Article

The following article arose out of my readings on the Sabbath Day past.

I thought that I would share my thoughts with you.

I have also included an audio recording of me reading the article. There ought not to be too many differences between the two!!

The Lord bless you all richly,

Ivan Foster

---

IDENTIFYING OURSELVES WITH THE LORD

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,” Ezekiel 35:1-2.

One of my Bible readings for Lord’s Day, 2nd October, was Ezekiel chapter 35. I noted what it was the Lord said to Ezekiel in the opening verses and thought to myself that:—

I. GOD’S SERVANTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE AGAINST THOSE THE LORD IS AGAINST!

This is surely the implication of the words: “Set thy face against mount Seir” when considered in the light of the opening words of the Lord’s message to mount Seir, or the land of Edom. “And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate,” verse 3.

To be God’s servant in this day likewise requires a man to :—

1. Publicly manifest our opposition to that which the Lord is against. To do that we must be acquainted with God’s view on the ways and practices of men around us. We must be familiar with the Lord’s view of the conduct of our fellows in this age. Wickedness can ‘creep up’ on Christians and become accepted as being of no real harm. The devil loves to ‘creep’, Jude 4. He turns the heat up slowly so that few notice the change. It cannot be denied that there is much that is found acceptable to Christians today that was repudiated by previous generations. Conduct, lifestyle, behaviour, practices that are easily engaged in by many Christians today would have been utterly shunned by our forebears as totally unacceptable ways for a Christian to act. (more…)

The following extracts from today’s news, of which I have copied only the essential details, are matters which surely ought to bring home to us the terrible ‘hurricane’ of iniquity breaking forth amongst us.

The reports clearly indicate that this wickedness, while in many cases only coming to public attention now, has been an undercurrent in our society for decades.

This indicates the declining influence of true Christianity amongst us. The ‘Ecumenical’ variety has no power to hinder such evil, rather it is busy endorsing it! The liberal churches have embraced the stratagem of the LGBT+ perverts and sanctioned relationships for which people were condemned to jail in living memory.

Such is deemed ‘progress’ and ‘liberation’ but it is not. It is society sinking down into the morass of Hell’s depravity.

Children and young people need the protection that only Bible-based institutions can give. Churches governed by those laws set down by God in His Word; Children and Young People’s meetings which are designed not to entertain but to instruct in the eternal verities; Schools which follow only a curriculum formulated from the Word of God and which employ only those who bear strong Christians testimonies and such schools should be under the governorship of godly men and women.

Above all, the homes of our land should conform to that standard of behaviour and environment which God requires.

“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” Ephesians 5:33-6:4.

Without a return to these standards, society will continue to degenerate, ever more speedily, and there is formed around us that atmosphere and spiritual climate which shall give rise to full-blown Antichristianity, which in turn will bring down God’s judgment for “because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children (offspring) of disobedience,” Ephesians 5:6.

My earnest good wishes,

Ivan Foster

---

Corruption in society penetrates the places considered sanctuaries!!!

Thomas McKenna: Former Crossmaglen GAA official pleads guilty to sexual offences

Former Crossmaglen GAA official Thomas McKenna pleads guilty to 139 sex offences

Ex-GAA treasurer pleads guilty to sex offences against young boys over three decades

The former postman was placed on the sex offenders register as a result of the guilty pleas. (more…)

This article from the ’The Times’ newspaper was sent to me by a friend (whom I have never met) who looks out for such things for me.

The older generation will be more familiar with his name and labours. This will stir some good memories and impart encouraging information to younger Christians.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

---

Brother Andrew obituary

Declaring on visa applications that his occupation was “teacher”, Brother Andrew rarely found himself denied official permission. When he reached border patrols, his car overflowing with Bibles and tracts, he would mutter a prayer under his breath: “Lord, who made blind eyes see; now make seeing eyes blind.” Time and again, customs officers waved him onwards with a cheery greeting. In Czechoslovakia, when the suppression of the Prague Spring had put an end to relative religious freedom, he even handed out Bibles to the occupying Soviet troops, who were left somewhat bemused.

On his travels, Brother Andrew discovered the subtle ways in which the communist authorities, instead of banning the Church, ground down its leaders and worshippers, ensuring that they were demoralised. Christian agitators lost their jobs for spurious reasons and were denied university places without explanation. State-sponsored official churches gave the impression of a freedom of faith while underground churches, where allegiance to the state did not go hand in hand with allegiance to faith, were persecuted.

The battered VW Beetle became the symbol of Brother Andrew’s charity, Open Doors

After half a dozen journeys, distributing Bibles in Yugoslavia, Hungary and East Germany, Brother Andrew was summarily arrested during a return visit to Yugoslavia and expelled from the country. It marked the beginning of a more formal Bible-smuggling operation called Open Doors, using an ever-expanding volunteer base to take the Gospel to the east. His VW Beetle became the symbol of the charity. (more…)