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Recently Preached Sermons
PATRICK - A true servant of Christpreached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Mar 15, 2022
The future for God's people revealed
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Feb 20, 2022
The mystery of God's wise providence
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Feb 20, 2022
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Catching the soul with the Gospel lurepreached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jun 27, 2004
Rejoicing that our names are written down in God's register
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Jun 27, 2004
Perils fueling our prayer life
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Wed Jan 8, 2014
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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here
How we need to recognise our unbelief!
“For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home,” John 20:9-10.
I read those verses this morning as part of my daily Bible reading. As ever, I discovered out of its “treasure things new and old,” Matthew 13:52.
It is always comes as a rebuke to my soul when I see something that I never saw before for I should have seen it were not my eyes so blind!
How when we read our Bibles we need to pray as did David: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,” Psalm 119:18. We may have such a text as this framed and hung on our wall but how we need to continually pray these words when we read God’s Word, for our eyes are by nature shut tight and blind to the wonders of God’s Word.
Returning to John 20, verses 9 and 10,
1. WE ARE REMINDED THAT SUCH BLINDNESS OF MIND IS COMMON TO MEN.
That John and Peter should not understand the significance of the empty tomb is most amazing, considering their times of instruction under the Lord’s tutelage. Yet let us learn the lesson that even the greatest of God’s servants, no matter how well instructed they may be, oftentimes fail to grasp the truth of God. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-30 a 5:35 pm
Recognizing and reacting to the evil of the times
“The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month,”
Jeremiah 1:1-3.
Yesterday, after the morning service, I felt moved to write this article, based upon a sermon I preached some years ago.
Earlier in the morning, in my Bible reading, I read from Philippians 1:17 the words of Paul: “I am set for the defence of the gospel.” It is a very long time ago I adopted those words as my own motto text.
I think I may correctly illustrate the word ’set’ by reminding you all that it is a word which was, and likely is still used, of plates and cups being ‘set’ on a table in preparation for a meal.
It is the same word as is used in Luke 2:16. “And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.” There it is translated by the English word ‘lying’. The Lord Jesus was ’set’ by the Father there in manger to begin His work as Redeemer and Deliverer of His elect.
Likewise Paul was appointed of the Lord to take up this defensive role as a preacher. I believe that it is the duty of all preachers to likewise see themselves as being ’set’ by the Lord in preparation for just such a function.
May you find the article beneficial and instructive.
Sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Ivan Foster.
I have heard it taught that the people of God can never know of the approach of Christ or the circumstances that will prevail at the end of this age. That is an unscriptural statement that flies in the face of God’s Word. “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand,” Revelation 1:1-3. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-28 a 4:05 am
Report from Northern Ireland missionaries in Ukraine
This report of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland’s witness in Odessa, Ukraine, was shared with me by a friend of the ‘Burning Bush’ and I thought that I would share it with you all as it may help you get a perspective of the gospel witness in that troubled land and aid you as you remember the saints of God there in prayer.
Odessa is particularly under great pressure from the Russian invaders so keep the believers in that city particularly in your prayers. Remember too, Mr and Mrs Timothy Sloan who are Brethren Missionaries serving the Lord in Lutsk since 2004.
NI missionaries in Ukrainian city report panic as explosions threaten Gospel hall
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ,” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.
Sincerely in the Saviour’s name,
Ivan Foster.
EASTERN EUROPE MISSION REPORT 2020
Rev D Levytskyi
(Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Odessa witness)
ANOTHER year has come to an end and it is time to give a summary of the mission work done in the past year. The situation in Ukraine for any unprejudiced observer would seem to be better since the previous year.
However, there are things that have not changed for the better, but in the good providence of the Most High the Eastern Europe Mission of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland is still present on Ukrainian soil and works from its Mission here in Odessa. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-24 a 3:57 pm
News Letter marks 50th anniversary of attack on its office building that claimed seven lives
The article below appeared in this morning’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’.
It evoked sad memories for me and moved me to send the following letter to the newspaper.
Sir,
Your leading article today (21.3.22), recalling the IRA bomb which murdered seven people, including two policemen, outside the offices of your newspaper back in March 1972, brings back many sad memories of those horrific times.
To think that the political ‘heirs’ of the perpetrators of that crime and hundreds like it, now sit as dictators in Stormont as the result of the despicable and treacherous political deal agreed to between the DUP and Sinn Fein/IRA back in 2007, still vexes and grieves me and is very hard to bear when such memories are evoked!
What a betrayal of the many, many innocent victims of IRA terrorism that ‘power-sharing’ deal was. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-21 a 5:20 pm
The final settlement of the middle-east controversy
On Lord’s Day 20th March, 2022, Mr Matthew Eccles, a licentiate minister of the Free Presbyterian Church, was the preacher at the services in Kilskeery church. In the morning service, he took as his text Genesis 15:8. “And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” This was the request of Abram of God following the giving of a most wonderful promise to him.
Mr Eccles preached a very encouraging and instructive message from his text on how we need confirmation of God’s covenant and where such confirmations and endorsements are to be found.
When he turned the congregation to his text in Genesis 15, I noted that I had the numbers 4, 5, 6 written in the margin of chapter 15 and encircled. They were beside the verses 5, 7 and 18.
Following the service, when I returned home I traced the other numbers, one through to four and also number seven, which was in the margin of chapter 17, and saw that all the verses are linked to the clear promise of God to Abram, later called Abraham, and to his descendants.
I am going to list the verses I had so marked for your consideration.
1. “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee,” Genesis 12:1. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-21 a 3:03 am
Perversity at its highest
Would not the world think it utter madness were the people of Ukraine to begin to agitate for union with Russia in the wake of the horrendous campaign of slaughter that Putin’s Russia has carried out for the last three weeks against that country, resulting in the slaughter of innumerable men, women and children in their homes and as they sought to flee the butchery?
Yes it undoubtedly would, asking the question ‘Why are they seeking union with those who are bent on their destruction?’
Well, may it not be asked with equally justifiable incredulity why Ulster Protestantism is seeking union with Rome, as its three main denominations daily are doing with little or no protest from their members, while from our newspapers the voice of Rome’s latest victims cry out in distress and tell of what they suffered at the hands of this vile system of corruption?
That is the enigma created by the ‘Ecumenical Movement’ and its drive to reunite the ‘Churches of the Reformation’ with that religious organisation which was uniformly seen by the Reformers and those who followed in their footsteps as an Antichristian religion!
Here is the latest of hundreds of reports which have appeared in our press of late, all of which testified to the corruption found within Rome and which corruption was denied and concealed by it until forced to offer what can only be seen as false and counterfeit apologies! Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-18 a 5:01 pm
Lessons in TRUTH from the mire of LIES that is the Russian/Ukrainian conflict!
The harrowing reports emerging of the conflict in Ukraine prompted this article. I believe it contains a truth that ever so many need to consider and that urgently.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster.
Lessons in TRUTH from the mire of LIES that is the Russian/Ukrainian conflict!
“ . . . no lie is of the truth,” 1 John 2:21.
Daily our newspapers and television news broadcasts set before us abundant and graphic evidence of man’s unchanging depravity. Men have piously and pompously proclaimed the ‘death’ of war and despotism. Invariably, it has followed the end of great conflicts. It happened after WWI and also WWII.
However, evidence of the foolishness of such notions was soon forthcoming with the advent of the Korean and the Vietnam wars, not to mention the many forgotten conflicts that have plagued nations in subsequent years.
The religions of mankind have this one common theme, whatever other superficial differences may be evident. It is this: man is an evolving creature, ever improving and growing better!
The lie to which such a notion is largely due, is found in the writings and theories of Charles Darwin, though many, many others share in the ignominy that one day will be seen as being attached to this rejection of God’s truth. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-18 a 1:59 am
The footsteps of Patrick
The Gospel of Christ came to Ireland over 1500 years ago. Despite many attempts by Satan and his agents God has been pleased to maintain His truth in this land. Following its first planting the Gospel was carried by men whose hearts the Lord had touched into many neighbouring countries: Scotland, England, Wales, France, Germany, Switzerland and further.
God has been pleased, in some measure, to do again in these latter days what He did in those distant days. May the land, now associated with terror and strife, become known again by the title it was then given, “The land of Saints and Scholars.”
The history of the Gospel in Ireland begins, to a very real degree, with the story of Patrick.
There is much written about Patrick that is entirely fictitious. We can, however, be reasonably sure concerning his faith in Christ and the doctrines that he preached.
There exist today two of his writings accepted by all scholars. One is his Confession. From his Confession we learn that his father was a deacon, the son of Potitus, a gospel minister. Where Patrick was actually born is something of a mystery. England, Scotland, Wales and even France all claim to be the place of his birth. In his Confession he tells us that he came from a village called Bonavem Taberniae. Where that village was is difficult now to say. It would appear that the most likely place was somewhere in Roman Britain. Very possibly he came from a place now called Kilpatrick, that is, the ‘Church of Patrick’, near Dumbarten in the Firth of Clyde, in Scotland.
Read more … The Footsteps of Patrick
See also:
Patrick the Apostle of Ireland
Ireland before the seventeenth century plantation
Posted on 2022-03-16 a 12:01 am
Prosecution of open air preacher
This is an article which we copied from the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ of today. It should concern every lover of truth and freedom of speech!
I fear that the police have acted upon a complaint which has no basis in law, and they are now determined to prosecute this preacher on the grounds of the evidence of police witnesses alone.
I recall a policeman who gave false evidence against me in such a blatant manner that the magistrate trying the case intervened and told him to leave the witness stand in terms which made it evident what he thought of the policeman’s testimony. Close cross-questioning by Mr Jim Allister QC, my defence barrister that day, exposed the duplicity and stupidity of the policeman!
I do not know the preacher that is facing prosecution nor his theology, but I believe that he does have a right in this land to speak in an unabusive manner what it is he believes.
That right has been hard-won by our brave forefathers and mothers.
Undoubtedly, there are those amongst the LGBT lobby, who hate what the Bible has to say about their perverted lifestyle and equally hate any who proclaim that truth. They are all too ready to claim that the ‘truth of God’ is offensive to them and that it abuses them! Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-15 a 10:06 pm
PATRICK -- a true servant of Christ
We moved from our planned subject this morning and turned our attention to the upcoming ‘St Patrick’s Day’, as it is termed.
It has always vexed me that a man sent of God to this land to preach the gospel has been wickedly misrepresented in the message he preached and the witness he established. Patrick tell us in his ‘Confession’ that he placed ‘elders’ or ‘bishops’, terms that are interchangeable in the Bible, in every congregation that was formed under his preaching. This practice is utterly contrary to ‘Episcopalianism’ with its ‘diocesan bishops’, one bishop per diocese, made up of a number of congregations.
Rather, his was the simple practice of Biblical Presbyterianism which, in turn, followed the New Testament model.
I trust that you find the message helpful.
Sincerely in the Saviour’s name,
Ivan Foster.
Read sermon notes here
Posted on 2022-03-15 a 9:38 pm
Compensation sought by victims of abuse
I have sought to respond to the spectacle of yesterday’s bogus apologies to the victims of abuse.
Apologies were required but they had to be linked to an outright condemnation of that organisation to blame for the majority of instances of abuse — Romanism!
I found it vexing that no such condemnation was heard but rather the whole exercise was a deception with the clear suggestion that such events were aberrations and not, as history shows, the norm for Popery!
I trust that the following may be a help to those who would know what the Lord has to say about these dreadful events!
Sincerely in our Saviour’s name,
Ivan Foster.
COMPENSATION SOUGHT BY VICTIMS OF ABUSE
Here are the opening words from an article in yesterday’s ‘Guardian’ newspaper. The article was sent to me by a friend. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-12 a 6:44 pm
Former Russian minister . . . 'Don't be afraid of Putin'
This article appeared on the ‘Fox News’ website.
I thought I would share it with you since it supports the view that I expressed in a recent article – a letter we sent to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’.
Sadly, this Russian former government minister will not be heeded because this is a day in which there is no knowledge of God or the support that He gives to those who, like David of old, respond courageously to the defiance of the bully.
Sincerely in Christ’s worthy name,
Ivan Foster.
Former Russian minister says Putin is ‘rational,’ West shouldn’t ‘limit Ukraine support over nuclear fear’
Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev speaks at a news conference in front of a portrait of the Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmed al-Sabah
October 14. Andrei Kozyrev served as Russia’s foreign minister between 1991 and 1996.
A former Russian foreign minister insisted that Vladimir Putin would not use nuclear weapons and the West should not limit its actions or support for Ukraine over fear he would do so. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-09 a 7:59 pm
Ukraine crisis
I am sharing this letter which I submitted yesterday to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ and the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ with you. It has appeared in this morning’s ’Newsletter’.
Sincerely,
Ivan Foster
Sir,
What amazes me in the ongoing Ukraine crisis is that some ‘strong’ NATO leader has not responded to Putin’s threats of nuclear war against any who break his ‘rules of war’ and aid Ukraine, by telling him that we have ‘nuclear weapons’ also!
Such a reminder would prove more productive than the present patchy, selective sanctions.
I think I did see that the French said something to that effect but it was not repeated.
If it is thought that such a reminder would only provoke Putin to launch a nuclear attack, I believe that there are in Russia those in positions of power that would recognise the vulnerability of their own land to a retaliatory attack and who would act so as to prevent Putin moving in such a self-destructive direction.
Is this not what President John Kennedy did during the ‘Cuban Missile Crisis’ of 1962? Did he not threaten to act against Russia’s aggression back then and forced Russia to back down? Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-08 a 6:30 pm
How should we refer to the Saviour?
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:9-11.
I feel at times that the Saviour is referred to, spoken of, even in some pulpits, in a fashion that is too careless and casual. Indeed, there is even an adopting of the unbecoming style of address that is frequently heard from the ‘tele-evangelists’ and those that would wish to sound like them!
Yes, “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins,” Matthew 1:21, but we must never forget He is the Lord of glory and not to address Him or refer to Him as make it appear He is a mere man!
I believe that in an attempt to display the Saviour as very ‘approachable and accessible’ and not some person ‘shrouded in mystery’ we are in great danger of robbing Him of His honour and majesty in an attempt at unwise ‘congeniality’!
That must never be! Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-07 a 10:35 pm
Anti-abortion Comment
This an ‘Editorial Comment’ in today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’.
It is well worth reading and endorsing.
Sincerely in the cause of TRUTH, Ivan Foster.
Protests should be allowed outside abortion clinics in Northern Ireland
News Letter editorial of Thursday March 3th 2022.
It is only a small number of years ago that there was a push to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland in cases of what was called ‘fatal foetal abnormalities’.
Supporters of that plan almost invariably presented it as a limited and necessary compassionate reform.
Barely any Stormont politicians admitted to support for abortion on demand.
Yet now, after hysterical claims in London and Belfast about local political resistance to liberalising of the law around terminations in the Province, including bogus legal and moral claims that protecting the right of the foetus was an attack on the rights of women, we do indeed have abortion on demand. Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-03 a 6:00 pm
The TRUTH INDEED will out!
The following is taken from the official Stormont Assembly Hansard report of Monday 21st February 2022.
Various Assembly members spoke on the subject of the sudden death of Mr Christopher Stalford. MLA.
Scroll down to almost the end of this report for the comments I refer to.
I was interested in the statement made by Mr Easton, who was a DUP member until last year and now sits as an Independent Unionist. The link to his statement was sent to me by a friend.
Here is what Mr Easton said. I will highlight those parts that I would like Christians to particularly note.
“I wish to pass on my deepest condolences to Laura and the four children and to the Democratic Unionist Party. Christopher was born to be a politician. All of us knew how passionate he was about South Belfast and the people whom he represented. He was a wonderful individual. He had a mischievous side to him as well, which I will touch on in a wee second. He was articulate, intelligent, humorous and loyal to the DUP, his friends, the Orange Order and Ulster. He was a loyal Ulsterman. He also had his faith, which was very important to him.
I knew Christopher for over 20 years. When Peter Weir joined the DUP, I came to know Christopher, because he worked for Peter in the office. One side to Christopher that you maybe did not see was his mischievous side. One day when we were out canvassing for Peter for the 2003 Assembly election, it was pouring with rain, and Christopher and I had been left to cover an area on our own. Christopher turned round to me and said, ‘Stuff this. Let’s go and get a pint of Guinness’, so we went and got a pint of Guinness and put the world to rights. Unfortunately, Peter, that happened a few times, so I apologise to you. [Laughter.] Christopher was a wonderful character and an eccentric. He was somebody who, if you were walking past his room, would have called you in, sat you down and chatted away to you. He was a wonderful man, and we will all really miss him. For me, the most important thing to remember about Christopher is that he had his Christian faith. That is why I know, with some comfort, that one day I will meet him again.” Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-01 a 4:16 pm
PUTIN - a portrait of the Antichrist!
“And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God:
KNOWEST THOU NOT YET THAT EGYPT IS DESTROYED?”
Exodus 10:7.
I thought of the above text as I contemplated what, I believe, will be the final outcome of Vladimir Putin’s wicked and cruel attack upon Ukraine. Pride, obstinacy and greed blind men to the inevitable consequences of their folly. So it was with Pharaoh in the days before his destruction under God’s judgment at the Red Sea. His foolish heart still anticipated a destroying of Israel as he pursued God’s people into the miraculously open Red Sea. But the way of escape for the Hebrews was the way of destruction for the Egyptians!
“And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them,” Exodus 14:27-28.
The latest estimates of Putin’s mental processes go so far as to suggest he is paranoid! It is reported that he has put Russian nuclear deterrent forces on high alert as the furious leader hits out at the West. As one headline puts it: “Fears ‘paranoid’ Putin has lost his mind as leader limits contact to inner circle”. Anyone with a knowledge of the history of the close of WW II, will know that is how Hitler ended his days — in his bunker in Berlin! Things are just not going as the tyrant planned. He has even entered ‘peace talks’ with Ukraine. That is not a sign that he is any longer confident of victory! Click to read more…
Posted on 2022-03-01 a 12:01 pm