Audio sermons

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KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Children in the Gospels who met the Lord Jesus”

• Part 5, Part 6
• See all the talks in this series here.
• See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

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Recently Featured Sermons

Spiritual warfare pt 10
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 23, 2004
featured on Sun Oct 6, 2024

Spiritual warfare Pt 9
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 16, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 29, 2024

Spiritual warfare Pt 8
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 9, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 22, 2024

Spiritual warfare pt 7
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 2, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 15, 2024

Click here to view previous featured sermons

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Recently Preached Sermons

The Encouragement of Christ's Return
preached by Mr. Samuel Fitton on Sun Sep 15, 2024

An Exhortation to Christians or 'Progressing for God by Standing Still'
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Sep 15, 2024

A Warning to the Lost
preached by Rev. Brian McClung on Fri Sep 13, 2024

View all recently preached sermons

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Older Sermons Recently Added

A defense of Christian education
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Feb 25, 1984

Testimony of Mrs. Ann Foster
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sun Apr 19, 2009

Go Forward!
preached by Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley on Sun Jun 24, 1979

View all recently added sermons

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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here

“Church claims pupils called ‘bullies’ over homosexuality views”, so ran a headline of a BBC online news report here in Northern Ireland.  It was a report on a meeting between representatives of the ‘Transferor Representatives’ Council (TRC)’ and MLAs on Stormont’s Education Committee. The chair of the education committee is Alliance MLA, Nick Mathison.

In the ‘Belfast Newsletter’, the report on the same matter was headlined: “Presbyterian and Methodist churches defend sex education (RSE) in Northern Ireland controlled schools to Sinn Fein and Alliance Party MLAs”.

The ‘Transferor Representatives’ Council’ (TRC) represents the three largest Protestant denominations, which handed some 500 schools into state care from the 1920s-50s, thus creating the controlled sector.

Dr Andrew Brown and Dr Rebecca Stevenson represented the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and Dr Anita Gracie the Methodist Church in Ireland.

The BBC news report served to highlight the depths of the acceptance of the corruptions of false doctrine within ecumenical denominations here, while the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ emphasised, ‘Sinn Fein and Alliance MLAs have pressed Protestant church representatives to justify why a Christian perspective should be valid in sex education in controlled schools.’

Both Sinn Fein and Alliance parties would be most happy to see every last remnant of Bible truth removed from state school classrooms.

Stormont’s Education Committee

The representatives from the TRC were there at Stormont  to give evidence about Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) before Stormont’s Education Committee.

If the Government has its way, it will soon be compulsory for all post-primary schools in Northern Ireland to teach pupils about access to abortion and prevention of early pregnancy. Such is the result of former Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris laying regulations on RSE in Parliament in 2023. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-10-11 a 6:00 am

Under the headline: ‘Why I’m glad my Christian beliefs shifted before my wonderful granda passed away’ a journalist, Gareth Hanna, who makes no secret of his rejection of the Bible, rejoices in his casting away of the truth of the word of God. An alternative title for the article seems to be ‘Traditional Christian beliefs are throwing grieving families into needless despair’.

I think he has been told to change the title so that the blasphemous point he is trying to make is even more clear to ‘BT’ readers!

Although I have already sent out an article today, I must answer this wicked man’s deceptions!

Gareth Hanna is one whose writings I have challenged before and contradicted from the Word of God. It is to the shame of the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ that they have given space yet again to such blasphemies but I suppose, having embraced that position decades ago, that newspaper is unlikely to change.

As for the writer, Gareth Hanna, as a Christian one must sense with sorrow, something of the horror that the Bible reveals awaits someone of his opinion!

Hanna’s article ends with this self-evidently stupidly defiant statement:

I say, ‘self-evidently stupidly defiant statement’, for the simple reason that while he employs the word ‘unsaved’, the opposite of the word that is used of God to describe those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary and who are thus assured of heaven’s peace and joy for all eternity, he then deliberately misleads his readers by stating that those who come under this term, ‘unsaved’ are not to be considered eternally lost! To be concerned about being ‘unsaved’ is needless. Hanna says! He would have his readers blindly follow his reasoning and reject the plain Word of God! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-10-09 a 5:05 pm

Stormont is the capital of lies and prevarication in Northern Ireland, the very seat of betrayal!

The whole regime, sited in a building that was once the political ‘Zion’ of Ulster Protestants, is now structured on lies and it pursues a perverse and fraudulent agenda which but faintly masks the true agenda of its Irish Republican majority — a united Ireland under a popish dominated Dublin!

There are few who occupy its seats who have not been caught out in deceit and falsehood in recent times.

There was a time when a person in public office who lied would immediately have resigned in shame. But with a record of public support for and glorying in terror, murder, thieving and treachery, it is not surprising that Sinn Fein does not step up and acknowledge their duplicity with regards the case of Michael McMonagle, a Sinn Fein employee, indeed a Sinn Fein press officer.

Michael McMonagle was arrested by police investigating sexual offences while working as a Sinn Féin press officer and the party was informed in August 2021.

We are told in the press that two other Sinn Fein employees, former press office colleagues, provided McMonagle with references before he was hired as an events and communication manager with the British Heart Foundation in September 2022.

Michelle O’Neill says she knew nothing about the references.

Michelle O’Neill has also said at the time, the party “took decisive action” and, in line with their policies, immediately suspended McMonagle as a party member and as press officer.

From then on, the First Minister says, she had “no further contact with him”.

McMonagle accompanies the family of Dáithí Mac Gabhann at a British Heart Foundation event in Stormont in February 2023 which was also attended by the First Minister. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-10-09 a 4:45 pm

A recent newspaper headline stated:

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei holds a rifle by his side for sermon as he rants that Israel ‘will not last long’ and hails October 7 massacre

There are few false religions that are more bombastic and arrogant in their blasphemies than Islam.

Just this morning, I read in my Bible one of God’s many pronouncements concerning Israel: “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore,” Ezekiel 37:26-28.

Despite Islam’s professed regard for the Bible, the Muslim unhesitatingly blasphemies against God’s Word and would seek to trample its truth underfoot!

This outrageous rant by the Iranian leader is in direct conflict with that which the Lord solemnly repeats on many occasions throughout the ages.

Here are just some of God’s declarations regarding His purpose for the people and the land of Israel.

1. GOD’S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, SOME 4000 YEARS AGO.

“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him,” Genesis 12:7. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-10-05 a 6:00 am

(Queen’s University Belfast-Report)

The ‘Belfast Newsletter’ carries an article headed:

“UK has more atheists than people who believe in God, says new report from Queen’s University Belfast”

This is the fruit of the falsehoods of ecumenism, liberal theology and the spread of such by the infiltration of Christian churches and organisations by the devil and his agents, particularly over the last 100+ years.

“‭Ye‭ are‭‭ of‭ ‭your‭ father‭ the devil‭, and‭ the lusts‭ of your‭ father‭ ye will‭‭ do‭‭. He‭ was‭‭ a murderer‭ from‭ the beginning‭, and‭ abode‭‭‭ not‭ in‭ the truth‭, because‭ there is‭‭ no‭ truth‭ in‭ him‭. When‭ he speaketh‭‭ a lie‭, he speaketh‭‭ of‭ his own‭: for‭ he is‭‭ a liar‭, and‭ the father‭ of it‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ John 8:44.

“‭And‭ I saw‭‭ an angel‭ come down‭‭ from‭ heaven‭, having‭‭ the key‭ of the bottomless pit‭ and‭ a great‭ chain‭ in‭ his‭ hand‭.‭ ‭And‭ he laid hold on‭‭ the dragon‭, that old‭ serpent‭, which‭ is‭‭ the Devil‭, and‭ Satan‭, and‭ bound‭‭ him‭ a thousand‭ years‭,‭ ‭And‭ cast‭‭ him‭ into‭ the bottomless pit‭, and‭ shut‭‭ him‭ up‭‭, and‭ set a seal‭‭ upon‭ him‭, that‭‭ he should deceive‭‭ the nations‭ no‭ more‭, till‭ the thousand‭ years‭ should be fulfilled‭‭: and‭ after‭ that‭ he‭ must‭‭ be loosed‭‭ a little‭ season‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Revelation 20:1-3.

It is also the outworking of the events that God, in His Word, has foretold would happen!

“‭For‭ many‭ shall come‭‭ in‭ my‭ name‭, saying‭‭, I‭ am‭‭ Christ‭; and‭ shall deceive‭‭ many‭.‭ ‭And‭ ye shall‭‭ hear‭‭ of wars‭ and‭ rumours‭ of wars‭: see‭‭ that ye be‭‭ not‭ troubled‭‭: for‭ all‭ ‭these things‭ must‭‭ come to pass‭‭, but‭ the end‭ is‭‭ not yet‭.‭ ‭For‭ nation‭ shall rise‭‭ against‭ nation‭, and‭ kingdom‭ against‭ kingdom‭: and‭ there shall be‭‭ famines‭, and‭ pestilences‭, and‭ earthquakes‭, in divers‭ places‭.‭ ‭All‭‭ these‭ ‭are‭ the beginning‭ of sorrows‭.‭ ‭Then‭ shall they deliver‭‭ you‭ up‭‭ to‭ be afflicted‭, and‭ shall kill‭‭ you‭: and‭ ye shall be‭‭ hated‭‭ of‭ all‭ nations‭ for‭ my‭ name’s sake‭.‭ ‭And‭ then‭ shall many‭ be offended‭‭, and‭ shall betray‭‭ one another‭, and‭ shall hate‭‭ one another‭.‭ ‭And‭ many‭ false prophets‭ shall rise‭‭, and‭ shall deceive‭‭ many‭.‭ ‭And‭ because‭ iniquity‭ shall abound‭‭, the love‭ of many‭ shall wax cold‭‭.‭ ‭But‭ he that shall endure‭‭ unto‭ the end‭, the same‭ shall be saved‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew 24:5-13. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-10-03 a 6:00 am

«A Psalm of Asaph.»

“O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations,” Psalm 79:1-13.

Once again Israel and Jerusalem are in the news and those who love God’s ancient nation, with dread see a terrible day approaching. That Israel can take care of itself as did David when faced by Goliath, has been demonstrated on many occasions, yet an alliance of enemies is being forged at this present time and it speaks of a day of cruel persecution for Israel in the near future.

Iran, Iraq and Syria are currently active against Israel through their ‘surrogate’ terrorist organisations, Hezbollah, the terrorist arm of Iran, being presently the most active. They occupy large areas in Lebanon, Israel’s northern neighbour and are thus well situated to bombard Israel by artillery and rockets. It has a sizeable body of armed guerrillas under its command. It was announced to the world on Saturday, September 28th, that Israel had killed its infamous leader, by an air strike on his headquarters in Beirut. The BBC headline ran as follows: Hezbollah confirms death of leader Hassan Nasrallah after Israeli strikes on Beirut. Nasrallah, who had not been seen in public for years because of fears of being assassinated by Israel, was considered by many as one of the most influential figures in the Middle East.

Terrorism tends to elevate those guilty of it as it did Gerry Adams, a former barman, whose links with the murderous IRA promoted him to the status of that of a ‘statesman’, at least in the eyes of some ‘eejits’,  such as former USA President, Bill Clinton, an openly acknowledged moral deviant!

The Psalm 79 describes scenes that some believe are of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah, following its overthrow and devastation by the Babylonians. Others see it as a report of a later overthrowing of the city by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who ruled the Seleucid Empire from 175 BC until his death in 164 BC. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-10-01 a 6:00 am

Audio sermons

Click here to listen to all the sermons on this website!

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KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Children in the Gospels who met the Lord Jesus”

• Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
• See all the talks in this series here.
• See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

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Recently Featured Sermons

Spiritual warfare Pt 9
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 16, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 29, 2024

Spiritual warfare Pt 8
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 9, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 22, 2024

Spiritual warfare pt 7
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun May 2, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 15, 2024

Spiritual warfare pt 6
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Apr 25, 2004
featured on Sun Sep 8, 2024

Click here to view previous featured sermons

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Recently Preached Sermons

The Encouragement of Christ's Return
preached by Mr. Samuel Fitton on Sun Sep 15, 2024

An Exhortation to Christians or 'Progressing for God by Standing Still'
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Sep 15, 2024

A Warning to the Lost
preached by Rev. Brian McClung on Fri Sep 13, 2024

View all recently preached sermons

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Older Sermons Recently Added

A defense of Christian education
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Feb 25, 1984

Testimony of Mrs. Ann Foster
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sun Apr 19, 2009

Go Forward!
preached by Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley on Sun Jun 24, 1979

View all recently added sermons

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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here

(The final study)

The cry of the believer in a day of distress.

“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger,” Lamentations 1:12.

This is a verse which has often been used by preachers to illustrate the attitude of the world toward the Saviour on the cross. He was a spectacle of woe and many passed by showing little sympathy but rather mocking and deriding Him.

Such an application is very acceptable and proper. Paul the apostle used the command of God with regards the muzzling of an ox as it trampled on corn as a means of threshing it — “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn,” Deuteronomy 25:4 — to illustrate the duty of the believer to help in the supply of a gospel minister’s needs, 1 Corinthians 9:9 and 1 Timothy 5:18.

But the primary application of this verse is of that to which it firstly is referring to – the lamentation of the city of Jerusalem in grief over its fate.

I. THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE OF NO CONCERN TO THE WORLD

“Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” The expression is that of a person occupied by the business they are engaged in, so occupied as to have neither interest nor time to consider the vision of woe they are passing.

1. The world has a spirit of enmity toward the people of God. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” Romans 8:7. The sight of the people of God in adversity provokes no sorrow or sympathy but rather gladness. That is seen in the attitude that the Lord condemned in the men of Edom at the destruction of Jerusalem mentioned in our text. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-28 a 6:00 am

Once again John Coulter gives the Belfast Newsletter (25th September) readers the benefit of his bottomless folly! He writes under the title: ‘How should Christians really unwind on the Sabbath?’

In the article he seeks to muddy the clear waters of the Bible’s clear teaching on the Sabbath Day and lend support to and offer excuses on behalf of those who would see God’s commands regarding this essential element of Christianity defied and abandoned.

I might first of all state that God ordained the seventh day as the Sabbath in the Old Testament era in order to commemorate the finishing the work of creating all things in six days and resting the seventh day. The word ‘Sabbath’ means ‘rest’.

In the New Testament age, the end of which  I believe is approaching fast, the Lord changed the seventh day to the first day of the week as the day of ‘rest’ in order to commemorate His rising from the dead and thus demonstrating that He had finished His great work of the redemption of His elect.

John Coulter would have us believe that there is confusion surrounding how a Christian should behave on the Sabbath. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-26 a 6:00 am

The BBC headlines on Saturday, September 21st 2024, indicated that in truth it is ‘NO CHANGE’ at DUP HQ!

DUP leader pledges new approach in conference speech

There can be no change within the DUP if it does not acknowledge that it has been promoting the wrong policies, evil polices, and pursuing them by deceitful and devious ways!

The DUP leader may now be claiming that the ‘approach’ will be different, but the DUP under him is still going to seek to promote that which is utterly in opposition to the mind and will of God for nations, great and small, as set forth in His Word!

This is mere chicanery!

Gavin Robinson opened his speech with an undertaking to serve his people. He claims that he will ‘chart a path for a stronger tomorrow’! He says he is ‘optimistic’ for the future. Given the recent events within the ranks of the DUP, hoping for anything short of WW III, would show optimism!

He refers to the last six months as ‘difficult, challenging’. That is rather a euphemistic way in which to refer to the recent past! Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, his predecessor, resigned at Easter after being charged with historical sex offences, and the DUP lost three seats in the Westminster election.

For the DUP leader to acknowledge the last six months as being merely “difficult and challenging” is an evidence of the degree of ‘self-delusion’ within the DUP ranks!

‘Charting a new path’ cannot be accomplished by sticking to a path which involves embracing the devil’s lies and depravities and rejecting God’s truth. That is what is entailed in the present political ‘menu’ the DUP offers to Ulster.

That ‘menu’ includes:

(1) support for government in partnership with IRA-terrorist honouring Sinn Fein.

(2) the embracing and endorsing of sodomy and its allied corruptions.

(3) ignoring the deceitful claims of deliverance from Westminster’s ‘Brexit ‘sham’ and then a lying cover-up and denial when that double-dealing is exposed! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-25 a 5:27 pm

“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. . . . Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come,” Psalm 71:9, 18.

In my School Assembly studies with the girls and boys of Kilskeery Independent Christian School, I have been urging upon them the wonderful truth that in the Bible, the Lord speaks directly to young people.

Here in this Psalm 71, we can observe words that are particularly directed toward those at the other end of the age spectrum!

What a wonderful book the Bible is! Everyone who believingly reads it can clutch it to their hearts as a personal word from the Lord to them!

While the Psalmist was not one who had access to a ‘pension’ in the manner we have come to accept here in the United Kingdom, he was certainly of that age at which pensions become available to us here. I must say, however, that the Lord undoubtedly provides a ‘pension’ to those who trust Him! These words from Psalm 92 surely indicate that!

“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him,” verses 14-15.

The words of Isaiah the prophet endorse this truth. “Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you,” Isaiah 46:3-4.

To these words, I may add Paul’s thoughts. “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen,” 2 Timothy 4:18.

Here in Psalm 71, is revealed to us by divine inspiration, the very proper concerns of the aged and a proper setting forth of those concerns before the Lord in prayer. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-25 a 6:00 am

Mrs Ann Foster BA, founding principal of Kilskeery Independent Christian School, speaking at a Sunday School Teachers’ Conference in Mourne Free Presbyterian Church in 1984.

She “being dead yet speaketh,” Hebrews 11:4.

Posted on 2024-09-23 a 6:00 am

AFFLICTION – a great aid to remembering!

“Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths,” Lamentations 1:7.

That which Jerusalem stout-heartedly refused to believe when warned by Jeremiah, she has forced upon her by the afflictions that followed her rebellion and defiance of God and His Word!

Jeremiah had repeatedly warned in vain.

“My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment. How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge,” Jeremiah 4:19-22.

“Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” Jeremiah 5:21-31.

However, what was refused from the lips of Jeremiah by the vast majority, is now ‘force-fed’ to the stubbornly stupid people of Jerusalem by the cruel hand of accumulated afflictions.

I. THAT WHICH HAD BEEN PRESSED UPON THE PEOPLE IS VIVIDLY RECALLED IN THEIR AFFLICTION

The word ‘remembered’ means ‘to recall to mind’. The warnings of Jeremiah had been heard but rejected but nevertheless, his words remained in their minds, unobserved and unheeded, until ‘affliction’ caused them to be ‘recalled’ and pondered. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-21 a 6:00 am

“For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly,” 2 Peter 2:4-5.

I was reminded of the almost universal scoffing that has greeted the Bible’s account of the flood of Noah as I read such headlines as:

Polish city urged to evacuate as floods batter central Europe

and saw the extensive region affected, covering areas in a number of countries in Europe.

The floods have been caused by a number of factors according to scientists.

The BBC reported the following: ‘The record rainfall seen in central Europe has been caused by a number of factors, including climate change.

Different weather elements came together to create a “perfect storm” in which very cold air from the Arctic met warm air from the Mediterranean.

A pattern of atmospheric pressure also meant that Storm Boris was stuck in one place for a long time.

Scientists say that a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall. Warmer oceans also lead to more evaporation, feeding storm systems.’

So say the scientists, who, despite all their learning and knowledge, know not the Lord or anything of His divine superintendence of all that happens in the world.

Pharaoh had to learn this truth the hard way.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me. Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth. And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be. And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants’ houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies,”Exodus 8:20-24.

Last Days

At the close of this age, because of the nations’ increasing rebellion against the Lord, in a manner reminiscent of the defiance shown by Pharaoh, there will be manifestations of God’s power in judgment against wicked nations. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-20 a 6:00 am

“And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door,” Genesis 19:1-11.

“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;),” 2 Peter 2:7-8.

“Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground,” Genesis 19:24-25.

“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire,” Jude 1:6-7.

Throughout the ages, the Lord in mercy has graphically pictured for mankind what lies ahead for those who defy Him and His law.

There is no clearer example of this than the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah and the fate that followed their detestable wickedness. The Lord Jesus informs us that mankind, unchanging and unchangeable in its defiance of God, will plunge itself back into the inquiry of the cities, whose ashes serve as a reminder of the wrath of God. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-17 a 5:53 pm

Kilskeery Conference – Morning Meeting, September 15th 2024

Preacher: Rev. Ivan Foster

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

This chapter begins with a glorious definition and exposition of the heart of the gospel message, verses 1-4. It ends with an exhortation to us all how it is we ought to live out our days because of the victory given us by Christ and revealed in the gospel. The word “therefore”, which begins the verse, links what is said to the verse 57.

This exhortation is all the more applicable to us today for, as a generation, we are living nearer the return of Christ and all that will mean for believers, than has any other generation! If time was ‘short’ in Paul’s day (1 Cors 7:29), it is much shorter today! The word ‘short’ carries the meaning of ‘winding up’! I recall from my days in Ulster television that the studio floor manager, if he wished an interview to come to an end as the time for the programme was nearly up, he could use one of two gestures. He could draw his finger across his throat meaning ‘cut the interview off’ or a winding motion with his hand meaning, ‘wind the interview up, bring it to a close.’

The latter is basically what Paul was indicating. The word translated ‘short’ appears in only one other place. “And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him,” Acts 5:6. Here it is linked with the end of the life of Ananias.

The Lord is ‘winding up His purpose’ amongst men in this age!

We surely understand therefore what Paul was indicating. The last days of this age were approaching back then, nearly 2000 years ago! How much closer the end is today.

In the light of the ever nearing return of Christ our duty is set down here.

I. A SETTLED ADHERENCE TO THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL IS EXPECTED OF US

1. The words “stedfast, unmoveable” tell us what is expected of us. The essence of the meaning of the words may be seen in one of the other places where the word translated “stedfast” appears. “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister,” Colossians 1:23. There is what is meant by being “stedfast”. We are to be “grounded” and not “moving away from the hope of the gospel”! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-16 a 6:00 am

Jeremiah conducts a spiritual post-mortem on the ‘Ways of Zion’!

“The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy. And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer” Lamentations 1:4-6.

Such shop windows signs are often seen when recession hits  the economy and depression sets in.

Such may take place as a result of incompetence on the part of a nation’s political leaders, though I believe that there is always an element of God’s judgement against the sins of His people involved in such downturns!

I read on the day I wrote this, in the book of Ezekiel, the following: “The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD,” Ezekiel 14:12-14.

But God’s judgment against a people who desert His Word and embrace error, despite the repeated warnings the Lord sends them via His prophets, can be more extensive than economic hardship.

Our study verses speak of:

(1) The dreadful decline of true worship and the despair that such caused.

(2) The dominance of the enemy.

(3) The ‘beauty of holiness’ has departed from Zion.

These features still mark a people under God’s judgment and I say that they may be seen here in Ulster today. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-14 a 6:00 am

It must ever be remembered that the man whose murder is at the centre of this controversy, Pat Finucane, was a man who was alleged to be a member of the IRA by former members of that terrorist organisation. He represented terrorists and murderers as a solicitor and his three brothers, John, Dermot and Seamus – were connected with republican activities. The first was an IRA man killed in a car crash, the second was one of the Maze 1983 escapees, and the third was a former prisoner, who was arrested alongside Bobby Sands after an IRA bombing and gunfight (Belfast Newsletter 30/10/20).

No matter how the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, dresses up his decision to grant that which is utterly denied to the thousands of other victims of terrorism, he cannot hide his shameful subservience to murderous Irish Republicanism behind a cloak of legal gobbledygook!

Jim Allister MP told the News Letter:

“The double standards here are appalling. As I pointed out to the Secretary of State yesterday, not only are the Finucane family being treated differently from everyone else they are again being offered something which they had previously rejected.

“It is a gross insult to the thousands of innocent victims in Northern Ireland that Mr Benn should describe this murder and this one alone as ‘unique’.

“That the new government should do this at such an early stage sends entirely the wrong message to innocent victims.

“As the excellent editorial in Thursday’s News Letter highlighted, Lord Trimble had previously made the point that any inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane should also involve a probe into the activities of Mr Finucane.

“Wicked and evil as this murder was, it was no more wicked and evil than the murders of Resident Magistrate William Staunton (who was shot by the IRA in front of his young daughter and her school friends), Judge Rory Conaghan (another judge shot in front of his daughter), Resident Magistrate Martin McBirney (shot again in his home in front of his family), Judge William Doyle (murdered as he left mass), Lord and Lady Gibson or law lecturer Edgar Graham. One also thinks of attack on the family of Judge Tom Travers in which young Mary Travers was murdered.

“For all the lectures about truth and justice, the truth is that the party John Finucane now represents not only defended and justified those wicked murders at the time but continues to do so right up to and including the present day.”

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
13th September 2024

Posted on 2024-09-13 a 5:56 pm

In this the beginning of the 46th year of Kilskeery Independent Christian School, we wish to mount some articles that will bear witness to the labours of the founding principal of the school.

Here is a recording of her giving her testimony in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church, back in 2009, at the Soul Winner’s Conference. She had just retired from teaching the year before.

May you find a blessing as she “being dead yet speaketh,” Hebrews 11:4.

 

Posted on 2024-09-13 a 6:00 am

The following article appeared in ‘The Times’ newspaper and was shared with me by a friend.

The writer of the article is called ‘Gary Murphy’. One could be forgiven for believing him to have roots in Ireland!

That makes the article all the more compelling. I would sincerely and earnestly ask Irish Roman Catholics, indeed Roman Catholics everywhere, to consider the picture that is painted here of the Roman  Catholic institution.

Any professing Christian may fall into sin. That is very obvious from the Bible’s record of David and Peter for example.

But if again and again it is reported that wickedness is uncovered within the life of an individual who claims to be a Christian, then it would be justifiable to say of that person that they are ‘false professors’ and not true believers!

Paul writes concerning the true Christian and what it is Christ has done for them: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” Titus 2:14.

When within the ranks of an organisation which professes to be the ‘church of Jesus Christ’, there are universal instances of repeated perversions of the most unspeakable kind and these are covered over and lied about again and again by those who hold the highest positions of authority within that organisation, what is one to think of it?

Reformers

There is only one conclusion that can be drawn. It is that of the Protestant Reformers in the 16th century whose eyes were opened by the grace and mercy of God — “We are in an organisation that is not what it claims to be and its teachings are entirely in opposition to the Holy Scriptures! We must immediately remove ourselves from it and seek to walk in obedience to God’s Holy Word.”

That has ever been the will of God for any who seek to obey Him. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-09 a 4:33 pm

 The following notice appeared in the latest edition of the Free Presbyterian Church magazine, F P Vision.

What is referred to here by this oblique statement is an article by Jonathan Storey, minister of Mt Merrion Free Presbyterian Church, in which he recommends that we adopt the prayer of the Romanist ‘saint’ Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Dominican friar and priest.

I challenged the publishing of this article in an article entitled:

Is encouraging the adoption of papist prayers official policy of the Free Presbyterian Church?

In the article I wrote:

‘I consider this a most serious and unacceptable breach in our denomination’s adherence to the Word of God and to the Reformed Faith and it is time to call a halt to such violations of our God-ordained stand and witness and deal with those guilty of such.

If the sentiments of this article are not the official position of the Free Presbyterian Church, then how was it sanctioned for publication in an official magazine?’

In a response to my protest at the article, I was told the matter would be addressed in the next edition of the Free Presbyterian Vision. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-09 a 6:00 am

Questions demanding an answer! — Part 1

“How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!” Lamentations 1:1.

As Matthew Poole in his commentary says: ‘This book . . . hath its name from the subject matter of it, which is lamentation.’ It was written by Jeremiah, who afresh earns the title of ‘the weeping prophet’.

These questions in the opening verse denote the astonishing consequences of God’s judgment on an erring, stubborn, self-willed people! Their miseries can be dated I believe to after the defeat of the city by the Babylonians in BC 588.

We may see that the conquest of Jerusalem has passed from these words.

“The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up. The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress. For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed,” Lamentations 1:14-16.

‘The whole book lets us see from what a height of dignity to what a depth of misery sin may bring nations, how much soever interested in God; and likewise directs us to our duty in such states of affliction and misery if we would obtain mercy,’ Matthew Poole  (1624–1679).

In this first verse the prophet stands and speaks in awe and amazement at what has happened to the city of Jerusalem.

Three times the word “how” is uttered by Jeremiah

I. NO MATTER HOW SECURE OUR POSITION MAY BE, THE LORD CAN BRING US DOWN!

1. Jerusalem the city sat ‘solitary’. The word carries the meaning of ‘isolation’. The word first appears in Leviticus 13:43-46 and it refers to the imposed isolation of the many suspected of being a leper.

“Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh; he is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head. And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.”

The city once ‘full of people’ has been reduced to that loneliness and friendlessness of the leper forced without the camp! As Jeremiah looked upon Jerusalem in the aftermath of the Babylonian siege and conquest of the city, he marvelled that she that had been so secure, so prosperous and enjoyed such divine protection could be reduced to rubble!

This is what backsliding and sin will bring upon any people, irrespective of the privileges they rejoiced in and the enjoyment of God’s blessing they may have experienced in the past.

“For the wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-07 a 6:00 am

Posted on 2024-09-06 a 6:30 pm

The following is an article printed in the Times Educational Supplement on 9th October 1998.

It is based upon an interview with the late Mrs Ann Foster BA, founding principal of Kilskeery Independent Christian School.

We reproduce it as a tribute to her many years of devoted labour within the school and her efforts to advance the cause of Christian education throughout the Free Presbyterian Church.

This week saw the commencement of the 46th year of our school’s existence.

Mrs Foster went into the presence of her Saviour and Lord in the earlier hours of June 8th, this year.

We would ask you to remember that the statements in the article which were purported to be made by Mrs Foster are what a female journalist wrote and would not really be a verbatim report! She obviously unsympathetic to the objectives of Christian education, as is seen in her derogatory description of the interior of the school.

Mrs Foster’s answers were not reported in full and they were not the complete answers she would have given. She was a woman who was very well acquainted with the Bible and would have readily included many quotations from it in her responses to any questions she was asked.

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“Battle to teach God’s own law”

Times Educational Supplement

9th October 1998

“WHEN we have a teacher recruitment crisis we don’t advertise, we get down on our knees and pray to God for help,” says Ann Foster, head of the 52-pupil Kilskeery Independent Christian school in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

She agrees most heads would find that rather an odd method of recruiting staff, but then she is looking for a very particular kind of teacher.

First, they have to be willing to take a 75 per cent salary cut; second — and most importantly — they must share the doctrines of the Free Presbyterian faith, that they alone are God’s true servants in an immoral world, that the theory of evolution is wrong and that all children are natural sinners who must be taught to conform to God’s law. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-06 a 6:00 am

Its utter depravity.

Its shameless deceit.

The cruel indifference to the sufferings of the victims of its criminal priests and nuns.

The repeated uncovering of its total ungodliness and denial of all things Christian!

I will leave readers of ‘The Burning Bush’ to check out these articles the ‘links’ to which are below.

Former Christian Brother accused of repeated sexual abuse by former pupil

‘Shocking’ abuse in Ireland’s religious schools

2,400 claims of historical sexual abuse at 308 schools run by religious orders

Ireland to set up inquiry into sexual abuse at schools run by religious orders

Whatever the outcome of the ‘inquiry’, we can be sure that Romanism, despite the numerous and repeated exposures of the evil that go on behind its walls, will be excused and whitewashed and the hypocritical bleatings of its ‘sheep in wolves clothing’ accepted by its people and the Irish government!

There is coming a day when its crimes will be justly and fully dealt with. That is the  DAY when God will judge that system of iniquity of which Romanism is today its chief manifestation on the earth. The final manifestation of unclean and false religion, latter-day Babylonism, and its judgment is pictured for us in Revelation 17. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-05 a 5:00 am

Alf McCreary began as a journalist in the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ the same year as I was converted to Christ and became a Christian — 1964.

He was 24 years old while I was coming 21!

The very month he began his career in the ‘Belfast Telegraph’, September, I met my dear Ann, who was to become my wife in 1968 and who laboured alongside me in the gospel for 56 years.

Thankfully, the parallel ended in September 1964. McCreary became a chief spokesman for all that was ‘Ecumenical’ and anti-Bible and I laboured to do the very opposite!

He has been reported as being an elder in the apostate Presbyterian Church in Ireland. As such he may have signed the Westminster Confession of Faith as a profession of what he believed and would uphold. Irrespective of whether he did or did not, all that is stated in that Confession he set himself against.

O’Neillism

He was a prominent defender of the ecumenically inspired policies of the late, unlamented, Terence O’Neill, (1914-1990). O’Neill was the Ulster Unionist prime minister in Northern Ireland from 1963-1969.

It was during his premiership that the IRA terrorist campaign had its beginnings. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-04 a 6:00 am

A ‘Belfast Telegraph’ article (29/8/24) bore the headline:

‘Sign of the Cross should no longer be regarded as a purely Catholic gesture’

I do not have access to the article for I am not willing to pay to read drivel and balderdash! This article is but another example of the stupid ‘scribblers’ the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ is prepared to pay to pour out thoroughgoing nonsense to deceive and promote the errors of Romanism. The writer on this occasion is John Laverty.

The ‘sign of the cross’ was never the practice of true believers. Rather it was the invention of those ‘church fathers’ who ushered the professing church into ever-deepening apostasy from the latter part of the second century AD onward until the blessed awakening and return to primitive first century Bible Christianity in the days of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century. Of course, the error continued within the confines of Romanism and the apostatising, so-called Protestant denominations which are involved in the ecumenical movement!

Here is what one such false shepherd said on the matter as put forth in the defence of this practice by Rome.

“Basil (ca. 329 – 79 A.D) said that the Apostles ‘taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord, that is, those who presented themselves for baptism. Initially the Sign of the Cross was made with the thumb, usually on the forehead but sometimes on the lips and chest.’ ”

What ‘old Basil’ did NOT say was, JUST WHERE IN THE WRITINGS OF THE APOSTLES THIS WAS TAUGHT BY THEM!

Let us observe some truths about this heathen practice.

1. Making the sign of the of the cross is an essential part of popery’s religion.

We can also see here how important it is to them, in fact, as I understand it, ‘crossing’ takes place some fifty-one times in the Mass at the beginning and end prayers. That surely suggests that prayers would be incomplete and therefore would not be answered without a crossing of oneself!

What the sign of the cross is claimed to be is the person’s way of asking God to bless them, or more accurately, they are blessing themselves by making the sign of the cross.

No ‘crossing’, no blessing! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-09-02 a 6:00 am

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KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Faith, Mighty Faith”

• School is out for the summer, so no new talks will be posted until school resumes.
• See all the talks in this series here.
• See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here

(An introduction)

By Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

This wonderful book is scheduled for reading on August 24th – 28th in the excellent Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar.

In 1965, while a first year student in the Theological Hall of the Free Presbyterian Church, I was told by Dr S B Cooke, one of the lecturers, that the prophecy of Jeremiah was ‘the book for today’.

In 1966, during the three month’s imprisonment (July – October) that I shared with Dr Ian Paisley and Rev John Wylie, both of whom have gone to glory, I was led to carefully read the book of Jeremiah. During that time, I gained a little understanding of the work, witness and wretched circumstances the prophet was put through during his 40+ years of serving the Lord and the clear similarity between his times and those coming upon us in Ulster.

Over the subsequent years, I have ever returned to the book and gained a deeper insight into the workings of apostasy and the wonderful mercy and long-suffering of the Lord and also His terrible judgment upon those who reject His mercy, abuse His patience, mock His Word and defy His power and authority.

Christians should study the writings of the ‘weeping prophet’ for it will enable them to understand just what is happening on a universal scale and most definitely here in Ulster. Furthermore, it will enable us to know what the Lord would have us to do in the midst of this rebellion.

I say this chiefly to ministers. Upholding and declaring God’s Word in a time of apostasy is not easy at all. It was for this reason young Jeremiah recoiled from the charge God gave him.

“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child,” Jeremiah 1:4-6.

The Lord’s response to Jeremiah’s shrinking back from the task laid upon him, indicates that Jeremiah’s response was very natural and understandable!

“But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant,” Jeremiah 1:7-10.

(1). He had grounds for fearing the reaction of those to whom he was sent with God’s Word. The Lord’s reply indicates that there was much to fear ‘from their faces’,  for his preaching would not be welcomed by the general population. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-29 a 6:00 am

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” Genesis 3:19.

We continue or study of what the Bible teaches the God-ordained method of disposing of the human body upon death, Is it burial or is it cremation?

I have already stressed in the first part of this article that it can be stated that the Bible sets forth burial as the God-ordained means of disposing of the dead.

Here now is the rest of our study.

II. THE FACT OF THE LONG PRACTICE OF BELIEVERS BURYING THEIR DEATH IS EMPHASISED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.

1. In the prophecies of the last days. Here is one of the most notable prophecies of the graves being opened.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever,” Daniel 12:1-3.

There is a reference to the two resurrections, which I will explain a little further on in this article. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-26 a 11:17 pm

God’s message for these dark days

What is our message in these dark days?

“Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon,” Jeremiah 37:17.

I must tell you a story about this text. It was the text the Lord laid on my heart for the welcome home rally held in the hills of Dundonald when Dr P, Rev JW and myself, a ministerial student, came out of prison in 1966. The rally was held on Lord’s Day, 23rd October, some four days after our release. There were approximately 25,000 people in attendance.

I had jotted down a few thoughts, an outline, in the margin of my Bible. When I was called upon to speak, I announced my text and started to speak. When I glanced down at my notes, the wind had turned over some pages of my Bible. Strange as it may seem, I could not remember the chapter my text was in! I asked the Lord to help me and I strongly felt that I was to forget looking for the text and my brief notes and trust the Lord for words. This I did!

Afterwards, Dr Bob Jones Jr said to me: “I pity you son! Most men begin their ministry with small numbers and hopefully build up. You have started with a multitude, the like of which you most likely will never again address!” I think that he was correct.

I want to turn to that text which I sought to preach upon some 48 years ago and which I have never preached upon since though I have often meditated upon it.

Posted on 2024-08-24 a 10:41 pm

I just had to respond to this article from today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’, sent to me by a friend.

The writer, John Coulter, the son of a Presbyterian minister, shows yet again the moulding of his thinking under the modernistic and liberal theology he would have been placed under in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, a church now embracing in various degrees all the immoral and God-dishonouring practices of the world-wide apostasy!

His articles invariably carry at the end this little statement: ‘Dr John Coulter has been a journalist since 1978’! I can tell you he has been an ‘eejit’ a lot longer!

What he says in this article, and employing a modern ‘perversion’ of the Scriptures in order to give the appearance of having support for his nonsensical views, is a direct denial of what the Bible in truth teaches.

In so doing he maintains his track record!!

1. He calls the Bible view of modest appearance a ‘draconian view’. In other words, ‘harsh and severe’. That is a very dangerous thing to say of the Word of God.

2. He then goes further and states that it was ‘very misogynistic’ for all women to have their heads covered in any place of worship. That was and still is the command of God. “‭Every‭ man‭ praying‭‭ or‭ prophesying‭‭, having‭‭ ‭his‭ head‭ covered‭, dishonoureth‭‭ his‭ head‭.‭ ‭But‭ every‭ woman‭ that prayeth‭‭ or‭ prophesieth‭‭ with ‭her‭ head‭ uncovered‭ dishonoureth‭‭ her‭ head‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ (her husband)‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭: for‭ that is‭‭ even‭ all one‭ as if‭ she were shaven‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 1Corinthians 11:4-5.

I preached on this portion back in 1995.

Here are links to two sermons on the subject and the notes that accompanied them. I was preaching against the very views that Coulter is here espousing!

Read sermon notes here

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Read sermon notes here

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3. The man shows himself a fool by thinking that the abandoning of God’s Word and substituting it with man’s notions is how to fill pews! I dare say that he is ignorant of the Saviour’s words to those of a similar ilk to himself back some 2000 years ago (there really is nothing new under the sun! Ecclesiastes 1:9). “Why‭ do ye‭ also‭ transgress‭‭ the commandment‭ of God‭ by‭ your‭ tradition‭?‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬” Matthew 15:3.

What Coulter would have the Christian do is abandon God’s Word and take up his silly theory for advancing the cause of the gospel.

Silly indeed, and more than that, it is to think that by abandoning God’s Word we can fulfil God’s will and purpose and see His blessing descend upon such disobedient assemblies!

As I said, the poor man is a fool!

Below is a picture of his article.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster
23rd August 2024

Posted on 2024-08-23 a 5:28 pm

An open letter to all Free Presbyterians from Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

Free Presbyterian Church ministers have publicly associated themselves with ‘Logos Ministries International’ and three of them have stated their approval of what it was Mr Danny Roberts (who is, I understand, a member of Ballynahinch Free Presbyterian Church) said in response to my setting out the fellowship and cooperation with ecumenical churches here and abroad and also the organisations that promote and endorse Roman Catholic doctrines, that he and the LMI are openly engaged with.

In his response to my article on the LMI, Mr Roberts at no point denied that he and LMI are involved with ‘ecumenical churches’ here in Northern Ireland or in many other places.

He did, however, attack me stating that I am engaged in tearing down ‘the church and God’s people’ and ‘spreading false information’. I am a liar in other words.

He clearly insinuated that I spread hate and false information, as well as being unbiblical in my dealing with him and blasting other believers online for the world to see.

He also indicated that he would have nothing to do with ‘mixing with Catholics’ and that I was therefore accusing him falsely.

I set out in detail in a further article, just how false these denials were and that the internet is full of clear documentary evidence that Mr Roberts and the LMI organisation  have very close links with and are in a working relationship with ecumenical churches and those who promote Roman Catholic doctrine.

Mr Roberts has put on record that he is not going to reply to my third article: ‘Logos Ministries International attack answered!’

Now why is that?

Might I suggest that it is because HE CANNOT TRUTHFULLY ANSWER THE ARTICLE.

The facts of his unscriptural associations and activities are displayed repeatedly on the internet – put there by him and his associates!

Since I mounted on the ‘Burning Bush’ my third article, many Christians, who did their own research, sent me links of the unorthodox religious alliances that Mr Roberts and the LMI have formed! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-23 a 6:00 am

The following is my reply to an email that was sent to me today.

I have decided to send it out to show the baseless defence of LMI’s activity that some Christians are ready to offer.

I believe it fair to say that a lack of a proper knowledge of God’s Word and a misunderstanding of it, gives rise to such a defence. It is to be expected that shallow, casual teaching of what men ‘think’ the Bible says leads to disciples with the same misconceptions of God’s truth.

That is to be seen all over the ‘evangelical world’ today. Shallowness in the pulpit cannot do anything but produce even greater shallowness in the pew.

It is commonly reported that some young preachers obtain their ‘pulpit messages’ by going to the internet and downloading what others have said — not all of them the most orthodox, it must sadly be said!

How far removed is such preaching from that marked by the introduction so often used by the prophets and the inspired description of that proclaimed by the apostles!

“Thus saith the LORD,” Exodus 7:17.

“Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also,”Acts 15:35.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

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20th August 2024.

Dear  xxxxxxxxx,

You have raised a number of matters in your email.

I will attempt to answer them though I serious doubt if you will be satisfied with my reply. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-20 a 10:29 pm

Here in this recording is the stand and the witness of the Free Presbyterian Church as it once was set forth by the man, who in his heyday, was the epitome of contending for the faith and denouncing the errors and evils of ‘Ecumenism’ — the late Dr Ian Paisley.

This sermon was preached the year after I became minister in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.

It is appropriate, as we mark Kilskeery’s 50 years of witness and contending for the faith, that Ulster hears again the voice of authentic Free Presbyterianism, preaching in that fashion for which he was greatly beloved.

May all consider the contrast there is between that which was being preached back in 1979 and the mocking  and degrading parody of the gospel of Christ, offered by Mr Danny Roberts and his LMI associates. Here is a link to a LMI video, which we mount alongside Dr Paisley’s preaching to highlight the utter contrast and is what some Free Presbyterians have invited into their churches and some have even praised while endorsing a condemnation of my witness against the errors of the Logos Ministries International.

 

Free Presbyterian, please compare Dr Paisley’s definition of Free Presbyterianism with what you are listening to. If there is not a likeness and compatibility, then I suggest you do something about it by telling your minister this truth and urging him to listen to the recording included here!

Dr Paisley’s message here should help all to recognise the drift away from the stand that our denomination was brought into existence to maintain and move them to humbly pray that the Lord in mercy will overthrow the compromise and heal the backsliding that has gripped the Free Presbyterian Church and bring us back again to the ‘old paths’ (Jeremiah 6:16)!

Posted on 2024-08-19 a 4:56 pm

(18th August, 2024 — Annual Day of Prayer marking the beginning of the witness — August 17th 1974)

“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles,” Acts 26:22-23.

Today we meet to bless the Lord for His mercy to Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church over the last 50 years.

Read sermon notes here

 

Watch a video of this sermon below:

Posted on 2024-08-18 a 9:27 pm

A FORGOTTEN PRACTICE!

“‭I am crucified‭‭ with Christ‭: nevertheless‭ I live‭‭; yet not‭ I‭, but‭ Christ‭ liveth‭‭ in‭ me‭: and‭ the life which‭ I‭‭ now‭ live‭‭ in‭ the flesh‭ I live‭‭ by‭ the faith‭ of the Son‭ of God‭, who‭ loved‭‭ me‭, and‭ gave‭‭ himself‭ for‭ me‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Galatians 2:20.

I can recall back in 1968, just after Ann and I were married and we had moved, for a short time, to a house in Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, bowing in prayer before this text and asking the Lord for understanding of it.

I. Spiritual understanding once granted, must be retained and sustained by a constant supply of God’ grace.

As we must repeatedly and regularly partake of food and water and sleep, in order to maintain physical life, even so it is with our soul’s strength and vigour.

If we are to remain ALIVE to God and His mind and will for our lives, there must be this constant partaking of His grace by the appointed means — prayer and the reading and musing upon His Word. As David said: “‭My heart‭ was hot‭‭ within‭ me, while I was musing‭ the fire‭ burned‭‭: ‭then‭ spake‭‭ I with my tongue‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalm 39:3. The word ‘musing’ carries the meaning of ‘whispering or muttering’. Those who read the Bible to themselves in this manner are seeking to savour and digest every word and its meaning.

Acts 8:30 says, regarding the meeting between Philip and the man‭ of Ethiopia‬ in the desert: “‭And‭ Philip‭ ran‭‭ thither to ‭him‭, and heard‭‭ him‭ read‭‭ the prophet‭ Esaias‭, and‭ said‭‭, Understandest thou‭‭‭‭ what‭ thou readest‭‭?‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

We should note how this man was reading, it was out loud. He was musing and seeking the meaning of what it was he read.

It must be recognised that few Christians so read their Bibles. For many it is an exercise similar to the counting of the beads of the rosary by the Roman Catholic! In other words, a ritual that must be performed!

We can never remain ALIVE to God by insincere observance of a vital means of grace and life to our souls. How often have Christian confessed to themselves and even to others that they feel so ‘dead’!

That is NOT an admission that spiritual life has ceased within them. No, that cannot happen to the child of God, for to them has been imparted ‘eternal life’!

No, it is the acknowledgement that the level of spiritual energy within them has dropped away because of their neglect of their soul and its requirements. They have become ‘cast down’. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-17 a 6:00 am

“‭In the sweat‭ of thy face‭ shalt thou eat‭‭ bread‭, till‭ thou return‭‭ unto the ground‭; for out of it wast thou taken‭‭: for dust‭ thou‭ ‭art‭, and unto dust‭ shalt thou return‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Genesis 3:19.

Advertising of cremation as a ‘handy’, ‘cheaper’ and much more ‘pleasant’ way to dispose of the dead, has become a very regular feature in the media of late.

The adverts treat death in a most unseemly and distasteful way. Death is to be an occasion for a party and songs and celebration. That has been seen on some recent occasions when a ‘celebrity’ left instructions that bright and garish clothing was to be worn by those attending their funeral and worldly songs, signifying worldly joy, were to be sung. This all is the result of the darkness that has descended upon the general public regarding eternity and what lies beyond death for the unconverted sinner.

Death, for ever so many today, is but the end of a life of godlessness and Christ-rejection and the beginning of an eternal sentence of God’s judgment upon such.

If only the Bible were more widely known and believed, then people would understand that far from being a matter of frivolity and catchy advertising, death for the sinner is an entering into an indescribable cauldron of eternal sufferings.

Heed these words.

“‭And‭ as‭‭ it is appointed‭‭ unto men‭ once‭ to die‭‭, but‭ after‭ this‭ the judgment‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Hebrews 9:27.

“‭The wicked‭ shall be turned‭‭ into hell‭, ‭and‭ all the nations‭ that forget‭ God‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalm 9:17.

“‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Who among us shall dwell‭‭ with the devouring‭‭ fire‭? who among us shall dwell‭‭ with everlasting‭ burnings‭?‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 33:14.

“‭But‭ the fearful‭, and‭ unbelieving‭, and‭ the abominable‭‭, and‭ murderers‭, and‭ whoremongers‭, and‭ sorcerers‭, and‭ idolaters‭, and‭ all‭ liars‭, shall have their‭ part‭ in‭ the lake‭ which‭ burneth‭‭ with fire‭ and‭ brimstone‭: which is‭‭ the second‭ death‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Revelation 21:8. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-16 a 6:00 am

On this day, when I wrote my answer to Mr Roberts of Logos Ministries International and his deceitful attempt to deny what I wrote about LMI, I providentially read, as part of my daily Bible reading, 1 Samuel chapter 4.

As I read it, I noted truths which I am sure God would have Free Presbyterians take note of.

It was time when a perplexing question was on many lips. It is a question that needs to be asked by us all in this day when the enemy prevails.

“WHEREFORE HATH THE LORD SMITTEN US TO DAY BEFORE THE PHILISTINES?” verse 3.

Christian, do you have any sense of that which is taking place amongst us today?

Please note these following observations:

1. They were smitten of the Lord because they had followed the leadership of ungodly frauds and imposters.

“Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,” 1 Samuel 2:22.

2. Being thus led, the people placed their hope in vain notions.

“Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies,” 4:3.

3. Belief in such vain notions filled them with false hope.

“And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again,” 1Samuel 4:5.

4. The dreadful price the people paid for their folly.

“And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain,” 1 Samuel 4:10-11. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-14 a 9:55 pm

Deceitful words in defence and the dupes who support it!!

In my article, ‘Paul’s announcement that his course was finished’, posted on the 8th August, I indicated that I would be setting aside the ‘sword of contending’. I did not say I was throwing it away. Because of age and declines in health and strength I fully intended that I would be ending that element of my witness on the ‘Burning Bush’ website, but I did keep the sword close at hand in case I ever needed it again!

Well, I have a need of it and have gripped it once again to respond to a concealed and secretive attack upon what I have recently said about ‘Logos Ministries International’!

The devil is a master at concealing his evil machinations, even from those he uses to carry them out!

The labyrinth of links and associations that LMI has established with ecumenism and apostasy is bewildering and difficult to unravel, even for those who wish to get to the truth.

I am prepared to believe that some of those who have publicly rejoiced in the pronouncements of this organisation, do so with little or no understanding of what it is they are embracing and endorsing.

Even Free Presbyterian ministers may be guilty of such gullibility!

Attack

I was not told by Mr Roberts himself of anything he said about me and my article. I have, however, been informed that he, who is prominently involved in ‘Logos Ministries International’, has attacked me and my articles on the ecumenical involvement of LMI. He has been supported in his attack by Free Presbyterians ministers, who give their names on his ‘Facebook’ page.

At no point in his statement does he deny that LMI is involved with ‘ecumenical churches’ here in Northern Ireland or in many other places.

He states that I am engaged in tearing down ‘the church and God’s people’. He faults me for not having spoken to him about LMI. He further says:

‘But to be called out from someone I have never had a conversation with saddens me, especially when that person is an ex-minister spreading false information.’

He may have failed to notice that I never even mentioned his name in anything I wrote, just the activities of LMI.

But every little distortion aids in the spread of falsehood! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-14 a 5:20 pm

There has been much reporting of ‘hate’ crimes of late. It is rather strange that while the IRA were murdering hundreds of Protestants in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, there were very few references or headlines about ‘HATE’.

These last few days have rarely seen one go past without some news outlet using the word ‘HATE’ in a headline.

Invariably, the term is used of a crime committed against a non-native, black or Asian individual, whose person or property has come under attack from those who claim to be protesting against the disproportionately generous treatment of the immigrants who arrive in the UK illegally.

As is ever the case in such circumstances, many innocent, hard-working and legal immigrants become targets by those acting is a most loutish fashion.

I. THE BIBLE TEACHES US WHOM WE SHOULD LOVE.

From the beginning of time, God has expected His people to treat strangers with kindness. “‭Thou shalt neither vex‭‭ a stranger‭, nor oppress‭‭ him: for ye were strangers‭ in the land‭ of Egypt‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Exodus 22:21.

The Christian must ever act in the light of their estrangement from God. “‭Wherefore‭ remember‭‭, that‭ ye‭ ‭being‭ in time past‭ Gentiles‭ in‭ the flesh‭, who‭ are called‭‭ Uncircumcision‭ by‭ that which‭ is called‭‭ the Circumcision‭ in‭ the flesh‭ made by hands‭;‭ ‭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,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Ephesians 2:11-13.

The true believe cannot but have an affinity with strangers.

We are not required to ignore sin or criminal activity amongst strangers but we are forbidden to oppose them simply because they are not ‘native born’. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-14 a 6:00 am

“THE WICKED WALK ON EVERY SIDE, WHEN THE VILEST MEN ARE EXALTED‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalms 12:8.

“Teagan MacAodhagáin: Meet Ireland’s first transgender minister who was ordained in NI”, so ran the headline in the Belfast Telegraph of Saturday 10th August. The ‘church’ into which this ‘man’ has been ordained has been known from its beginning as ‘the gay church’!

“Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) (aka The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches or UFMCC) was founded in Los Angeles, California (USA) on October 6, 1968 by the Rev. Troy Perry.

Since then, MCC has grown from a few churches in the 1970s, when we were known as “the Gay Church,” to hundreds around the world by the 1980s when we became known as “the AIDS church,” to our current configuration which many dub “the Queer Church.” As a global movement comprising churches, spiritual communities, emerging ministries, clergy and lay leaders, human rights activists and many others, our goal is to “Transform Ourselves as we Transform the World.”

The writer of the articles is a well known advocate of all things that promote the ‘LGBTQI+ community’, Gareth Hanna! I have refuted him and his claims in a letter to the ‘Belfast Telegraph’, back last year. 

However, he and his like persist in their perversity, even though they are unable to answer what it is the Bible says.

What a day faces them when they meet with the AUTHOR of the Bible they cannot answer though they have lived to misrepresent its teachings!

“‭And‭‭ the times‭ of this ignorance‭ God‭ winked at‭‭; but now‭ commandeth‭‭ all‭ men‭ every where‭ to repent‭‭:‭ ‭Because‭ he hath appointed‭‭ a day‭, in‭ the which‭ he will‭‭ judge‭‭ the world‭ in‭ righteousness‭ by‭ ‭that‭ man‭ whom‭ he hath ordained‭‭; ‭whereof‭ he hath given‭‭ assurance‭ unto all‭ ‭men‭, in that he hath raised‭‭ him‭ from‭ the dead‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Acts 17:30-31.

Latest Folly

In his latest article, Hanna reports on the ‘ordination’ of one who claims to be a ‘transgender’ though what he claims to have ‘metamorphosed’ from and what into, I cannot really be sure from Hanna’s scribblings. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-12 a 6:00 am

‘No place for racism in our society’, says O’Neill

 O’Neill leads a party which was allied with IRA terrorism which raged for decades here in Northern Ireland and which resulted in hundreds of innocent people, Protestant and Roman Catholic, being callously murdered. The chief motive of the IRA was a hatred of all things Protestant and British. Thus the Protestant and Unionist community chiefly were the targets of the IRA. Roman Catholics who were deemed to show any sympathy for the IRA’s chief victims, became targets also and were brutally murdered. The bodies of some of these victims have never been found!

For her to condemn ‘RACISM’ is so ridiculous to be laughable!  Sadly, she and her party hold office only because of the blatantly foolish action of the Democratic Unionist Party entering into nefarious agreement to share power with them back in 2007. Blind greed and grasping after power was the DUP’s motive for such an utter contempt for all its former promises to never share power with Sinn Fein/IRA. That greed was bolstered by a confidence in its own ‘political skills’!

We are where we are today because of that arrogance and mercenariness!

The hypocrisy of O’Neill was shared by the DUP in that she was joined in this statement, we are told, by the DUP, Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly.

It would appear that the DUP has either forgotten the years of IRA terror and murder or simply, for the sake of maintaining their apparent position of power, which is in truth a mere ‘spider’s web of make-believe’, shut them out of their minds! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-09 a 5:49 pm

Following the distribution of my article — “Free Presbyterian ministers are to help raise funds for an ecumenical organisation, engaged in fellowshipping with and aiding the outreaches of ecumenical denominations”, some have requested evidence of the ecumenical involvement of this organisation.

I must say, that when I received the requests I thought of the saying I heard of old in Belfast when a man responded to a questioning of that which he considered to be very obvious. His response was: ‘Is the Pope a Mickey?’

To ask if Logos Ministries International is ecumenical is the equivalent of asking ‘Is the Pope a Mickey?’!!

A little research will show that LMI cares nothing for the purity of a Christian testimony, the honour of the Saviour, divinely inspired truth or obedience to God’s Word. NO, just the pursuit of a money-raising enterprise which is of their own invention!

‘Logos Ministries International’ has long been involved with ecumenism. It is a clear evidence of the silence of our pulpits regarding the duty of warning people of such dangers, that I have to establish for many the errors of this organisation.

Here are some links to articles that will demonstrate the ecumenical links, local and overseas, of ‘Logos Ministries International’.

Thomas McClean and Alan Dourish enjoyed an excellent morning with the congregations at Corrick Presbyterian Church and Badoney Presbyterian Church yesterday, as they shared about the work of LMI and brought a missional challenge from God’s Word

Sincere and heartfelt congratulations from everyone at LMI go to our Overseas Ministry Partner in South Sudan, James Baak, after his recent elevation to the position of Rt. Rev’d James Baak Nhial, Suffragan Bishop of Lietnhom Area Diocese!

Last Sunday morning, LMI’s Communications Manager, Alan Dourish, was back in his home village of Florencecourt in County Fermanagh, where he spoke at two church services in Druminiskill and St John’s

It will very much be a case of ‘turning back the clock’ for our Co-Founder and Mission Director Thomas McClean this Sunday evening, when he travels to be with our friends at Carryduff Presbyterian Church

Anyone seeking further proof of the corruptions within LMI may search the internet for themselves. Facebook in particular will shows the LMI to have many links with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland, all of which have been long time supporters of Ecumenism and are riddled with support for unbiblical doctrines and immoral behaviour. LMI is also with Charismatic groups.

LMI is even ‘thrilled’ to have links with Roman Catholic organisations as the following link shows.

We are thrilled to have Ron Huntley from Divine Renovation Ministry with us on Monday 21st October. Ron will be with us all the way from Nova Scotia, Canada to share his experience at Divine Renovation, a Catholic Ministry with a heart for developing missional parishes. This is an afternoon for those in church leadership, especially within a Catholic context.

LMI have made no secret of their links with compromised and ecumenical denominations and groups! Their Facebook publications glory in these links!

Rev Ian Foster (Rtd)
8th August 2024

Posted on 2024-08-08 a 5:18 pm

Not really surprising.

“For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment,” Isaiah 59:12-15.

THERE IS LAWLESSNESS IN THE CHURCHES!

Prayers asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples

THERE IS LAWLESSNESS IN PARLIAMENT!

Tory MP investigated over alleged misuse of party funds

THERE IS LAWLESSNESS IN THE POLICE!

Police corruption

THERE IS LAWLESSNESS IN BUSINESS!

Water firms to be punished for years of sewage leaks

THERE IS LAWLESSNESS IN THE HOME!

Child deaths due to abuse or neglect: statistics briefing

THERE IS LAWLESSNESS IN THE ADMISSION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!

Around 80 migrants including children rescued from Channel

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All this being so, it can hardly be surprising that we have lawlessness on the streets!

What happens in the pulpit will spill over into the pew and then out to the pavements of the land!

It has happened before as the Bible gives ample historical evidence for and there are also told that this age is to end with a world-wide rebellion against God which, as it did in Noah’s day, will bring God’s judgment though this time in the form of the personal intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” Revelation 19:11-16.

While governments struggle to find an answer to ‘lawlessness’, the Christian enjoys an inspired account of how our Saviour will bring it all to an end when “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever,” Revelation 11:15.

Posted on 2024-08-08 a 6:00 am

“I have finished‭‭ ‭my‭ course‭,‬‬‬‬‬” 2 Timothy 4:7.

The word ‘course’ is linked in its meaning to the idea of ‘running’. I believe that Paul was referring to the course of his ministry, which he had desired to finish with joy, and was now declaring that it was finished. This desire he had stated earlier, as recorded in Acts 20:18-24.

“‭Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”‬

Although the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 have the air of the approach of an imminent death: “‭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”‬, yet the words that follow indicated that Paul anticipated that he would not be put to death immediately.

He says to Timothy in verse 9, “‭Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me”‬. This request surely indicates that he expected to be alive for at least a little longer. Also, the words of verse 13 also indicate that he expected to live for some time yet.

“‭The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.”‬

The books and parchments indicate that Paul felt that he had yet work and studying to do.

I. FROM THESE CONSIDERATIONS I BELIEVE WE MAY LEARN THAT A MAN MAY BE AWARE THAT HIS LABOURS FOR THE LORD HAVE REACHED THEIR END.

I believe that Paul felt that his life’s work for the Lord had reached its conclusion even though he might live yet for a time.

I must confess that these ponderings of the words of verse 7 came to me in the middle of the night as Monday dawned in the wake of the heart-stirring events of the death and funeral of Dr John Douglas, following on as it did just two months from the death of my dear and sweet life’s partner, my wife Ann, on June 8th.

1. Dear Christian, it is always right to mark the milestones of life’s journey. Many live as if they will never die. That is most foolish. It is absolutely true that man “‭knowest not what a day may bring forth,”‬ Proverbs 27:1. Nevertheless, the signs of aging and the approach of our demise should not be ignored.

Sinners do that in their blindness and folly. In my life I have stood at many a bedside and spoken to those who were near to death. It was plain for all around to see that was so, yet the one in bed often replied to my pleadings to receive Christ as their Saviour with the words, ‘I would like to take time to think about that’!

There was an ignoring of the ‘milestones’ of frailty, grey hairs and sickness. How wrong that is! We should heed the signals that indicate that our ‘course’ is nearing its end.

2. I have been active as a Christian now for just over sixty years. Strange to relate, although I can look back to my conversion by the grace of God on a Sabbath evening, April 5th 1964, I found assurance of my salvation the following Sabbath in Ravenhill Free Presbyterian Church, when I responded to the appeal made by Dr Paisley at the end of his sermon and came out to meet with him in the little prayer room to the left of the main door as you enter the church. He opened the Word of God and showed me that “‭Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,”‬ Acts 2:21, and other related Scriptures. Instantly, all doubts vanished and my heart was filled with joyful peace that has never forsaken me. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-07 a 6:00 am

Free Presbyterian ministers are to help raise funds for an ecumenical organisation, engaged in fellowshipping with and aiding the outreaches of ecumenical denominations.

IS ASSISTING SUCH AN ORGANISATION A BREACH OF THE FREE PRESBYTERIAN  MINISTER’S ORDINATION OATH?

It most certainly once would have been considered such but it appears that new rules of interpreting that oath have been adopted by some, whereby the standards of separation from apostasy once adhered to have been set aside!

Posted on 2024-08-06 a 4:27 pm

Rev. Ivan Foster (Rtd) delivered a tribute at the homegoing service of Dr. John Douglas, who was his brother-in-law and fellow labourer in the Lord’s work. The service was held at Lisburn FPC, where Dr. Douglas had ministered for decades.

I count it a great privilege and honour to be invited to take part in the funeral service of Dr John Douglas.

I sincerely thank Eunice and the family for allowing me to play a small part in today’s proceedings.

I wish to express first of all, the sincere condolences of the whole Foster family, to Eunice and all the family, even as they were our comforters in the time of our sorrow at the recent home-call of Ann, my precious wife and her dear sister.

View a video of the entire service:

John Douglas was my dear friend as well as a brother-in-law beloved. He was a companion in the faith, a fellow labourer in the gospel and one with whom I shared an earnest contending for the ‘Crown rights of King Jesus and crown jewels of His gospel’.

I first met John in 1964, 60 years ago. That was a year of ‘introductions’ for me.

On April 5th of that year, the Lord in mercy introduced Himself to me, a lost sinner, and graciously pardoned my sins and made me a new creature.

One week later, I met a man who was to become a great influence in my early Christian life, Dr Ian Paisley. He it was who led John to Christ, his first convert at the beginning of his ministry in Ravenhill.

It was shortly after that, that I met John in the old Ravenhill church. In September of that year, I also later met my dear wife to be, Ann, along with her sisters Eunice and Jennifer and brother Charlie. Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-03 a 10:03 pm

This evil man has acknowledged his guilt.

‘Ex-BBC presenter Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children’

The ‘Independent’ of July 31st, reports: ‘The former BBC News at Ten anchor, 62, admitted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to having 41 indecent images of children on his phone, seven of which were category A, the very worst kind.

Also among the 377 sexual images discovered by police – sent to him by 25-year-old convicted paedophile Alex Williams from Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales, between December 2020 and August 2021 – were 12 category B images, and 22 category C images.

Five of the category A images featured children aged between 13 and 15, while at least two were moving images that depicted a child believed to be “between seven and nine”, the court was told.’

It is also reported that he faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children.

Paid in Full

Despite knowing this about the pervert, the BBC continued paying this man his full and excessively high wages until his final resignation in April of this year.

That makes the BBC complicit in his wickedness! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-02 a 6:00 am

“And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.

And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea,”  Mark 5:1-13.

I was made to think of this portion of God’s inspired Word when I heard of the horrific events in Southport, England, on Monday 29th July. It was widely reported in the press. Here is a BBC report.

Southport stabbing: How the knife attack unfolded

In truth, no news report could ever fully convey the distress and heartbreak that followed this horrendously murderous attack by a teenager, a son of immigrants. The culprit has been arrested. He has been described as being ‘reclusive’!

However, that would not account for his actions and for the actions of the many, many other examples of similar murderous incidents in recent times on the streets and in the homes of the United Kingdom! Hundreds of murders take place each year, the most of them animalistic attacks almost void of any tangible motive.

In these days of apostasy from God and His truth by the mainline churches, the impact of this rebellion upon the nation is the releasing of the floodgates of lawlessness and defiance of all that the Lord has commanded men to obey!

It is that spirit that is epitomised by ‘the man of Gadara’! Click to read more…

Posted on 2024-08-01 a 6:00 am