Rearing and educating children

Rearing and educating children

The content of this booklet, printed by the same kind Christians who published the booklet, “Sacred Memories of God’s Goodness” is a synopsis of a sermon Rev. Ivan Foster preached in Faith Free Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina, USA, on 28th October 1993.

“For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not,” 1 Samuel 3:13.

Copies of this booklet are free. Please contact: Rev. Ivan Foster, 17 Old Junction Road, Kilskeery, Co. Tyrone, BT78 3RN.

Should anyone wish to make a donation to help cover the cost of printing they may forward it to the above address and it will be acknowledged and passed on to those responsible for the printing of the booklet.

February 2020

Audio sermons


KICS assembly talks. Current series: “Bright and shining lights in the Bible”

  • Part 19, Part 20, Part 21
  • See all the talks in this series here.
  • Download a zip file of all the recent studies in the Parables here.
  • See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

Featured series on the Book of Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Part 14- After conversion, What then? Pt1 Part 15- After conversion, What then? Pt2 Part 16- After conversion, What then? Pt3 Part 17- After conversion, What then? Pt4

(See all the messages in the series here)


Other Messages

An ongoing universal conflict involving all but a few! A message preached by Rev. Ivan Foster in Walsham Le Willows e Evangelical Congregational Church, January 26th, 2020.

The testimony of Enoch A message preached by Rev. Foster at the SGAT meeting on January 24th, 2020.

Christ's message to the Church at Pergamos A message preached by Rev. David Creane in Kilskeery FPC, February 16th, 2020.

Funeral service for Mrs. W. Gallagher, held in Kilskeery FPC, February 18th, 2020.

 

A History of Ireland as It Relates to the Ulster Scots

Three programmes on this subject wereprepared by Rev. Foster and originally broadcast on Pastor Ralph Ovadal’s radio programme, ‘Heart of the Matter’ on 14th, 21st and 28th April 2014.

The three broadcasts are entitled:

1. From Patrick to the Rebellion of 1641.
2. From the Commonwealth through the 19th Century.
3. From Home Rule Rejected to Terrorists in Government.

Click here to listen.


Date decided for first ever Fermangah Pride event: Letter of protest from Rev. Foster

In last week’s edition of our local weekly newspaper, “The Impartial Reporter” – a misnomer if there was one – an article appeared carrying the title above.

The article disclosed that a group of local sodomites and most likely some not so local, had announced that:

A date has now been set for a Pride festival to take place in Enniskillen this summer, with planning underway for an event which will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community of this area and beyond. Originally called ‘Enniskillen Pride’ the festival has recently been renamed ‘Fermanagh Pride’ and is due to take place in the county town on Saturday, August 8.”

In response to this distressing disclosure I sent the following letter to the Editor. Please pray that it may be published and touch the hearts of Christians and stir them to pray against this event that the Lord might intervene according to His will. Read more


If not, what then?? A consideration of the same-sex marriage debate

Of late, there have been some reports in the newspapers of the concerns Christians have regarding the Government’s regulations regarding ‘same-sex weddings’!

‘The Christian Institute’ has raised the issue regarding the situation in Northern Ireland. It reported back in January ’02 that: “Public order law will be amended to underline that criticism of same-sex marriage is not an offence. He (former Secretary of State for NI, Julian Smith) also said that equality law is being amended so that religious bodies and staff cannot be sued for declining to take part in a blessing or other event marking a civil same-sex wedding. Changes will also protect the ability of religious organisations to dismiss a staff member who enters a same-sex marriage if that is incompatible with the organisation’s values. The Secretary of State says he is also in discussion with Northern Irish equalities bodies about guidance for employers and schools to make clear that beliefs and opinions about marriage should be respected.” (See here)

It is right that Christians oppose the introduction of wicked laws which openly and flagrantly breach God’s Law. It is also right that when Governments press ahead, as they invariably do, with the introduction of such laws, that Christians demand freedom to be exempt from them. Read more


Murder doesn’t suddenly become legitimate simply because one-fifth of the electorate turns a blind eye

Malachi O’Doherty, Belfast Telegraph February 11th, 2020.

The killing of Paul Quinn asks entirely reasonable questions of Sinn Fein’s fitness to govern, argues Malachi O’Doherty

Sinn Fein supporters are in cheery form this week because of their astonishing performance in the southern election. And some of them are in smug form, too, delighted by the failure of what they saw as a strategy to damage the party.

That is how they represent the discussion last week about the murder of Paul Quinn and the Finance Minister Conor Murphy’s past maligning of him as a criminal.

Even on Monday, callers to the Nolan Show (the biggest programme in the province) accused Stephen of trying and failing to influence an election by interviewing the bereaved parents of Paul Quinn on his radio and television shows. This annoyed them, yet it had no apparent impact on the result. Read more


Free speech defended by court: Police probe into ‘transphobic’ tweets unlawful

The police response to an ex-officer’s allegedly transphobic tweets was unlawful, the High Court has ruled. Harry Miller was visited by Humberside Police at work in January last year after a complaint about his tweets.

He was told he had not committed a crime, but it would be recorded as a non-crime “hate incident”.  The court found the force’s actions were a “disproportionate interference” with his right to freedom of expression.

Officers visited Mr Miller’s workplace and then spoke with him on the phone, and he was left with the impression “that he might be prosecuted if he continued to tweet”, according to a judge.

Speaking after the ruling, Mr Miller, from Lincolnshire, said: “This is a watershed moment for liberty – the police were wrong to visit my workplace, wrong to ‘check my thinking’.”

His solicitor Paul Conrathe added: “It is a strong warning to local police forces not to interfere with people’s free speech rights on matters of significant controversy.” Read more


A follow-up article on the Ballymoney protest

The following article is by Mr Luke Barker and is a follow-up to the report of his protest in Ballymoney on Friday 7th February and which was circulated earlier.

This follow-up has been made necessary by the false reports that have maliciously been spread around.

Surely it says ill of those whose cause must be defended by falsehoods. This vividly reminds me of the reaction to Free Presbyterian protests against ecumenical Presbyterianism, Episcopalianism and Methodistism back in the ‘60s and ‘70s!

It makes sad reading to hear of members of Presbytery sneering at Mr Barker and his placard!

Sadder still is the fact that his experiences in Ballymoney mirrored at least to some degree what was encountered years ago when the battle was brought to the doors of the ecumenical apostasy.

I am encouraged to hear of those ministers and elders who openly congratulated Mr Barker. This bodes well for the future. Read more


A Tribute to Mrs Winifred Gallagher

By Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd), her minister for some 41 years.

Mrs. Gallagher was born on 22nd April 1928. She was close to 92 years old when she was called home on Lord’s Day morning past. She was born in the townland of Drumgowna near Ederny in Co Fermanagh. The family moved to Stranahone, Lack and shortly after to Aghadorra, Dromore in Co Tyrone.

She sought the Lord at an Irish Evangelistic Band gospel mission in Shaneragh Hall, near Dromore, on 7th February 1952. The preachers were Mr Willie Moore and Mr Harold Purvis.

Shortly after, she felt the call of God into full-time service and responded and entered Emmanuel Bible College in Birkenhead. After training there she joined the Faith Mission where she served the Lord for some ten years. During her time of missioning she laboured mainly around Cork in the Republic of Ireland and in Co. Antrim up here in Northern Ireland. Read more

Listen to a recording of the full service here.


A flood of judgement

This weekend has seen some very sad events in Wales, Scotland and England with many hundreds of home and business premises flooded under deep water and damage sustained from very high winds as the storm, ‘Dennis’ swept in.

We here in Northern Ireland have been greatly spared to a very great degree.

Christians are reminded of a solemn truth by the words of the Saviour in Luke 13:1-5.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Read more


The message of God since the world began

“And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began,” Luke 1:69-70.

“Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began,” Acts 3:21.

This morning I read Luke 1:39-80 as part of my daily reading. I follow ‘Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar’, which I highly commend to all my readers.
When I read the verse 70, I recalled that Peter used similar words to those spoken here by Zacharias the father of John the Baptist. He was speaking under the direct inspiration of the Holy Ghost, verse 67, as was Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

In these two verses you have the very heart, the essence, of the message of ALL the prophets.

Consider just some matters that arise from this truth.
1. The two advents of the Lord Jesus lie at the heart of the gospel message.
2. Both these truths have been known by the people of God since the dawn of time.
3. If we would have a truly Biblical ministry, then we must centre our preaching on these two vital truths. Read more


Email problems

I believe that some who were in receipt of our ‘Burning Bush Articles Email’ may not have received our emails of late. It would appear that their names have been ‘clipped’ from the BB group list as a result of a fault with my email application.

From my research online, it would appear such problems are not unknown.

If you requested your name to be put on our list and did receive emails for a time but they have ceased, please let me know and we will attempt to add your name once again to our list.

We apologise for any inconvenience but I think I can say that ‘it was beyond our control’.


Israel Folau given his livelihood back despite efforts of Bible haters – but at what price?

Many Christians will have saluted the stand taken by the Australian, Israel Folau, against sodomy last year and sympathised with him in the price he had to pay for his stand.

However, the latest development in the story will not be quite so welcomed by those who love the truth of God sincerely. Read this article from the ‘Protestant Revival’ to learn the details.Ivan Foster.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

The enemies of God came out in force last year to make sure that a man widely considered one of the greatest rugby players in the world, Israel Folau, would lose his job simply for taking a stand for God.

Israel Folau was seen as the star of the Australian rugby union international side which was preparing for last autumn’s World Cup and a major star in the Australian league.

Read more on the Protestant Revival website


Vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked

“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; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 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;) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished,” 2 Peter 2:4-9.

I was made to think once more of the words of Peter regarding Lot. “Just (righteous) Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked.” That which brought these words before me were some of the headlines on the BBC News sites. They read:

  • “I don’t remember not wanting to wear dresses” (These were the words of a ‘man’!
  • “Same-sex marriage: Couple ‘excited but nervous’ to become first in NI”
  • “Phillip Schofield announcement: How it feels when your partner comes out as gay”
  • “What it’s like when your parent comes out as LGBT” Read more

DUP and Leo Varadkar have helped to sanitise Sinn Fein and propel them to victory in Dublin, says Jim Allister

Published by Belfast Newsletter: 06:00 Monday 10 February 2020

Unionists have reacted to Sinn Fein’s success, with the TUV attacking those who “sanitised” the republican party and the UUP describing the result as indicating “interesting times.”

Jim Allister QC MLA said “In the Republic’s election Leo Varadkar is reaping what he sowed. By insisting Sinn Fein was fit for government in Northern Ireland, and must be included, he validated and sanitised the party of the IRA.”

The TUV leader added: “Likewise, by the DUP making Sinn Féin’s elevation into Stormont government possible, they short-sightedly endorsed them as a party fit for government. Read more


Protest outside Free Presbyterian Presbytery meeting in Ballymoney church, Friday 7th February 2020.

The following account of the protest and the leaflet distributed were sent to me by Mr Luke Barker, the one who mounted the protest.

Mr Barker is a graduate of the Whitefield College of the Bible Missionary Course. He is a communicant member of a Free Presbyterian church and speaks frequently at Free Presbyterian meetings.

He recently took part in a protest in Armagh Anglican Cathedral led by Rev Daniel Henderson and accompanied by Rev Paul Hanna and Rev David Creane. (See here)

I have no doubt that Mr Barker’s protest will have aroused the hackles of some but I support him 100%! Read more… 

Matthew 18 and the public rebuke of sin

Below is an article by Rev Andy Foster, Penticton Free Presbyterian Church, which first appeared on his blog 7 years ago. It answers the the very wrong use of the verses 17 and 18 of Matthew 18 which so many opponents of the open and public rebuking of sin, required by the Lord and practised by His servants throughout the ages, love to quote against those who obey God and stand up for the ‘crown rights of King Jesus and the crown jewels of His gospel’! 

Doubtless there will be those who will seek to apply them erroneously against Luke Barker’s protest! – Rev Ivan Foster.

“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” (Matthew 18:15-17)
Very often the first response to any public witness against sin, or the public censure of a Christian who has sinned publicly, is an accusation that to make such a public denunciation is contrary to the Saviour’s teaching in this passage. Usually it is asserted that there cannot be a public censure of sin until private overtures have been made to the offender. This has the effect of diverting attention from the original error and focuses attention on the one trying to protest against it. But what does this passage teach? Is it addressing the matter of public sin at all? Read more


The Saviour praying in the garden of Gethsemane

Did He show ‘unwillingness’ to go to the cross?

There is a constant need to counter the terrible notion that Christ ‘baulked’ at the cross in the Garden of Gethsemane. Personally, I cannot understand that He Who ordained the sufferings of the cross as the means of the salvation of His elect, and that from all eternity, should seek to withdraw from its sufferings in Gethsemane!

Christ told His disciples repeatedly that He would suffer and die and rise again the third day. Are we to believe that for a time He Who is TRUTH contemplated breaking His Word?

I say that the very idea of this is shamefully wicked and wrong!

Here is an article I wrote back some five years ago. My reading of Mark 9:4 this morning and the cross reference in Luke 9:30-31, in which is the mention of Moses and Elijah speaking with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration of the Saviour’s death at the cross.

The word ‘accomplish’ highlights that they talked of the Saviour ‘fufilling’, ‘completing’ the task given Him of His Father in eternity! Neither Moses and Elijah saw any ‘baulking’ by the Saviour on the eve of His death at the cross. These verses served to reinforce my conviction on this matter.  Read more

Two important statements from Jim Allister MLA

Below are two important statements from Jim Allister MLA. The first is on the latest folly of the new Stormont Assembly, ‘Justice Minister’, Naomi Long and the second on the need for the ‘Minister of Finance’, Sinn Feiner, Paul Murphy, to resign after it is acknowledged that he lied about a statement he made following the murder by the IRA of Paul Quinn, a young Roman Catholic. Read more


‘Compassionate’ murder!!

A news item entitled, “Abortion: Health bodies want laws for ‘safe and compassionate’ care”, leads on the BBC Northern Ireland news site today. It features a call from a number of organisations, all of which labour under the public image of ‘caring’ organisations!

They are the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.

They are calling for abortion to be legalised up to six months of pregnancy. At six months an unborn baby, though premature, is utterly capable of survival.

Whoever these organisations are seeking to be ‘safe and compassionate’ toward, it is certainly not toward the baby they wish to slay! Pro-abortionists are demanding that the murder of these little ones be legalised! These abortionists declare: “This system will not only safeguard women’s rights, but will also facilitate our members to provide high quality care to women in NI.” What hypocrisy! ‘Safeguard women’s rights’, ‘high quality care to women in NI’! The price of this ‘kindness is the murder of the unborn! Read more


The reaping day begins for the DUP

The report below, in the Belfast Newsletter of February 3rd, signals the beginning of a reaping of the duplicity of the DUP with regards its promotion of the ‘Renewable Heat Incentive’ (RHI) which it abandoned, along with those who were persuaded by the promises issued to potential customers who invested heavily in order to avail of the benefits of the scheme. The DUP dumped the scheme in order to placate Sinn Fein and gain its agreement to re-enter power-sharing and so get the Stormont Assembly up and running again and Mrs Foster back in as First Minister!

As is so often the case, the people who really suffer are those who believed the politicians, who generally are only striving after their own advancement. It has already been repeatedly reported in the press that senior DUP staff members benefitted from the scheme. Read more


The blind folly of an ever more vocal minority

Here is a ‘screenshot’ of a headline posted on Thursday January 16th, 2020, on the BBC Northern Ireland news site.

The words of the headline are those of a person claiming to be a ‘woman’ but who was born a male and is therefore still a male, irrespective of the unnatural claim made or the government laws endorsing such claims or the ranting of the many pervert-supporting lobbyists active everywhere!

In a most ironic fashion this headline is true. ‘Transgenderism’ is a lifestyle which most certainly leads to a dead end! Nothing, humanly speaking, can come of it. Read more


Evil ‘christianised’!!

As I return from a trip to England, where I had a preaching engagement or two, I was sent a link to the article below along with a picture of the first part of the story. The picture ‘explains’ the nature of the story!!

The very headline is offensive enough but this is the theme of a “remarkable (disgusting) story . . . revealed in a talk given at a public meeting in Belfast Bible College, which was streamed online.” So says the report in the Belfast newsletter of today – with the exception of the word in brackets which I added!!

It is supposed to be a tale of the distress caused by the vileness of ‘transgenderism’ but instead it turns into nothing more than an ‘explaining away’ of this depravity! Nowhere is there a word of Biblical denunciation of this wickedness or a mention of the hell to which it will bring those deceived by it!

That the narrator of this tale of perversion is a supposed pastor and it is evident from the report that he does not repudiate his ‘father’s’ perverted lifestyle but rather eulogises him, is a display of the state into which so-called ‘evangelicalism’ has sunk. It is to be noted that it was publicised and commended by the “Evangelical Alliance’ and took place in Belfast Bible College. Read more


The final sell-out of Ulster by Westminster

Below is an article taken from the “Belfast Newsletter” of February 1st, 2020.  It highlights the ineptitude of the DUP’s response to Boris Johnston’s betrayal of this part of the United Kingdom.
It also highlights the total absence of any spirit of fight or resistance within the DUP. Having linked itself up to rabid republicanism it is not likely that it will show any resistance to the accelerated drift towards a ‘united Ireland’, so much desired by the DUP’s stablemate, Sinn Fein.

Where do all this betrayal and double-dealing and political cowardice spring from? To answer that we must look for the source of our forefathers’ spirit of resistance to betrayal by London in their day. That source was Bible Protestantism! Read more


Free Presbyterian Protest disrupts service for (so called) Ecumenical Christian Unity in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh.

(A report compiled by Rev Paul Hanna, minister of Mt Merrion FPC, Thursday 23rd January 2020 )

‘Father’ Tony Currer (a Roman Catholic priest appointed by the Vatican to promote relations between mainstream Protestant denominations and the Roman Catholic church within the UK) was due to be the keynote preacher at an Ecumenical gathering held last night (Wednesday) in the Church of Ireland Cathedral in the ecclesiastical capitol of Ireland – Armagh City.  The ‘wrecked and derelict boat’ is a fitting symbol of the ‘Ecumenical Movement’ which is doomed to utter failure because it is not of God.

A group of Free Presbyterian ministers, who had been informed that the meeting was due to take place, had made their way to the Cathedral in order to stage a protest and voice their opposition and concern to the inclusion of a Roman Catholic priest due to take part in the service. Read more


Doomsday clock – WRONG

This little article was prompted by a headline I saw on the website of the American news agency – ‘USA Today’.

Once again, in his own foolish benighted manner, man was speculating on that which all mankind knows inherently, instinctively: This age will come to an end!
However, his knowledge of this truth has been greatly marred by the fall in Adam and consequently, he has engaged in all sorts of foolish speculations.
This article on the ‘USA Today’ website is an example of that.

I want to just set forth as few Bible truths on the matter for the comfort and instruction of Christians and as a warning to the unsaved, unprepared sinner.
The headline on “USA Today” website read: We’re closer to destruction than ever before: Doomsday clock reset to 100 seconds to midnight

As a headline it is both right and wrong. Read more


Protestors with scripture placards picket official launch of Mid Ulster Pride Parade

I am so pleased and thankful for the Free Presbyterian protest in Cookstown last night against the evil gathering of sodomites and its defenders in a hotel in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone. The following report from the Belfast Newsletter gives details of that protest. May the Lord be pleased to bless it as He did so wonderfully in past years,.

A protest organised by the Free Presbyterian churches of Mid Ulster outside the official launch of the Mid Ulster Pride Parade in Cookstown on Thursday night.
Published: 09:17 Friday 17 January 2020, Belfast Newsletter

Free Presbyterians last night protested outside a Cookstown hotel while inside the Mid Ulster Pride committee officially launched its parade and associated events.
Eighty Protestors with placards stood outside the Royal Hotel while inside a conference entitled ‘Blessed are the Queer’ was unveiled for April 1.

 It will feature two high-profile speakers from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Prof Laurence Kirkpatrick, a former lecturer at the church’s theological training college in Belfast, and Rev Cheryl Meban from Ulster University.

 Prof Kirkpatrick was sacked from Union Theological College Belfast last year over media comments on same-sex relationships, and his participation in the forthcoming conference is likely to cause debate within the church.scribe Today

 Free Presbyterian minister Rev Marcus Lecky from Coalisland (should read Cookstown – IF) had called for opposition to the Mid Ulster Pride parade “first by prayer, and then by all other lawful and peaceful methods”.

“Our placards are carrying scriptures about homosexuality, the true meaning of love, and the gospel message and the love of God towards sinners,” he said.

Earlier this week he said that “a sad, stark and significant choice has been forced upon the people of Mid-Ulster – will they accept and perhaps even support the reported forthcoming Rural Pride’ event, or will they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ?”

The letter was signed by Rev Marcus Lecky from Cookstown, Rev John Armstrong from Dungannon, Rev Peter McIntyre from Clogher Valley, Rev Colin Mercer from Omagh and Rev Timothy Omerod from Sixmilecross.

 “For almost two millennia”, they said, “the entirety of Christendom accepted that Jesus Christ – and all the Scriptures – taught that homosexuality was sinful” and despite “much misinformation… the truth of God’s Word remains unchanged”.

The “very last thing” the area needs is more Pride, they countered, saying Christ commands “true humility” and repentance from homosexuality, stealing, adultery, envy, vengeance and all other sins.

Motivated by “concern and love for our Saviour, our society and the souls of others” they say the parade will “be burned into the memories of the young and impressionable” but that future generations “deserve the same traditional family upbringing that most of us have enjoyed”.

In closing, they urged every Christian to oppose the parade “first by prayer, and then by all other lawful and peaceful methods”.

 But Coalisland Rector Rev Andrew Rawding, who is vice chair of the Mid Ulster Pride Committee, took an opposite view.


The wicked lies that form the basis of the new Stormont agreement

I feel compelled to publish articles which highlight the unbelievable treachery of the recent ‘Power-Sharing’ deal that the DUP has signed up to with Sinn Fein/IRA!

The article below in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ of January 16th sets out the alleged treachery of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a man who has manifested total disdain for the opinions of the Unionist people.

If what has been alleged in this article is true then deliberate lies were told about the Government’s future plans regarding the issue of ‘legacy’, the resolving of the issues of criminality stemming from the years of IRA terrorism. I suppose when we remember Boris Johnston’s deceit regarding the impact of the Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, it is not really surprising.

What fools are they who depend upon the DUP for ‘deliverance’!!! Read more


DUP councillor Spence shows support for rainbow flag at Army HQ

This is the headline of an article in the Belfast Telegraph of January 17th.

It reveals to us the heart of the DUP. Sodomy is openly supported and opposition to it condemned and SILENCE marks those Christians who insist on retaining membership of the party.

Since last May, when the DUP endorsed a sodomite candidate in the local council elections, there has been no significant protest from those who profess Christ, especially those who belong to the Free Presbyterian Church. Neither have they opposed the reforming of the political alliance of the party with terrorist supporting Sinn Fein/IRA.

Disaster will surely befall such compromise and betrayal of God’s truth.

January 2020

Audio sermons


KICS assembly talks. Current series: “Bright and shining lights in the Bible”

  • Part 16, Part 17, Part 18
  • See all the talks in this series here.
  • Download a zip file of all the recent studies in the Parables here.
  • See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

Featured series on the Book of Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Part 10- The purpose of God Pt 3 Part 11- The inheritance of saints Pt1 Part 12- The inheritance of saints Pt2 Part 13- The inheritance of saints Pt3

(See all the messages in the series here)


Other sermons

The great folly of a good man, Pt1 Message by Rev. Foster in Newtownabbey FPC, December 29th, 2019.

The great folly of a good man, Pt2. Message by Rev. Foster in Newtownabbey FPC, December 29th, 2019.

God's answer to despondency Message by Rev. Foster in Kilskeery FPC, September 1st, 2005 at the quarterly communion service

The First Communion Feast Message by Rev. Foster at the quartlertly Communion sdrvice and time of prayer in Kilskeery FPC, Jan 5th, 2020.

Praying against our enemies Message by Rev. Foster at Kilskeery FPC prayer meeting

 

Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey suggests slight increase in support for Irish unity and cross-community support for abortion reform

Here is a link to data, send to me by a Christian friend, that clearly suggests that the DUP are moving more and more to a secular position on moral matters and rejecting what the Bible teaches on abortion – which is in truth, the ‘murder of unborn children’!

May the Lord in mercy awaken Free Presbyterian supporters of this increasingly anti-Bible political party and cause them to obey God and no longer deny the stand of the FPC and the teaching of the Word of God.


The DUP and Ulster Unionists have missed numerous opportunities to point out that republican conduct made power sharing indefensible

This letter, which appeared in the “Belfast Newsletter” of January 3rd, touches upon the matter which is assiduously avoided by the two ‘unionist’ parties.

Both have ceased to treat Sinn Fein/IRA for what they are – enemies of Northern Ireland who will use any means to destroy it and bring about a united Ireland.

The DUP representative, ’Sir’ Jeffrey Donaldson, was recently interviewed on television in the presence of sinn Feiner and convicted IRA terrorist, Gerry Kelly. Despite Kelly’s blatantly deceitful republican propaganda, spouted automaton-like when he was interviewed, Donaldson made no attempt to confront his lies. To do so, of course, ‘might cause a split’ so ‘doormat’ Donaldson remained silent!!

May the Lord save us from enemies and traitors!


The fires in Australia and its laws on same-sex marriage and abortion – Is there a link?

The Bible throughout its divinely inspired pages states most clearly that there is an indissoluble link between sin and God’s judgment!
An Australian footballer, Israel Folau, was the subject of much abuse for stating that there was a link between the bush fires which have devastated large areas of Australia and caused the deaths of an increasing number of people, and the nation’s adoption of same-sex marriage laws and the legalising of abortion.

He was absolutely correct in this matter! The Bible states and history shows that sin is ALWAYS followed by God’s judgment! Read more


Is ‘sodomy’ just another sin????

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly,” 2 Peter 2:6.

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 7.

It has been said by members of the Democratic Unionist Party, in an effort to defend and excuse the Party’s decision to support and endorse a sodomite as one of their candidates in the Local Government elections in May 2019, that ‘sodomy is just another sin and if we are to throw out all who sin in the DUP we would be left with no one!’

This sounds very plausible, especially when stated by a lawyer! However, like the ‘lawyers’ whom Christ encountered, this one also comes under the condemnation He issued against them. “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God . . . ,” Luke 7:30. Read more

December 2019

Audio sermons


KICS assembly talks. Current series: “Bright and shining lights in the Bible”

  • Part 13, Part 14, Part 15
  • See all the talks in this series here.
  • Download a zip file of all the recent studies in the Parables here.
  • See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

Featured series on the Book of Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Part 8- The purpose of God Pt1 Part 9- The purpose of God Pt 2 Part 10- The purpose of God Pt 3

(See all the messages in the series here)


Sunday Services

The great folly of a good man, Pt1. Message by Rev. Foster in Newtownabbey FPC, December 29th, 2019.

All audio sermons can be seen here.

 

A word from the Bible on ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’.

There has been much written of late on the subject of ‘Climate Change’ and the state of the environment.

A teenager from Sweden, Miss Greta Thunberg, has been to the fore. Her profile and prominence is mainly a creation of the media, but she does embody a growing concern about what MAN has done and is doing to this world!

Weather patterns may indeed move in cycles but plastic and rubbish in the oceans is not an cyclical occurrence and cannot be dismissed lightly!
However, the Bible tells us authoritatively and clearly what lies ahead in the not too distant future. It reveals the judgments of God which will come upon this morally corrupt earth, corrupted by the hand of man.

Man’s sin is ALWAYS followed by God’s JUDGMENT AND WRATH! That is a despised and mocked truth but a truth nevertheless. Read more


Lords over God’s heritage

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away,” 1 Peter 5:14.

These words came before me when I read the story of the retirement of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who is 92 years old. He is described as the Cardinal who ‘sought a deal’ to bury sex abuse documents, held by the Vatican, during the Irish ‘Commission of Inquiry’ into the abuse of children by Roman Catholic clerics some years ago.

A report in the ‘Irish Times’ continues: “Last year, prior to the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland, former president Mary McAleese revealed that Cardinal Sodano tried in November 2003 to secure, through her, agreement that Ireland would not attempt to access church documents in Commissions of Inquiry surrounding the handling of allegations of clerical sex abuse then underway.

Describing the encounter as ‘one of the most devastating moments in my presidency’, it occurred during a State visit to Italy when she had a private meeting with then Vatican secretary of state Angelo Sodano. Read more


The truly scriptural way to celebrate the birth of Christ.

A synopsis of two sermons preached in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church on December 20th, 1998 and January 3rd, 1999 by the minister, Rev. Ivan Foster.

The birth of Christ has been the centre of celebration since it was first announced in Genesis 3:15. And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Here is the first mention of the seed of the woman, the promise of a divine Saviour. That it was deemed a reference to a Redeemer may be seen in Adam immediately afterwards naming his wife, Eve , which means life , Gen 3:20. The darkness of the great curse that befell Adam and Eve was lightened by the promise contained in God’s words to the devil.

Eve’s name was testimony to the hope entertained by Adam that a Saviour would one day be born Who would redeem sinners from the curse of a broken law. Read more


For all that Christ is for and against all that Christ is against.

Some 31 years ago, on 29th February, 1988, the 350th anniversary of the signing of the National Covenant in Scotland, the Free Presbyterian Church signed a Covenant, a copy of which likely hangs in every Free Presbyterian Church.

Perhaps it should be sought out and read again, so that we might rightly recall what it is we committed our ourselves to!

The Covenant begins as follows:

“As God providentially raised up Elijah, we believe He is now calling out a faithful remnant to maintain a testimony, free from compromise against every opposition of the enemy.

As a separated Church of God, sinners saved by grace and born again of the Holy Spirit, conscious of the violation of God’s commandments so rampant in this evil age, and conscious also that we could have a name to live and are dead, we humble ourselves before God and solemnly covenant together, by His grace, to stand with Christ in this evil day, for all that He is for, and against all that He is against.” Read more….


Some Christians need to change their attitude toward Christian education

“Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph. The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live,” Acts 7:18-19.

It is sadly true that the spirit in this text is to be seen at work today amongst Christian parents. In the days referred to it is clear that the thinking of Israelite parents, faced by the threat of Pharaoh, was one in which they deemed it wiser to comply with the evil monarch and sacrifice their children to his wrath!

Is such a spirit evident today? I believe so, though it will astound many and anger many more that I should say so! Pharaoh dealt ’subtilly’ with Israel. That is he set out to conquer them by stealth and deceit. Read more


Pro-LGBT event in Enniskillen Church of Ireland cathedral

Further evidence of the increasing prevalence of spokespeople for the sodomite movement in the church came on Monday night this week, when the LGBT organisation JustLOVE held what was described as an “LGBT affirming faith event” at St Macartin’s Hall in Enniskillen.

This is the church hall owned by the Church of Ireland’s St Macartin’s Cathedral in Enniskillen.

The driving force behind this JustLOVE event was none other than sodomite ‘Pride’ parading Rev Andrew Rawding (pictured), who will tonight (Thursday Nov. 28th) host in his rectory a meeting of a new LGBT group, Mid Ulster Pride. Read more on the Protestant Revival website

November 2019

Audio sermons


KICS assembly talks. Current series: “Bright and shining lights in the Bible”

Bringing the King back: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Featured series on the Book of Ephesians: The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Part 3- Christ - God's treasure chest Part 4- Chosen in Christ, the first blessing Part 5- Redemption by the blood Part 6- Effectual calling Pt1 Part 7- Effectual calling Pt2

(See all the messages in the series here)


All audio sermons can be seen here.
 

 

William Matchett: ‘Collusion – probably the best fake news story in the world’

On Brexit, facts and claims that are checked by the media expose chancers and charlatans to highlight lies, smears and misrepresentation. This healthy scepticism is spectacularly missing in the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past.

For the 50th anniversary of the start of the Troubles 12 hours by the national broadcaster. Although the top security experts were chief constables like Sir Ken Newman and Sir John Hermon, their strategic view was not transmitted.

What aired excluded the security element of a government strategy led by police and steered by police intelligence for nearly all of the Troubles. Read more


My response to a reply to my letter run by the Irish News

The recent letter I sent to the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ about same-sex marriage billboards erected in Belfast, and also to the ‘Irish News’ in Belfast, a Nationalist newspaper, has had a response printed in the ‘Irish News’.

Here is that response along with my answer to the folly and ignorance of the writer, Nick Canning. Read more


The unravelling of society!

“We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long,” Psalm 74:9.

I have just turned away from the lunchtime news with a heavy heart and a fresh awareness of the immeasurable mess our nation is in!

In truth, in recent times, every news broadcast and media outlet has borne testimony to the same dire diagnosis. There is no longer any good news and what is deemed such by the media is but further evidence of the utter corruption at the heart of society. Read more


Doing things God’s way

Good ideas are often spoiled by ignorance. It was a most admirable idea on David’s part that the Ark of the Covenant be brought to its proper place. “And let us bring again the ark of our God to us.” The Protestant religion is one ‘ever reforming’! There is a Latin phrase, dating back to the Reformation. ‘Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda’ – the church reformed, always reforming. It refers to the conviction of certain Reformed Protestant theologians that the church must continually re-examine itself in order to maintain its purity of doctrine and practice.
The Lord often describes His people as ‘sheep’. Sheep ever go astray. That is their nature! “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way,” Isaiah 53:6. That being so, we are ever in need of being brought back to the right paths and to that ordered by the Lord for our good. Read more


How long before the whole Bible is banned????

An article appeared in the media over the weekend which supplies Christians with yet another reason to recognise the advance of darkness and rebellion in our nation.

The report centres upon the police requiring a Christian to take down a text with the words  ‘The blood of Jesus Christ’! 
It was not a statement of a man’s making but the very words of God, words that lie at the very centre of the Gospel of Christ.
John the apostle wrote:  “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin,” 1 John 1:7.

The police and those behind them responsible for this action have progressed from removing signs displaying legitimate conclusions and assertions, based upon God’s Word about the false religions and perverted views that men promote.

Now it is even an offence to display the words of God. Read more


Promised you a miracle

Below is an article from the Belfast Telegraph of 16th November that highlights the blindness, superstition, hypocrisy and folly that have dominated the minds of Irish men and women who have followed devotedly the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church!

Where there was a rejection of the ‘apparitions’ and so-called ‘miracles’ referred to in the article, it was born out of a rejection of God altogether and not out of a love of the truth of God, set forth in the Holy Scriptures.

All one can say is, “Poor Ireland. How we need to pray for her people”! 

The 100 years since these incidents have seen the Roman Catholic Church inflict even more horrors upon those who have followed faithfully the teachings of the monstrous deception of popery! Countless thousands in Ireland have now forsaken all belief in God because of the wicked and devilish abuse that the ‘Church’ they trusted with their souls and their children, betrayed them so utterly! 

The result of that is that their “latter end is worse with them than the beginning”! Read more


The Church of England’s governing body has voted to look into special services for transgender people.

“Supporters of the services said the Church should offer a welcome to people to mark their transition. Others have suggested the services would be counter to parts of the Bible that state that humans are created as either male or female.”

That such a vote should be passed, apparently with little opposition and with euphoria on the part of the supporters of this wickedness, indicates the utter abandonment of God’s Word that has taken place within the Church of England. It should be noted that even those opposed to the decision are reported as suggesting that the new ‘transgender services’ “would be counter to parts of the Bible that state that humans are created as either male or female.”
Note that the opponents merely ‘suggest’ that the new series would be counter to the Bible when in fact they are utterly and diametrically opposed to God’s Holy Word.

The proposer of this perverse motion said, after it was passed, “Synod has changed – we have turned a corner.” 

This decision indicates the depths of the apostasy of the State Church. God’s Word is rejected and the evil lie of the devil embraced, and that with only the merest ‘whimper’ from the so-called ‘evangelicals’ within the Church.

That being so, we can be assured that God’s judgment is not far away. Read the BBC report.


Christ reviving His church right up to the end of the age

“Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: . . . Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again,” 2 Chronicles 34:24, 28.

In this age, there will be a final generation who will witness the return of Christ in power and great glory to the earth. Paul said: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord,” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Read more….


Attempt to blacken the witness of the gospel

An article has appeared in the ‘Belfast Telegraph’ of Novemeber 11th which contains, I believe, a wicked attempt to link the Free Presbyterian Church with the sins of a man recently convicted as a paedophile.

While giving details of the convicted man’s connections to the Orange Order and the Democratic Unionist Party, and their distancing themselves from him, the writer of the article simply states that the Free Presbyterian Church in north Armagh at one time considered “the shamed 65-year-old a valued member.” It is further said that the man, Ivan Russell, was “a regular attendee at Sunday services in Lurgan Free Presbyterian Church with his wife Muriel.” 

It is to be noted that in the article his attendance at Lurgan Free Presbyterian Church is referred to in the ‘past tense’! In this at least the writer speaks the truth. In fact he ceased attendance at the church quite a few years ago, some twelve years to be exact. Mr Russell was never a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, though such a detail is of scant importance to a newspaper man!

I am reminded of Judas! He ‘at one time’ was considered ‘a valued member’ of the apostolic band but then he was expelled as a traitor. (“Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor,” Luke 6:16.) Read more


The wounds and madness that Ecumenism inflicts

The following three articles from the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ website (Nov 7) highlights the terrible deceitfulness of Sinn Fein/IRA and its ungoing and unchanged murderous attitude toward the innocent whom it deems is worthy of slaughter.

It was engaged in a campaign of ‘genocide’ against the Protestant people in the border areas and elsewhere and honours still all those who engaged in that campaign of terror. The man guilty of the ‘Shankill Road Bombing’, in which ten people were killed, two of whom were children and one was an IRA bomber, was Sean Kelly. He will be canvassing for the Sinn Fein candidate in the forthcoming Westminster election. The SDLP will be supporting Sinn Fein’s candidate. Read more


Irish Presbyterian apostasy

The article below appeared in today’s (Nov. 6th, 2019) “Belfast Telegraph”. It clearly indicates the shameful departure that there is within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland when there are those who are prepared to side publicly with a sodomite ‘elder’ who was disciplined for being in a ‘sodomite marriage’!!!!

It is to be noted that the objection of the sodomite and in which he was supported by these protesters, was against the ‘policy’ of his denomination.
There is no recognition that it is God’s Word that denounces sodomy and declares it to be an ‘abomination’. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination,” Leviticus 18:22. Read more


Report of a visit to Canada and the USA by Rev. Ivan Foster just 47 years ago.

He was part of a delegation of FP ministers who visited North America in October/November 1972. Rev James Beggs, Rev William Beattie and Rev S B Cooke were also part of the delegation.

Taken from “The Revivalist” report of the visit.

The invitation to join the deputation from the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in a visit to America and Canada was certainly a privilege. Nevertheless, because of the recent opening of our new church in Enniskillen I was loth to be absent from my pulpit when our congregation was making every effort to fill our new building. However, as I prayed about the matter I was reminded of some advice given by Jordan Khan, a faithful servant of the Lord, who preached some time ago in our churches. He had said that if ever we received an invitation to preach in Europe or U.S.A. we should accept it, for God had surely given the Free Presbyterian Church a message for the world. The more I thought about this, the more I felt convinced that I should go, even if it were not for the full four weeks. I was supported in this by my elders, so I gladly agreed to go for three weeks. Read more


Letter submitted to Belfast Telegraph about same-sex marriage billboards erected in Belfast

See the November 7th news report here.

Sir,

It has been reported in your newspaper today that there are “Same-sex marriage billboards put up in Belfast.” 
In the article, Northern Ireland Humanists coordinator Boyd Sleator is quoted as saying: “LGBT people in Northern Ireland have suffered for too long under archaic laws influenced by religious groups which have prevented same-sex couples from being able to legally marry.”

His statement caused me to think that if he, as a Humanist is wrong in his rejection of Bible Christianity (and he is) then he will discover that eternity will bring even more immeasurable suffering under even more “archaic laws”, even the law of God, to those who reject God’s truth!

The Bible says of all who reject God’s Law and His order and purpose for humanity, that they shall suffer as did their ideological forebears in Sodom and Gomorrha! Jude verse 7 states: “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.”

The message of the Lord Jesus Christ is clear. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3:36. 

Time will declare which philosophy, the Christian’s or Mr Sleator’s,  is true. The putting up of any amount of billboards will not alter truth or annul God’s divine decree!

Sincerely,

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtr)
Kilskeery, Co. Tyrone.


I dare call it murder

In 1984, there was an attempt to introduce the 1967 Abortion Act, then currently law in the rest of the UK, to Northern Ireland.

I introduced a motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont, opposing its introduction.

What I said was valid then and valid still today. Indeed, given the recently imposed abortion legislation that Westminster has forced upon Northern Ireland whereby abortion right up until ‘the point of birth’ is now legal, it is even more relevant!

We wrote about the imposition of this abortion legislation in the article: The cruel and obscene wickedness about to be imposed upon Northern Ireland

We commend to you the 1984 article and encourage you to circulate it amongst friends.