This Lord’s Day evening at Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church, Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd) preached on the subject, “Why He is Coming!” This is the second part to the sermon preached last Lord’s Day.
This message was a part of the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony Autumn Meeting on the subject “Behold He Cometh!”
Watch a video of this sermon below:
First study — verses 1-10
A FORESHADOWING OF THE ANTICHRIST
The Bible was written “for our learning,” (Romans 15:4). One of the subjects the Lord would have us instructed in is the iniquitous events of the last days.
Time and time again, from the very early days of this world, the Lord has set forth warnings about the ‘last days’. Thus we find Jacob on his deathbed, speaking to his sons of the “last days”.
“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days,” Genesis 49:1.
Even further back, we are told by Jude that Enoch, in the dawn of time, spoke of the rebellion of men just before the Saviour’s return, Jude 14-15.
Here in this chapter of Ezekiel, we are given information on three features that will be prominent at the close of this age. This is but one of many such foreshadowings. The repeating of these details indicates that the Lord would have us to be well informed and warned, for the last days will be days of great deception and many, even the true people of God, will be deceived and will require God’s intervention to deliver them from the deceptions and entanglements of the devil.
Remember, the Saviour said: “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot . . . Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed,” Luke 17:28-30.
Lot was deceived and deluded and carried away with the wickedness of Sodom and had to be forcibly removed by the angels the Lord sent to warn him. “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city,” Genesis 19:16.
One of the most difficult tasks given to the servants of God to accomplish, is to successfully warn and convince straying Christians of their error and the harvest they will reap if they do not obey God!
In the first ten verses of this chapter, the Lord gives us a prophetic picture of a personage the Lord would have His people, destined to live in the last days, recognise and understand clearly. (more…)
“Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes,” Ezekiel 21:6.
“For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season,” 2 Corinthians 7:8.
In my first study of these two verses, I looked at the message and ministry of Ezekiel the prophet.
I believe it true to say that few believed the message of Ezekiel and the judgment he spoke of fell on the nation.
I turn to the second chapter I read that day, 18th September inst, — 2 Corinthians 7.
It begins with a reference to the cleansing power of the Word of God.
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” verse 1.
The Saviour spoke to His disciples of the sanctifying power of His Word. “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you,” John 15:3. He also prayed to His Heavenly Father that He might cleanse His people by that Word.
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth,” John 17:15-17.
The preaching of the Word of God and obedience of it, is the means, used by God ,whereby Christians, while in this world, are kept from its evil influences.
Where a people, professing faith in Christ, show a conformity to this world, then it is because God’s Word is not being preached or it is not being obeyed or both! (more…)