July 2022

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KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Some of my Favorite Psalms”

  • School is out for the summer. Check back for new KICS talks once school term begins.
  • See all the talks in this series here.
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Featured sermon series: Studies in Job

Part 16: Job's Estimate of God's Word;  Part 17: Rebels Against Light;  Part 18: To the highest purity from the deepest depravity;  Part 19: Looking Back to Better Times;  Part 20: The Protective Barriers Taken Down

See all messages in this series here.


Recently Preached Sermons

Will the church go through the great tribulation?
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Fri Jul 22, 2022

The voice of experience
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jul 17, 2022

Sanctification -- a vital truth
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jul 17, 2022

View all recently preached sermons


Older Sermons Recently Added

To the highest purity from the deepest depravity
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Oct 30, 1994

Framing mischief by a law
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jun 30, 1985

A happy prospect for a suffering saint
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Aug 14, 1994

View all recently added sermons


Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here


 

Two news reports

Two news reports have been brought to my attention which need to be considered by Christians and the matters raised need to be prayed and protested against by all who would seek to honour the Lord.

First of all here is yet another reason for Independent Christian Schools!!

Sex education in schools could be made compulsory by NI secretary

The Northern Ireland secretary says he will consider introducing compulsory relationship and sex education (RSE) in schools if the Department of Education does not.”

The schools referred to are the ‘state schools’.

But will anything arouse and alarm Christian parents who happily send their offspring to such?


Here is another report.

There has appeared one more appeal on behalf of the perverts of the LBGTQ, (who can keep up with this ever enlarging acronym) from one, ‘Gareth Hanna’ in the ‘Belfast Telegraph, a newspaper all too ready to provide space for the promotion of such wickedness!

It appeared yesterday and a link to the article was sent to me by a friend. The article goes under the heading:

Why it’s time more NI Christians came out as LGBTQ+ affirming

It would appear that the writer would have us believe that he has some form of connection with ‘Christianity’, but in truth his writings and arguments in the article indicate plainly that he is as ignorant of God’s Word as a ‘sow going to hoke’! Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-29 a 6:24 pm


C of E and C of I on same death bed

I could not but comment on this news report which appears in today’s ‘Belfast Telegraph’, under the headline:

“LGBT Church of Ireland group welcomes change on same-sex marriage statement”.

It ought to have been headlined: “Church of Ireland afflicted with same terminal disease as the Church of England and they now share the same deathbed”

The article begins: “A change from the Anglican Communion on its statement around same-sex marriage issues has been welcomed by a group which represents LGBT members within the Church of Ireland.”

The article then continues: “Ahead of the Anglican Communion’s Lambeth Conference – the first in Canterbury for 14 years – organisers scrapped a statement that reaffirmed the conference’s historic stance against same-sex marriage, BBC NI reports. Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-28 a 3:50 pm


Fifty-two years and one million hits later!!

“‭And the LORD‭ shall guide‭‭ thee continually‭, and satisfy‭‭ thy soul‭ in drought‭, and make fat‭‭ thy bones‭: and thou shalt be like a watered‭ garden‭, and like a spring‭ of water‭, whose waters‭ fail‭‭ not.‭ ‭And ‭they that shall be‭ of thee shall build‭‭ the old‭ waste places‭: thou shalt raise up‭‭ the foundations‭ of many‭ generations‭; and thou shalt be called‭‭, The repairer‭‭ of the breach‭, The restorer‭‭ of paths‭ to dwell in‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 58:11-12.


The above verses were impressed upon my heart in 1966, while a student in Whiteabbey Free Presbyterian Church, which later became Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church.

I freely confess that in unbelief I felt that I could not claim such a glorious promise as being for me from the Lord.

It was many, many years later that these words, though never forgotten, were applied with power to my heart and gave me some understanding of the task given me in the later years of my life.


The old Whiteabbey church building, a former courthouse and police station, where I began my preaching as a student minister of the Free Presbyterian Church in February 1965, some ten months after my conversion, in company with fellow student minister, Rev William Beattie, who shortly afterwards took up full time duties in Dunmurry Free Presbyterian Church.


Some time ago I mentioned to our readers that I had in mind a target of 1,000,000 visits to “The Burning Bush” website as a ‘line in the sand’ to indicate that it was time to wind down the witness for God’s truth which has been running, in one form or another, since March 1970 when the first printed edition appeared.

Now I have reached that point. All told of course, far more than 1,000,000 people have been reached with the voice of protest of “The Burning Bush”. The printed editions would have been shared by far more than one reader and the articles and sermons on the ‘internet’ edition undoubtedly would have been downloaded and shared many times over. Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-28 a 3:06 am


The beginning of sorrows, Part 3

“‭All‭‭ these‭ ‭are‭ the beginning‭ of sorrows‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew 24:8.

Thoughts arising from my reading of this chapter as part of my daily reading and which are the third section of a brief study of Mathew 24:1-31.

I hope to continue the study on a weekly basis.


The bullet-scared Jaffa Gate, the result of the battle for Jerusalem when it was reunified by the Israeli army in the ‘Six-Day War in 1967.

In our last study we considered how that ‘the beginning of sorrows’ would lead on to the full harvest of sorrow and that it would be the Jews in Jerusalem who would chiefly suffer in that time of the ‘great tribulation’ at the end of this age, just before the Saviour returns in glory.

1. The Saviour makes clear in verses 9-14 just how the ‘sorrows’ will commence and what it will entail in its early stages.

“‭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.‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-27 a 6:27 pm


We have to say 'well done'!

Manly players Sean Keppie, Kieran Foran and Reuben Garrick model the pride jersey

I was sent the following article and would wish to make one observation based upon one criticism of the rugby players who refused to wear these ‘pro-sodomy’ jerseys.

I have in the past stated that it is wrong for a Christian to turn out for any sports team which is supported by the booze and betting trades. However, bad and all as this is, it falls short of donning regalia which openly supports the ever-spreading abomination of sodomy! God certainly draws a distinction between sodomy and all other sins. I believe that it will receive the severest of all punishments on the day of eternal retribution, with the exception of the sin of rejecting the gospel of Christ.

This the Saviour states in Matthew11:23. “‭And‭ thou‭, Capernaum‭, which‭ art exalted‭‭ unto‭ heaven‭, shalt be brought down‭‭ to‭ hell‭: for‭ if‭ the mighty works‭, which‭ have been done‭‭ in‭ thee‭, had been done‭‭ in‭ Sodom‭, it would have remained‭‭‭ until‭ this day‭.‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jude highlights the dreadful wickedness of sodomy. “‭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 1:7.

The destruction visited upon those cities, surpassing all other manifestations of God’s wrath, is meant to be an example, a pattern, of the vengeance awaiting those guilty of this wickedness. Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-26 a 5:49 pm


You are Invited ...

The Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony

Our meeting on Friday 22nd July 2022 at 7pm will be broadcast live for your edification on:

Sermon Audio – YouTubeFacebook

Please join us

Speaker: Mr Ivan Foster

“Will the church go through the Great Tribulation?”



See sermon notes here

 

The Lord Jesus said: “But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them,” John 16:4.

Posted on 2022-07-22 a 2:00 pm


A boost for the BB!!

I was notified by a friend and reader of ’The Burning Bush’ that the following tweet had appeared on the internet.

That was mounted 2 hours ago (about 9.00 pm) and I just saw that the BB site has had over 1100 hits and the number is rising steadily!!

(1260 as I send out this email).

That is what you call ’shooting yourself in the foot’! I hope it really hurts 😊.

The article he is complaining about is:

The blinded mind of a sodomite

May many benefit from this ‘advertising’ of the BB by this supporter of perversion.

He claims that what I wrote about him was ‘homophobic.

That is untrue if he is claiming that I was inciting hatred against those of his perverted persuasion.

However, I certainly would incite hatred against ‘sodomy’ of which Michael Palmer is a supporter.

In hating such a sin I am following in the footsteps of the Psalmist.

“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way,” Psalm 119:104.

“Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies,” Psalm 139:21-22.

More importantly, I follow my Saviour Who said:

“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate,” Revelation 2:14-15.

The Saviour ‘commends’ the hating of the doctrines of the ‘Nicolaitans’, a 1st century heretical sect.

There are things and practices which Christians are exhorted to hate by the Lord.

Be that as it may, whatever the Christian may feel about sodomy and related perversions, it is nothing to the expression of wrath that the Lord will manifest in that day referred to in Romans 1:18.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”

(Written in haste!)

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2022-07-21 a 2:03 am


The beginning of sorrows, Part 2

This the second article containing comments I have penned on Matthew 24:1-31.

I would consider this portion of God’s Word as one of the most important and relevant section of the Holy Scriptures for this day in which we live!

It speaks of those events leading up to the final seven years of this age and then goes into even greater detail regarding the second half of that season, the last three and a half years, or as they are referred to in the Bible, a thousand two hundred and threescore days, the time, times and half a time and the forty-two weeks, Revelation 11:2-3, 12:14.

I trust that you will be helped by what is here written.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster.


“All these are the beginning of sorrows,” Matthew 24:8.

Thoughts arising from my reading of this chapter as part of my daily reading  and which are the second section of a brief study of Mathew 24:1-31. I hope to continue the study on a weekly basis.

The city of Jerusalem as seen from the Garden of Gethsemane

Let us come to the words of this verse, which forms the basis of our study.

1. The meaning of the word ‘beginning’. The word carries the meaning of ‘the origin’. It first appears in the New Testament in Matthew 19:4. “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,” Matthew 19:4.

From that act of creation, very much has sprung! Likewise, that is what the Saviour is indicating. The wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes will give rise to very great sorrow.

2. This age is to end in sorrow and suffering. That is what sin and rebellion against God brings! “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death,” James 1:15. Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-20 a 10:49 pm


Two Sunday messages at Kilskeery FPC

Rev. Ivan Foster (rtd)

I preached at the Sunday evening service at Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.

Afterward, I had the pleasure of speaking at the open-air in Kilskeery that evening.

It was lovely to have the weather to get outside to speak to our neighbours.

Please ignore my singing at the start   – it was unavoidable.

We wanted you to hear all of the brief witness.

The Lord bless you.

Sincerely in Christ’s name, Ivan Foster.

Sunday Evening Service:


Open air meeting:


Posted on 2022-07-18 a 7:01 pm


The beginning of sorrows, Part 1

If like me you use Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar, then you will see that Matthew 24 is part of the schedule for today.

My reading again of this portion brought me much joy and prompted me to consider the words in verse 8: “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

As is my habit, I was prompted to start making a few notes and this developed into the following study which I hope to continue on a weekly basis.

I can but pray that the Lord is pleased to bless it to your comfort, edification, joy and spiritual benefit.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


Jews praying at the ‘Western Wall, the ‘Wailing Wall’, in Jerusalem.

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS, Part 1

“All these are the beginning of sorrows,” Matthew 24:8.

Thoughts arising from my reading of this chapter as part of my daily reading today and which are the first section of a brief study of Mathew 24:1-31.

I hope to continue the study on a weekly basis.

Like so many of God’s people throughout the ages since Matthew recorded these words, I have delighted in this chapter. Yet, it is a chapter which all too many have misunderstood and made the basis of false notions. The lack of clarity of the Word of God is not to be blamed for this nor would we be correct in concluding that such error arises because God’s Word is hard to be understood. It is our foolish tendency to jump to conclusions without due consideration that causes misunderstanding and folly. The ‘golden rule’ of Scriptural interpretation is “rightly dividing the word of truth”. That is, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” 1 Corinthians 2:13. Thus we will be led to an understanding of ‘the mind of the Lord,’ 1 Corinthians 2:16.

I have ever rejoiced at the Saviour’s readiness to answer the questions of His disciples. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you,” Matthew 24:3-4.

Please note:

1. These questions arose from the Saviour’s troubling disclosure.

“And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down,” Matthew 24:2. Men have ever loved the OUTWARD symbols of religion. Even among true Bible believers the outward may take the place of that of which it merely is a witness. In this case the temple with its beauty, had become more important than the ONE Who was to be worshipped there! Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-14 a 6:35 pm


One thing Boris did not say

Outgoing PM Boris Johnson

While listening to the unfolding of events in London today, with Boris Johnston resigning his post as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister in humiliation and ignominy, I was reminded of the wonderful old text of God’s Word.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,”Galatians 6:7.

I noticed that he described the system of politics here as ‘Darwinian’ and that it would continue and provide leadership for the nation.

If only he realised how ironically true his words are. ‘Darwinianism’ is another name for the false notion of ‘evolution’, which claims that things are improving and getting better. The opposite is the case of course, as the testimony of every graveyard declares.

Boris will be followed by one who will prove and even greater failure.

So says the Word of God.

“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,”2 Timothy 3:13.

As a result of the turmoil in London, we in Northern Ireland now have a new Secretary of State, Shailesh Vara. He is a Hindu!!! Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-07 a 10:28 pm


Mired in the muck of perversity

A ‘New Step’ – DOWNWARD!!!

Further evidence of the DUP’s pandering to that cursed of God!

The headline below, which  appeared in the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ of 5th July, was drawn to my attention late last evening.

The article that it adorns illustrates afresh the slide of the DUP away from God’s Word and into the depths of wicked defiance of God.

The movement represented by the initialism, LGBTQ+, is a concoction of moral corruption and deviance, the members of which openly and unashamedly debase themselves by flaunting their spiritual delinquency and in consequence are defined by the Lord as ‘given up’ and given “over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient (fitting).” They are called ‘haters of God’, (Romans 1:26, 28, 30).

Such degenerates the DUP is prepared to more and more embrace and endorse their evil campaign of debauched rebellion.

Now there are those in the DUP who do not agree with such associations. Of this I have no doubt. But when the party leader wholeheartedly welcomes and encourages such an evil alliance, then it has to be said such is the ‘established’ policy of the party and all who are in membership are tainted with this wickedness before God.

It is a Biblical truth that those who remain within a corrupt and evil organisation become guilty before God of the crimes of those with whom they company and will share in the judgment that must follow. Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-06 a 7:35 pm


LGBT figures lobby for clamp down

LGBT figures lobby for clamp down on anti-gay preaching after charges dismissed in two prosecutions

LGBT figures have called for a clamp down on street preaching against homosexuality – after a Banbridge man was acquitted of criminal charges twice in one week.

So began an article by reporter Philip Bradfield in which the “News Letter” invited a number of LGBT stakeholders to respond to the above developments..

It’s opening paragraph reads:

“Banbridge man Ryan Williamson, 44, was arrested in Larne and Dundalk last August and September respectively after preaching against homosexuality and was charged with public order offences. However his defence lawyers successfully defended him from all charges on 27 and 22 June respectively, citing his European Convention Human Rights of freedom of expression and association. Two associates, Sean Paul Tully and Robert Ervine, were also arrested and cleared in Dundalk.

In the same week, the outgoing Presbyterian Moderator told that “we will not rewrite” the Bible on issues such as same sex marriage and transgenderism.”

NI street preachers, from left to right, Sean Paul Tully, Ryan Williamson, and Robert Ervine.
All three were arrested by Garda in Dundalk in September after preaching against homosexuality.
All charges against them were dismissed last month.


The report states:

Aisling Play of the ‘Rainbow Project’ says: “The Rainbow Project has raised concerns around the impact on LGBTQIA+ people and their families around the ongoing homophobia, biphobia and transphobia being shared by street preachers in Belfast city centre,” she said. Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-04 a 7:16 pm


The short-term and eternal future of sodomites

“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly,” Genesis 13:13 — “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.

Regent Street in London bedecked with ‘Gay Pride’ flags for the first time in history and paid for by the Crown Estate. It has commissioned 100 Pride flags to hang above the street to mark ‘London Gay Pride’ parade this weekend! The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, created by Act of Parliament. The Crown Estate belongs to the reigning monarch ‘in right of The Crown’, that is, it is owned by the monarch for the duration of their reign, by virtue of their accession to the throne. 


A PICTURE OF THIS PRESENT TODAY

The verse: “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly,” Genesis 13:13, pictures for us the state of this wicked rebellion today in our land. Sodomy was always a perversion found amongst the pagan nations of the world and the reprobate elements amongst those professing faith in the true God. That is seen in that the Lord had to warn His people to avoid utterly such a sin. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination,” Leviticus 18:22.  The Lord adds the final warning about all the abominations He had strongly censured in the foregoing verses. “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) that the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people,” Leviticus 18:24-29.

The word that the Lord uses regarding His reaction to such sins: ‘vomiteth’, verse 25 and ‘spue & spued’, verse 28, is a clear indication that the Lord cannot tolerate such behaviour. In His mercy, He is longsuffering today as He was in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:3). Peter refers to God’s longsuffering in 1 Peter 3:20. “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-01 a 5:52 pm


The blinded mind of the sodomite

This is the concluding sentence of a letter which has appeared in today’s (1/7/22) ‘Belfast Newsletter’. It is from a sodomite member of the Ulster Unionist Party, who signs his name, ‘Michael Palmer’.

“I appeal to the DUP leadership to consider allowing its members who are supportive of the LGBT community to attend Belfast Pride. The future of unionism and the union hinges upon LGBT support.”

That there are LGBT supporting members of the DUP may be seen in the endorsing of one who openly acknowledged her perversion as a candidate in the last local council election back in 2019 and who presently sits as a member of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. She is Alison Bennington who became the DUP’s first openly ‘gay’ candidate to be elected when she won one of 14 DUP seats on that Council.

But there are many other ‘supporters’ of the LGBT  perversions in the DUP as subsequent events and photographs of rejoicing DUP members at her election showed.

Robbie Butler MLA, is the Deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. He is a professing Christian and has links to the Elim Pentecostal Church.

He is but one of the many who profess allegiance to Christ, in the UUP and the DUP, but who can remain silently in a ‘sodomite endorsing’ organisation! Click to read more…

Posted on 2022-07-01 a 5:43 pm