire it above all other morsels. But as our appetite shifts according to what it is our bodies need, so it is with the wonderful array of spiritual food set forth in Holy Scripture. There are certain portions that our souls at times require above others to feast upon.
Today I feasted upon John chapter 4!
It is a chapter which reminded me of another book I read from before coming to it — the book of Proverbs. I read the first chapter of that wonderful book also this morning. It is a book of ‘pithy nuggets’ of divine wisdom.
In that, it is similar to John chapter 4 for it is a chapter in which you find many succinct and compendious statements, setting out in a most memorable way, essential Gospel truths.
Not least amongst such declarations is the statement by the Saviour which is our text.
The world is rife today, not for the first time of course, with antisemitism sentiments amounting to hatred! Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-03-17 a 11:28 pm
Free Presbyterian Church 75th Anniversary
On this day, 75 years ago, the Free Presbyterian Church was formed under God for the preaching of the Gospel and for the earnest contending for the faith ‘once delivered unto the saints’ (Jude 3).
The above leaflet has been posted out by our Presbytery to every home in Northern Ireland.Our prayer is that will it be read with profit by many of our fellow citizens.
Posted on 2026-03-17 a 6:00 am
A United Ireland -- A victory for republicans or a judgment on Christians?
“But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries,” Exodus 23:22.
The words of our text clearly suggest that there is an alternative outcome to the response from the Lord to the obedience of those who heed His voice and keep His Word!
If there is disobedience on the part of His people, then He will act as an enemy toward them and they shall be overcome by their adversaries!
The implied threat of the above words was enacted upon at the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian army.
“How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof. He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about. He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire. The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation,” Lamentations 2:1-5.
These words were written by Jeremiah in the wake of the siege and horrific overthrow of Judah and the massacre of thousands and the captivity and scattering of many more in the years BC 587/586.
Jeremiah, the faithful prophet, unheeded and despised, had warned of the consequences of disobedience of God’s Word and a casting aside of His truth. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-03-14 a 10:38 pm
Contending for the Faith - 1961 style!
The following article is from the March, 1961, edition of the ‘Revivalist’, the Free Presbyterian Church magazine back then!
The writer would have been its editor, the late Dr Ian Paisley, then in his spiritual prime.
‘He being dead yet speaketh’ for the article pointedly deals with the very issue that has been highlighted in a recent article of mine:
Unambiguous witness or an uncertain sound — which?
Rev Samuel Fitton uncovered the article and kindly forwarded it to me.
The name of our official magazine was changed some years ago and that is not all that has changed since those days!!!!
We would never see a front page like that of March 1961 or the likes of the article I am reproducing, in our magazines today!
Dear Christian, read it, learn where we Free Presbyterians once stood and what we once rejoiced in and pray for a return to those paths!
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
On Contending for the Faith
(The Revivalist, March 1961)
May the Lord restore to our ranks again such bold challenging of the ecumenical compromisers and deliver us from dotingly traipsing after them!
In this easy going age the spirit of the devil is so strong that many Christians are being deceived by his lying propaganda, and the result is that the professing Church of Christ finds in its ranks a bunch of spineless jellyfish, who, for peace’s sake and in order to show, so they say, the spirit of love, would open the gates of heaven to the old Devil himself. This false spirit of compromise has opened the gates of the Church to her sworn enemies, and today the Church has lost its zeal and energy for the conflict. Many Christians remain silent and allow our Lord Jesus to be insulted by the Devil’s brats, for if they protested they would lose their reputation and their ungodly friends. How often is God’s truth sacrificed on the altar of our reputation?
In the General Assembly of the Irish Presbyterian Church many Christians sit in such silence and because of what men think or say betray the Eternal verities of the Gospel. That is their notion of contending for “The Faith”. They mouth about fighting inside, but they do not fight, but fraternise. If they fought they would soon find that, like all the Reformers, they were not wanted, and would be cast out. May God deliver us from the leadership of such evangelicals.
Contending behind closed doors.
Another class of Christians, carried away at times with their own oratory, give out as if they were wonderful defenders off the faith. They talk much when the doors are shut fast. They talk as if Luther and Calvin where Tom Thumbs compared with them. When, however, the open stand must be taken, when their own party or church must be condemned, then the fire leaves their spirit. In the tents of the camp they are champions; on the battlefield, despicable cowards. When the price is to be paid they won’t cough up a cent. They pay lip service to the stand they have taken but they are not standing now.
These poor folks talk a lot about methods and will debate about tactics until the ground is lost, the conflict over and the enemy successful. They can’t about ‘the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus’, but their meaning for meek and lowly is ‘milk and water’ – a convenient interpretation for couch-loving non-combatants. Into the open to bear reproach, they will not come. They rejoice that none of the modernistic riddled denominations have banned them from their pulpits. They feel quite happy to sit with ministers who support modernism. They will even cast their votes against an ‘aggressive’ brother who will fight the modernists, and, when challenged, explain their deceitful actions by saying, “He does the right thing in the wrong way”
Thank God, however, for those who will publicly contend for the faith. How these gallant souls encourage us to go forward in the fight. How God honours a clean-cut witness, and adds to such a witness, souls for whom Christ died. God help us to contend for the faith. Read the book of Nehemiah.
Posted on 2026-03-10 a 4:04 pm
Finding fault . . . !!
“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. . . . Then Peter said unto her (Sapphira), How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband,” Acts 5:3-4, 9-10.
“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question,” Acts 15:1-2.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple,” Romans 16:17-18.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you,” 1 Corinthians 1:10-11.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed, . . . But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” Galatians 1:6-9, 2:11-14. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-03-07 a 6:33 pm
Unambiguous witness or an uncertain sound -- which?
An attempt to warn the Free Presbyterian Church against following a path that some appear anxious to lead it down.
“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8.
The word translated ‘uncertain’ means ‘indistinct or obscure’!
It is possible to blow the Gospel Trumpet in such a manner as to obscure what it is the Lord would have sinners know and that in a most clear and explicit fashion!
All too many preach the Gospel but in such a fashion as to obscure important and vital truths, that the Lord would have men and women to know.
I suggest that such is the manner in which the ‘Gospel’ will be preached in a series of meetings, organised by the Orange Order under the title, ‘A Joyful Noise’.
A recent series was announced in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’, 17th Oct 2025, in this manner.
Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland announces ‘A Joyful Noise’ 2025 night of worship and classic hymns at Assembly Buildings Conference Centre in Belfast
The Orange Order is holding another night of worship in the Assembly Buildings in Belfast, where choirs and musicians will lead the attendees with a range of classic hymns.
The event entitled ‘A Joyful Noise,’ is being promoted by the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, and like previous events in 2019, 2022 and 2024, the evening will feature some of the church’s best loved hymns.
The night is mainly centered (sic) around congregational singing led by a choir of Orangemen from across Northern Ireland, with special guest performers including Stewartstown Orange Ladies Choir and gospel group, Revelation.
Glenn Moore (Director of Music at St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen) will be leading the praise from the pipe organ.
Compere Harry Baxter will bring the audience stories behind many of the hymns and hymn writers.
Orange Grand Chaplain Rev Ron Johnstone will bring the evening to a close.
In such circumstances, it is impossible to so blow the ‘Gospel Trumpet’ so as to make a very CERTAIN sound, but rather, it is necessary for whoever is preaching, even if it is a former Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, such as Rev Ron Johnstone, to LEAVE OFF sounding certain notes that are integral to the preaching of “all the counsel of God,” as Paul did while at Ephesus (Acts 20:26). Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-03-04 a 6:00 am
Wonderful medicine wrongly applied!
“Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? . . . Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee,” Job 22:5, 21
Our title, I suggest, is a good summary of the book of Job. The two verses I have quoted give us some idea of how the three companions of God saw his condition and that which would be the means of his deliverance if he but heeded them!
Eliphaz the Temanite, whose words these are, was one of the three companions of Job who had come to commiserate with him on hearing of the calamities that had overtaken him.
Job’s wife grieves behind Job, while his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, observe his impoverished condition.
Ilya Repin (1844–1930), oil on canvas. 1869
In Job chapters 1 and 2, we read of the catastrophic events that followed the Lord permitting the devil to test Job.
His livestock were stolen and those caring for them slaughtered (1:14-15); his sheep and their shepherds were destroyed by fire that fell down upon them (1:16); raiders stole his camels and killed his servants (1:17).
This was compounded by the fact that the tragic incidents happened on the same day.
It did not end there. We read in 2:7, “So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.”
As if that was not enough, his wife turned on him: “Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die,” Job 2:9.
I. JOB’S RESPONSE WAS MOST COMMENDABLE.
When the terrible events were reported to him by his servants, he reacted thus: “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD,” Job 1:20-2:1.
When he became the direct subject of Satan’s cruelty, again he responded well to bodily afflictions and the taunts of his wife.
“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips,” Job 2:10. Click to read more…
Posted on 2026-03-01 a 6:00 am