March 2025

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Everlasting punishment
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Nov 26, 2001
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Only Christ has power over the grave
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Nov 19, 2001
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The resurrection of Christ
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Nov 12, 2001
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preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Nov 5, 2001
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Great Prophetic Chapters of the Bible - Daniel 9
preached by Rev. Brian McClung on Thu Mar 27, 2025

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preached by Daniel Henderson on Sun Mar 16, 2025

Why is there a Free Presbyterian Church?
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sun Mar 16, 2025

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Barbed arrows repulsed
preached by Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley on Sun May 25, 1969

Aaron, the Bad Example of a Godly Leader Gone Astray
preached by John Pittman Hey on Sun Sep 16, 2007

A defense of Christian education
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Feb 25, 1984

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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here


 

Ecclesiastical transformers Pt 3

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works,” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

As I said in Part 1 and also in the introduction to Part 2 of this article, I set out to expound the verses above and apply them to an impious email from one purporting to be a female ‘minister of the gospel’.

It will be seen in that first article that the silly woman who attacked me, mocked young girls for wearing berets as they sang in church. She seemed totally unaware that a head covering is commanded in Scripture for a lady engaged in public worship in the house of God, 1 Corinthians 11:4-6.

She but confirms that she is one of the ‘Bible-rejectors’ who abound today and who can blithely call themselves ‘servants of God’!

I then moved on to note how that from the dawn of this Christian age, the devil has been actively corrupting the truth of God by his evil agents who creep into unsuspecting churches (Jude 3-4) and who transform themselves into what is professed to be “ministers of righteousness.”

We now take up the final part of the study.

THE APPROACH OF THE FINAL THREE AND A HALF YEARS OF THIS AGE HAS BEEN SIGNALLED BY A NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES IN RECENT TIMES.

1. The world-wide rejection of the Word of God within professing Christendom. There has always been heresy and false doctrine to be found within the ranks of the professing people of God. Judas Iscariot was, as it were, the forerunner of those who, pretending to be true disciples, were in fact intent on destroying the work of Christ.

Heresies

Such has caused great divisions and disruptions but as Paul says: “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you,” 1 Corinthians 11:19. The activities of the ‘heretics’ serve to stir up the true believers, like sailors on a ship boarded by pirates, and every effort is made to resist such and remove them from the ranks of the people of God.

Thus, some of the greatest definitions and explanations of the fundamentals of the faith have come out of those controversies that the invasions by false prophets have generated. There is no better example than the wonderful Catechism and Confession of Faith that emerged in the wake of the great Protestant Reformation. They still serve as ‘anchors of the soul’ to true believers.

Since the Second World War we have seen a flood tide of departures from the truth of the Bible. It has advanced so far that ‘faith’ of Sodom and Gomorrah has become the standard of religious thought in most of the mainstream denominations.

Here in Northern Ireland, once considered the home of the most conservative of true Protestantism, Ecumenism with its objective of reunion with Roman Catholicism and the embracing of every false and immoral perversion of man, has ordained openly professing sodomites to office.

The total rejection of the Bible, which the embracing of sodomy and its associated perversions which ever increase in diversity and number and are embraced by governments and public bodies such as churches and schools, as unexceptional manifestations, while in truth they are disclosures of devilish depravities!

2. The spirit of murder that is ever more common. I found this graph on the Internet:

At one stage, around 2004, the number of murders in England and Wales had increased five-fold from 1960 and it is presently some three times what it was sixty years ago.

Stabbing

Murder by stabbing is very common amongst the young and the motive is usually one of the most trivial kind! Life carries no value and can be taken on the basis of the slightest perception of an insult!

Furthermore, ‘infanticide’ has increased horrifyingly. Little ones are done to death in the most fiendish manner. Many recent court cases have revealed that children have been treated most cruelly by those supposedly caring for them. The little ones have been done to death in a manner in which no human being would put to death an animal! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-31 a 6:00 am


Wars and rumours of wars

The following headline appears in a UK national daily newspaper on Wednesday, 26th March, 2025.

EU urges ALL citizens to prepare for war with ‘survival kits including food and water to survive 72 hours’ amid fears of WW3

It brings to mind the Saviour’s words in Matthew 24:6.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

The newspaper report states:

“The European Union is pushing for every household in the 27-nation bloc to have a three-day survival kit ready in case of war or natural disasters.

EU crisis management commissioner Hadja Lahbib said the proposals will be formally presented today as part of a broader ‘preparedness strategy’.

Brussels is hoping to ensure every citizen is equipped for 72 hours of self-sufficiency amid the growing threat of continental conflict breaking out.

EU citizens will be told to stock up on a dozen key items, including matches, ID documents in a waterproof punch, bottled water, energy bars and a flashlight, as part of their ‘resilience’ kit.

European leaders have said the invasion of Ukraine could soon break out into a ‘global’ war.

Some Scandanavian (Sic) countries have already stepped up their prepation (Sic) by distributing war survival guides.

The EU has now joined such efforts following a landmark report from Finland’s former president Sauli Niinisto last year on strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness.”

Saviour’s words

To return to the words of the Saviour, quoted at the beginning of this article, it is very clear that as this age draws to a close communal unrest, societal break up and fragmentation and national disputes will increase. We are to expect nations to become more belligerent toward each other.

Headlines like that above, feed the notion that we are on the verge of a catastrophic nuclear confrontation between East and West that will destroy the world and end humanity! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-28 a 5:10 pm


SGAT meeting - Rev. Brian McClung on Daniel 9



Watch a video of this sermon below:


Posted on 2025-03-28 a 4:38 pm


You are Invited ...

Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church

(Old Junction Road, Kilskeery)

Special Week of Meetings on the subject:—

‘The Importance of Church Membership’

Preacher: The Minister, Rev Samuel Fitton

 

Monday, March 31st — Friday, April 4th

Each night at 8.00 pm

(Prayer Meeting – 7.30 pm)

ALL ARE WELCOME TO THESE SERVICES

Each service will be broadcast on Facebook

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:47.

Posted on 2025-03-28 a 4:26 pm


Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony — Upcoming Special Meetings

 

Posted on 2025-03-28 a 4:25 pm


The Satanic Attack on Sacred Music

This article was forwarded to me and I am sure that that there is much that is useful in it as a means of discovering the threat to Bible Christianity that Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) presents.

An exposure of the errors of CCM, by Rev David DiCanio, was so resented by a few in the Free Presbyterian Church that upon his refusal to repent of doing that which is in keeping with the Standards of his church, he was cast out of his missionary work and disowned.

We are looking to the Lord to deal with this action against our brother and put right this dreadful wrong, at whatever cost to those who put their hand to this shameful act.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


Video Series – The Satanic Attack on Sacred Music

March 25, 2025

Few things are more dangerous doctrinally and philosophically to a Bible-believing church than contemporary Christian music and contemporary worship music. It is at the heart of the blending and merging that is creating the end-time, one-world “church.” It is a bridge to extremely dangerous things.

The victory is not merely “keeping the hymnal.” The victory is in proper, ongoing education for the entire church. Tradition and ignorance will not do.

The Satanic Attack on Sacred Music – This course consists of a textbook and a video series with about 18 hours of teaching, packed with photos, graphics, audio and video clips. One previewer commented, “The series is broad and deep with serious factual analysis according to properly interpreted Scripture.” Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-25 a 8:36 pm


Rev. Daniel Henderson: What is a Free Presbyterian?

This message, by one of the number of young Free Presbyterian ministers who share the views and convictions of the founders of our Church, is really worth hearing both by the older generation of our denomination and, most importantly, by the younger generation.



View a video of this sermon below:


Posted on 2025-03-22 a 5:41 pm


The total apostasy of the Church of England!!!

A teacher, who professes to be a Christian, has been sacked for stating what the Bible teaches regarding the moral perversions involved in the ‘LGBT’ and ‘transgender’ movements. Read the report here.

Bishop Justus C of E School in Bromley, south London, sacked Glawdys Leger for telling pupils that being LGBT was a sin.

WHY?

In truth, I am at a loss to understand why any professing Christian would wish to teach in a school run by the Church of England or the Church of Ireland, given that both are wholly aligned with the apostasy and departure from God’s Word today. Both systems are ‘pro LGBT’ and the true believer has no place in such a school. God has never commanded His people to enter the apostasy in order to resist it! To do so is to step outside His will and so deprive oneself of His help when trouble comes.

Paul said: “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me . . . and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion,” 2 Timothy 4:16-17.

To try and do ‘right’ by doing ‘wrong’ will bring the Christian to that place of danger whereby they may experience something of God’s wrath. This we are warned of in Revelation 18.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities,” verses 4-5.

Furthermore, it will encourage Christian parents to send their children to such schools when they see one professing faith in Christ there as a teacher!

There is only one place a for a Christian to teach and that is in a Christian School!

Reaction

The reaction to this teacher’s statement of simple Bible truth is proof of the utter sellout of that denomination to the lie of the devil! It is no fit place for a Christian.

Let it be remembered that if we would serve and honour the Lord, there is but one place to do it! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-22 a 5:18 pm


Ecclesiastical transformers Pt 2

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works,” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

As I said in Part 1 of this article, I set out to expound the verses above and apply them to an impious email from one purporting to be a female ‘minister’ of the gospel.

It will be seen in that first article that the silly woman who attacked me, mocked young girls for wearing berets as they sang in church. She seemed totally unaware that a head covering is commanded in Scripture for a lady engaged in public worship in the house of God, 1 Corinthians 11:4-6.

She but confirms that she is one of the ‘Bible-rejectors’ who abound today and who can blithely call themselves ‘servants of God’!

I am moving on to note how that from the dawn of this Christian age, the devil has been actively corrupting the truth of God by his evil agents who creep into unsuspecting churches (Jude 3-4) and who transform themselves into what is professed to be “ministers of righteousness.”

We now take up the second part of the study.

THE GREAT SATANIC DECEPTIONS, SEEN THROUGHOUT THE AGES, WILL INTENSIFY AT THE CLOSE OF THIS AGE.

Just as the devil’s past deceptions have been very successful,  to the beguiling of countless millions through his denials of the gospel, though utterly failing to overthrow or hinder the eternal purpose of God, so the truth that I have just stated is one the devil has sought to deny, conceal and deride! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-20 a 5:11 pm


Praying for the peace of Jerusalem

The following is an article which appeared in the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony magazine, ‘Watching and Waiting’, October-December 1983.

It was brought to my mind when a recording of a panel discussion at a ‘Youth Meeting’, sent to me, indicated that they had been told by one Free Presbyterian minister, who ought to have known better and whose name I will not reveal for I would not wish him to be embarrassed by a public exposure of his folly, that a verse in Psalm 122 did NOT mean what it plainly said!

The verse was: “‭Pray‭‭ for the peace‭ of Jerusalem‭: they shall prosper‭‭ that love‭‭ thee,” verse 6.

The young people were told that the word ‘Jerusalem’ did not mean the city of Jerusalem but rather the ‘church’!

This is the thinking of the ‘A-millennialist’, who has learned his eschatology from the notions propounded by a heretic from the third century, one Origen.

There is a simple maxim that every Christian should remember regarding our understanding of the Bible. It is: ‘God says what He means and means what He says’! We should ever take the words of Scripture literally except where we are told that they are parabolic or figurative or symbolic. We do not need men to come to us and tell us, ‘When God said this, He really meant something very different!’

Those who would put forward this notion want to place themselves between the reader of the Bible and God and be a ‘mouthpiece’ who can tell them the real meaning of Holy Scripture.

That is ‘priestcraft’ and can only lead people astray as we see in Roman Catholicism today! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-19 a 12:59 pm


Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony — Upcoming Special Meetings

Posted on 2025-03-17 a 10:34 am


Youth rally: Why is there a Free Presbyterian Church?

Rev. Ivan Foster

(Youth Rally, Markethill Free Presbyterian Church, March 16th, 2025)

It is a common feature of Holy Scripture that the Lord constantly repeats what His purpose is for His people. That is because we forget so quickly. Hence the warning: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons,” Deuteronomy 4:9. Some of you here tonight are the children and grandchildren of faithful Christians, with whom it was my privilege in years past, to share in the Free Presbyterian Church’s public stand for the Lord in these times of apostasy.

If that is your ancestry, then give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and grace to you and your forebears.



Read sermon notes here

 


The Free Presbyterian Church Founders (L to R) — Jack Gibson, George Hutton, Cecil Harvey, Rev Ian RK Paisley, William Emerson, Rev George Stears, James Morrison, George K Gibson, William Miscampbell, and Hugh James Adams.


Posted on 2025-03-17 a 9:50 am


Ecclesiastical transformers, Pt 1

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

Yesterday (11/3/25) I received an email from a female, or at least it was signed by one bearing a female name and with the designation (Rev) attached. With the satanic confusion that is abroad today, it is difficult to tell at times!!

She is someone living in complete defiance of Paul’s teaching in Titus 1:5-6. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”

Whatever else she may be, she cannot be in obedience to this Scripture and claim to be a minister of Christ!

The title ‘elder’ is interchangeable with the title ‘overseer’ or ‘bishop’ as Acts 20:17, 28 demonstrates. A minister, an elder who labours “in the word and doctrine,” 1 Timothy 5:17, can only be a man. That is the teaching of the Bible!

Claims

This person claimed to be a ‘sister in Christ.’ She further claimed that she was converted over sixty years ago and has been ‘over 40 years . . . in Christian ministry.’

This person then began what was really just a tirade against our conformity to Biblical worship.

Here is one comment: ‘Watching live Free Presbyterian worship on utube I observe the need for outward conformity to expectations. Recently from XXXXX FP I was delighted to see a choir of about 40 young people but dismayed to see how the young girls all felt constrained to wear strange berets  (very similar to the Brethren head coverings.) There can be no Scriptural authority to put such expectations on them. I suspect that are merely responding to church and peer pressure.’

Those are her words not mine!

Doubtless, the final words are meant to ‘embarrass’ me! I find I have no difficulty finding myself aligned with any who, in this matter, obey the teaching of the Bible.

I would much rather be in such company than in that of this sneering female Bible-rejector!

The source of this ‘constraint’, so contemptuously referred to, is merely a desire to obey God.

“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered,” 1 Corinthians 11:4-6.

So much for ‘no Scriptural authority’, as asserted by this female ignoramus!

Rant

She continues her foolish rant: ‘My conclusion is that the Free Presbyterians could more rightly be known as the Bound Presbyterians.’ Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-13 a 11:09 am


Explaining the stand of the Free Presbyterian Church

This article sprang out of an email I sent to a Christian bother who felt that the Free Presbyterian Church’s actions in  its protests in the past could not be justified from the Word of God. Naturally, I disagreed.

I tried to set forth the reason why back in the heyday of our protests, when Dr Paisley was in his prime, we believed we were obeying the Word of God in going out to challenge the Ecumenists, Modernists and Romanisers, who had taken over the established denominations.

I hope the article it is helpful to younger Free Presbyterians.

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster


Explaining the stand of the Free Presbyterian Church since its founding.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear,1 Peter 3:15.

A Free Presbyterian Church protest against abortion in 2023, led by Rev John Armstrong, then Moderator

In this article, I would like to try and give the Protestant perspective of the political and religious controversies here in Northern Ireland.

As we look at the state of things today in Northern Ireland, there is one in high office who upholds the political view that the IRA were right in their terrorism and generally did no wrong. Sinn Fein leader, Michelle O’Neill, who is ‘First Minister’ in the Stormont Assembly,  has the support of many in the electorate who believe that the only ones who had the right ‘to shoot to kill’ were the members of the IRA.

It is for this reason that there have been ongoing attempts by such to punish, by imprisonment, soldiers and policemen, who in the course of their duty and in the defence of life, shot those engaged in terrorism. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-07 a 11:36 am


Message for Protestants from the funeral sermons of priests

I am posting this sermon — ‘A message for Protestants from the funeral sermons of priests at the funerals of the Loughgall IRA gang’ — preached by me on 24th May 1987, in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.



Read sermon notes here

 

My memory of it was stirred while corresponding with a dear Christian to whom I was seeking to explain and defend the witness of Free Presbyterians over the years.

Our witness was not perfect or free from error, “For ‭there is‭ no man‭ that sinneth‭‭ not,” 1 Kings 8.46, but I believe that I can say that there was with us, over the years, a ’spirit of jealousy’ like that which possessed Elijah. “‭And he said‭‭, I have been very‭‭ jealous‭‭ for the LORD‭ God‭ of hosts‭: for the children‭ of Israel‭ have forsaken‭‭ thy covenant‭, thrown down‭‭ thine altars‭, and slain‭‭ thy prophets‭ with the sword‭; and I, ‭even‭ I only, am left‭‭; and they seek‭‭ my life‭, to take it away‭‭,” 1 Kings 19:10.

The Lord bless you all richly,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2025-03-05 a 12:49 pm


Empty Republican platitudes

This is copied from the BBC Northern Ireland news website of today (3/3/25).

The repudiation of the IRA campaign of murder and slaughter by this man is self-extolling and falls far short of true Biblical repentance.

He only changed his views when it became possible that he would become a victim of the terrorism that he had practised on others!

To say that the IRA’s campaign of slaughter ‘was a total waste, absolute total waste of energy, of life, of resources’ is very far removed for a true acknowledgment before God, that he is guilty of heinous crimes deserving of the wrath of God!

Such is the standard ‘expressions of sorrow’ offered by Irish Republicans. Regularly you have evidence of this hypocrisy and affected piety and posturing, as was the recent case of the ‘First Minister’, Michelle O’Neill’s extolling of IRA murderer, Brendan McFarlane.

See:—

Sinn Féin defends tributes to IRA man

All that grows and sprouts from the fallacious roots of Romanism is false and fraudulent!  The BBC and others of that ilk, may be ready to ‘canonise’ this murderer, but that is not how heaven sees his kind! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-03 a 4:38 pm


Evangelicals and Catholics merging through CCM

Here is what ‘contemporary worship music’ or ‘contemporary Christian music’ will eventually bring about!

I am grateful to the brother who brought this article to my attention.

Just as a tiny microbe may enter our body without us being aware of it, but soon it will manifest its evil impact and bring illness and even death, so a seemingly small error may enter the body of the ‘Church’ and, if not checked and dealt with properly and scripturally, bring down to ruin that church.

However, as is often the case, that meant to destroy the infection is resisted by our body and a cure is not affected.

We see that in our church at the present time, Contemporary Christian Music has been embraced by some. When an alarm was sounded by Rev David Dicanio, his timely and proper warning was resented and resisted and he was ejected by the foolish actions of misguided men. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-03 a 3:55 pm


Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s Definition of Apostasy

In the Autumn of 1887, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and his congregation withdrew from the Baptist Union.

In his magazine, ‘The Sword and Trowel’ of November 1887, he wrote the follow definition of what the Baptist denomination had become and why it was he had to withdraw from it.

His definition is truly one that gives us a clear view of just what it is for a Christian church to apostatise. It also pictures for us the spiritual state of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, from which Dr Paisley led a separation back in March 1951. As a result of the heresy of Prof Davey and his ilk the PCI had sunk down into the same depths as the Baptist Union in the last century.

“As a matter of fact, believers in Christ’s atonement are now in declared religious union with those who make light of it; believers in Holy Scripture are in confederacy with those who deny plenary inspiration; those who hold evangelical doctrine are in open alliance with those who call the fall a fable, who deny the personality of the Holy Ghost, who call justification by faith immoral, and hold that there is another probation after death, and a future restitution for the lost. Yes, we have before us the wretched spectacle of professedly orthodox Christians publicly avowing their union with those who deny the faith, and scarcely concealing their contempt for those who cannot be guilty of such gross disloyalty to Christ. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-03-01 a 6:29 pm

February 2025

Audio sermons

Click here to listen to all the sermons on this website!


KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Studies in Jude”


Recently Featured Sermons

The Worship of God
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Oct 22, 2001
featured on Sun Feb 2, 2025

God is eternally uncreated and infinite
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featured on Sun Jan 26, 2025

Prophecies of Christ
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Mon Oct 8, 2001
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Man's consciousness of God
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preached by Mr. Samuel Fitton on Sun Feb 16, 2025

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preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Wed Jan 8, 2025

Does God care about Christian education?
preached by Daniel Henderson on Fri Nov 22, 2024

View all recently preached sermons


Older Sermons Recently Added

Barbed arrows repulsed
preached by Rev. Dr. Ian R. K. Paisley on Sun May 25, 1969

Aaron, the Bad Example of a Godly Leader Gone Astray
preached by John Pittman Hey on Sun Sep 16, 2007

A defense of Christian education
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Feb 25, 1984

View all recently added sermons


Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here


 

Separation from apostasy in the Old Testament era

In my article, ‘What to do when a crisis overtakes the people of God’ I used the actions of Moses in Exodus 32, as “a prime example of obedience to God” in a day when great sin had broken out amongst God’s people.

Moses sought the Lord that He might not destroy Israel but grant repentance and forgiveness.

God answered His prayer though the ‘ringleaders’ were punished, Exodus 32:26-28. ‘Three thousand men’ were slain and the rest of Israel spared. This amounted to a small percentage of the nation that were deemed guilty of great wickedness. It was for this reason the nation was spared and thus provides us with a basis for believing that sin amongst God’s people does not ALWAYS require us to separate from them.

All sin and wrong-doing amongst professing Christians does not qualify as ‘Apostasy’ and therefore require separation from the guilty by the faithful believer!

There are occasions when we cease shopping in a store because we do not like some of the products on sale, some of the prices charged or the behaviour of the proprietor. We cannot avoid contact with much that is sinful in this world for “then must ye needs go out of the world” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Such withdrawing of contact is not the same, however, as the separation that the Lord commands us to exercise with regards apostasy. That separation is to be complete and public and is usually accompanied by a denouncing of those we have separated from and an explanation of the reasons for our actions. We are not to even ‘touch’ the uncleanness of apostasy, (2 Corinthians 6:17).

But then sensible people readily understand that distinction! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-28 a 8:00 am


Criticisms answered

I am posting these comments in response to some ‘Facebook’  criticisms, mounted in reply to my recent Burning Bush article: “What to do when a crisis overtakes the people of God”.

The basis of the criticism was that if what I said in my article was correct then our forefathers were wrong in leaving the Presbyterian Church in Ireland back in 1951, for that church was, it is claimed; ‘still a majority evangelical denomination at that time.’

I have never read a more untrue and stupid statement than that!

For some reason, neither myself nor my article was named in the Facebook criticisms, so I will observe the same measure of anonymity when dealing with this matter, and not name the author.

This morning, as part of my daily reading of God’s Word, I read these words in Job 27:3-4.

“All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit”.

I believe I can humbly say that such has been my desire throughout my 61 years of preaching and writing. There have been times when something I have said or written has been challenged and, as the Lord is my witness, I can say that my heart trembled lest I had indeed set forth in the Lord’s name that which was wrong. It was only when I carefully checked my statements and found them in keeping with God’s truth, that the fear was lifted.

I have likewise reacted to the reported comments on FaceBook, which criticise my article. However, I do not find in them any reason for my changing what I said, however it may appear.

The teaching on apostasy is that which was followed by the founders of the Free Presbyterian Church back in 1951.

The denomination from which our founding fathers separated had embraced heresy back in 1927 when the General Assembly voted by 89% to back the man who had denied, among other cardinal truths, the atoning blood of Christ and His deity, as well as mocking the idea of the inerrant inspiration of God’s Word. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-26 a 7:52 pm


What to do when a crisis overtakes the people of God

“‭Now when these things were done‭‭, the princes‭ came‭‭ to me, saying‭‭, The people‭ of Israel‭, and the priests‭, and the Levites‭, have not separated‭‭ themselves from the people‭ of the lands‭, ‭doing‭ according to their abominations‭, ‭even‭ of the Canaanites‭, the Hittites‭, the Perizzites‭, the Jebusites‭, the Ammonites‭, the Moabites‭, the Egyptians‭, and the Amorites‭.‭ ‭For they have taken‭‭ of their daughters‭ for themselves, and for their sons‭: so that the holy‭ seed‭ have mingled‭‭ themselves with the people‭ of ‭those‭ lands‭: yea, the hand‭ of the princes‭ and rulers‭ hath been chief‭ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬in this trespass‭.‭ ‬‬

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭And when I heard‭‭ this thing‭, I rent‭‭ my garment‭ and my mantle‭, and plucked off‭‭ the hair‭ of my head‭ and of my beard‭, and sat down‭‭ astonied‭‭.‭ ‭Then were assembled‭‭ unto me every one that trembled‭ at the words‭ of the God‭ of Israel‭, because of the transgression‭ of those that had been carried away‭; and I sat‭‭ astonied‭‭ until ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬the evening‭ sacrifice‭.‭ ‬‬‬

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭And at the evening‭ sacrifice‭ I arose up‭‭ from my heaviness‭; and having rent‭‭ my garment‭ and my mantle‭, I fell‭‭ upon my knees‭, and spread out‭‭ my hands‭ unto the LORD‭ my God‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Ezra 9:1-5.

In the morning services in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church of late, there has been a setting forth, by the minister, Rev Samuel Fitton, of the vital and very relevant teaching of the book of Ezra.

On two recent Lord’s Days, the above verses have been expounded. As is the case with most preachers, even when sitting under good preaching, thoughts arise in one’s mind from the passage under consideration that may be a little diverse from what the minister is setting forth. It is impossible in one message to comment on all that is contained in any given passage of God’s Word.

As the minister spoke, in his introductory summary of what has been noted so far in these opening verses of Ezra chapter 9, there occurred to me a thought very applicable to the situation in which the Free Presbyterian Church finds itself today.

I jotted down that thought for further consideration later. I want to share with you what presented itself to me from this passage.

1. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF REVIVAL, SIN MAY BE HARBOURED IN THE HEARTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE.

1. Note what Ezra said in his distressed praying in response to the revealing of the wickedness found amongst the Israelites. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-26 a 8:07 am


THE GOLDEN AGE - When will it dawn? Part 2

“‭The wilderness‭ and the solitary place‭ shall be glad‭‭ for them; and the desert‭ shall rejoice‭‭, and blossom‭‭ as the rose‭.‭ ‭It shall blossom‭‭ abundantly‭‭, and rejoice‭‭ even with joy‭ and singing‭‭: the glory‭ of Lebanon‭ shall be given‭‭ unto it, the excellency‭ of Carmel‭ and Sharon‭, they shall see‭‭ the glory‭ of the LORD‭, ‭and‭ the excellency‭ of our God‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 35:1-2.

I was prompted to consider this subject by the foolish boasting of the recently inaugurated president of the United States, Mr Donald Trump. He is a man renowned for his swank and swagger and vain-glorious self-promotion. But even he ‘outstrips’ himself when he claims that his election is an indication that America’s ‘Golden Age’ has begun.

Screenshot from a YouTube video

Our last study brought us to the end of this age. What will follow is clearly stated to be so in the Word of God.

THE NEXT AGE WILL LAST FOR 1000 YEARS

The following quotation from Revelation chapter 20, follows on from the closing verses of Revelation chapter 19.

“‭And‭ I saw‭‭ heaven‭ opened‭‭, and‭ behold‭‭ a white‭ horse‭; and‭ he that sat‭‭ upon‭ him‭ ‭was‭ called‭‭ Faithful‭ and‭ True‭, and‭ in‭ righteousness‭ he doth judge‭‭ and‭ make war‭‭.‭ ‭ His‭ eyes‭ ‭were‭ as‭ a flame‭ of fire‭, and‭ on‭ his‭ head‭ ‭were‭ many‭ crowns‭; and he had‭‭ a name‭ written‭‭, that‭ no man‭ knew‭‭, but‭ he himself‭.‭ ‭And‭ he ‭was‭ clothed‭‭ with a vesture‭ dipped‭‭ in blood‭: and‭ his‭ name‭ is called‭‭ The Word‭ of God‭.‭ ‭And‭ the armies‭ ‭which were‭ in‭ heaven‭ followed‭‭ him‭ upon‭ white‭ horses‭, clothed‭‭ in fine linen‭, white‭ and‭ clean‭.‭ ‭And‭ out of‭ his‭ mouth‭ goeth‭‭ a sharp‭ sword‭, that‭ with‭ it‭ he should smite‭‭ the nations‭: and‭ he‭ shall rule‭‭ them‭ with‭ a rod‭ of iron‭: and‭ he‭ treadeth‭‭ the winepress‭‭ of the fierceness‭ and‭ wrath‭ of Almighty‭ God‭.‭ ‭And‭ he hath‭‭ on‭ ‭his‭ vesture‭ and‭ on‭ his‭ thigh‭ a name‭ written‭‭, KING‭ OF KINGS‭, AND‭ LORD‭ OF LORDS‭.‭ ‭And‭ I saw‭‭ an‭ angel‭ standing‭‭ in‭ the sun‭; and‭ he cried‭‭ with a loud‭ voice‭, saying‭‭ to all‭ the fowls‭ that fly‭‭ in‭ the midst of heaven‭, Come‭‭ and‭ gather yourselves together‭‭ unto‭ the supper‭ of the great‭ God‭;‭ ‭That‭ ye may eat‭‭ the flesh‭ of kings‭, and‭ the flesh‭ of captains‭, and‭ the flesh‭ of mighty men‭, and‭ the flesh‭ of horses‭, and‭ of them that sit‭‭ on‭ them‭, and‭ the flesh‭ of all‭ ‭men, both‭ free‭ and‭ bond‭, both‭ small‭ and‭ great‭.‭ ‭And‭ I saw‭‭ the beast‭, and‭ the kings‭ of the earth‭, and‭ their‭ armies‭, gathered together‭‭ to make‭‭ war‭ against‭ him that sat‭‭ on‭ the horse‭, and‭ against‭ his‭ army‭.‭ ‭And‭ the beast‭ was taken‭‭, and‭ with‭ him‭ the false prophet‭ that wrought‭‭ miracles‭ before‭ him‭, with‭ which‭ he deceived‭‭ them that had received‭‭ the mark‭ of the beast‭, and‭ them that worshipped‭‭ his‭ image‭. These both‭ were cast‭‭ alive‭‭ into‭ a lake‭ of fire‭ burning‭‭ with‭ brimstone‭.‭ ‭And‭ the remnant‭ were slain‭‭ with‭ the sword‭ of him that sat‭‭ upon‭ the horse‭, which‭ ‭sword‭ proceeded‭‭ out of‭ his‭ mouth‭: and‭ all‭ the fowls‭ were filled‭‭ with‭ their‭ flesh‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Revelation 19:11-21.

The conjunction, ‘and’ with which chapter 20 begins indicates clearly the time of the events in the chapter — they immediately follow the return of Christ to this earth! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-24 a 8:04 am


You are invited ...

Posted on 2025-02-23 a 1:55 pm


Christ deemed guilty of ‘‘Contumacy’ by His accusers!

“‭And‭ Jesus‭ stood‭‭ before‭ the governor‭: and‭ the governor‭ asked‭‭ him‭, saying‭‭, Art‭‭ thou‭ the King‭ of the Jews‭? And‭ Jesus‭ said‭‭ unto him‭, Thou‭ sayest‭‭.‭ ‭And‭ when‭ he‭ was accused‭‭ of‭ the chief priests‭ and‭ elders‭, he answered‭‭ nothing‭.‭ ‭Then‭ said‭‭ Pilate‭ unto him‭, Hearest thou‭‭ not‭ how many things‭ they witness against‭‭ thee‭?‭ ‭And‭ he answered‭‭‭ him‭ to‭ never‭ a‭ word‭; insomuch‭ that the governor‭ marvelled‭‭ greatly‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew 27:11-14.

‘Contumacy’ simply means a stubborn refusal and is used within ecclesiastical circles for the refusal of any who will not bow to the authority of a church court.

I have no doubt that the refusal of the Saviour to answer some of the questions put to Him by His accusers would have been seen as that termed today as ‘contumacy’.

It is to be noted that the Saviour did not refuse to answer all questions put to Him. In our text above we have Him answering the question, “Art thou the King of the Jews?”. But it also says that; “when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.”

Why was that so?

May I suggest that had He refused to answer the first question it would have left the impression THAT HE WAS NOT THE KING OF THE JEWS! Silence would have implied He was unable to truly affirm that He was the Messiah.

However, His silence in response to the other questions, based upon the lying testimonies of false witnesses, clearly indicated that such accusations were unworthy of a reply.

DAVID

David likewise chose this course of action in the face of false accusations. “‭They also that seek‭‭ after my life‭ lay snares‭‭ ‭for me‭: and they that seek‭‭ my hurt‭ speak‭‭ mischievous things‭, and imagine‭‭ deceits‭ all the day‭ long.‭ ‭But I, as a deaf‭ ‭man‭, heard‭‭ not; and ‭I was‭ as a dumb man‭ ‭that‭ openeth‭‭ not his mouth‭.‭ ‭Thus I was as a man‭ that heareth‭‭ not, and in whose mouth‭ ‭are‭ no reproofs‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Psalm 38:12-14. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-22 a 8:03 am


Washington Madness

Dear Friends,

I have submitted the following letter to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ a short time ago.

Whether or not it is published remains to be seen!


Washington Madness

Sir,

The recent statements issued by the Whitehouse in Washington, by both the President and his subservient flunkies, promote a strong suspicion that the President, whose cosseted upbringing and lifestyle has created an illusionary world in which the man lives, believes himself to be the supreme repository of wisdom.

I don’t think I have ever listened to a world leader more limited in his ability to vocalise!That such a man should be considered as a pillar of moral rectitude and a political ‘messiah’ by millions of American voters, is utterly astounding! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-21 a 1:28 pm


A Farewell to Rev William Beattie

Rev Beattie went to be with the Lord on 13th February 2025.

“And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. . . For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father,” Genesis 50:7-8, 13-14.

Those words from Genesis chapter 50, were part of my daily reading on Monday 17th February. I thought of the brief glimpse that the children of Jacob had of the promised land as they buried their father Jacob, before returning to Egypt.

I mused on how it is that Christians too catch a glimpse of the promised land at the funerals of their believing family members, before returning to the daily routine in the ‘Egypt’ of this world in which we dwell. May it be so as we consider the service of a faithful preacher and bid farewell to a brother in Christ. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-20 a 2:32 pm


Compromise amongst God's people

Here is the morning message preached in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church on the Lord’s Day past – (16:2:25).

Rev Samuel Fitton was preaching on the subject of “Compromise Amongst God’s People”.



The general reaction to the message was one of rejoicing at the refreshing power of God amongst us under the minister’s preaching. For the older members it brought back to mind the witness of the Free Presbyterian Church which the Lord had owned and blessed mightily in past times and for which the Lord had brought the denomination into existence to uphold before the world.

I want to share that message with you today. I trust you find it as a great a blessing as it was to those in the service.

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2025-02-18 a 12:30 pm


Rev. William Beattie has gone to glory

IT IS WITH SORROW THAT WE INFORM OUR READERS THAT THE DEATH HAS TAKEN PLACE OF REV WILLIAM BEATTIE, retired Free Presbyterian Church minister.

He went to be with the Lord yesterday evening, February 13th 2025.

Funeral arrangements may be viewed here.


Called home 13th February 2025. Beloved husband of Sally and the late Bertha, loving father of Phillip, Louise and the late Samuel, father in law of Margaret and William, dearly loved Granda of Noah, Samuel, Kezia and Abigail.

Funeral Service will take place in Martyrs’ Memorial Free Presbyterian Church at 1:00pm on Wednesday 19th February 2025 following a family burial in Lisburn New Cemetery at 11:00am.

Wake on Friday at his daughter Louise’s house 42 Ballymoughan Road Magherafelt BT45 6HN from 3.00 – 10.00 and at his son Phillip’s house 5 Glebe Hill Road Tandragee BT62 2DP on Saturday from 3.00-10.00.

Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Edgard Traboulsi, Lebanon Baptist Church Trust c/o Melville Morgan Funeral Directors 257 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7EN.

Will be greatly missed by his loving wife and family.

At home with the Lord, “with Christ which is far better,” Philippians 1 v 23.

We would wish to convey our sympathies to his wife Sally, and his son Phillip and his daughter Louise and their respective spouses and children.


“Absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord,” 2 Corinthians 5:8.

“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God,” Hebrews 11:10.


Rev. Ivan Foster (Rtd)

Posted on 2025-02-14 a 6:38 pm


What is your method?

Rev. David DiCanio

“And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children,  Luke 7:31-35.

Matthew Henry’s comment on these words of the Saviour is as follows:

By this it appears that the ministers of Christ may be of very different tempers and dispositions, very different ways of preaching and living, and yet all good and useful; diversity of gifts, but each given to profit withal. 

Therefore none must make themselves a standard to all others, nor judge hardly of those that do not do just as they do. 

John Baptist bore witness to Christ, and Christ applauded John Baptist, though they were the reverse of each other in their way of living. 

But the common enemies of them both reproached them both. The very same men that had represented John as crazed in his intellects, because he came neither eating nor drinking, represented our Lord Jesus as corrupt in his morals, because he came eating and drinking;  he is a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber. 

Ill-will never speaks well. See . . . how they put the worst construction upon every thing they meet with in the gospel, and in the preachers and professors of it; and hereby they think to depreciate them, but really destroy themselves.


John the Baptist differed from the Saviour and vice versa though not in core spirituality and holiness. They differed in demeanour and bearing. But their enemies found grounds for criticising them to the extent that what was present in one was deemed a fault but its absence in the other was likewise deemed a fault.

There is something of that spirit abroad today in that the bold protests in past decades are hailed as most praiseworthy but such actions carried out today are considered sinful and to be condemned!

That may be so because the protests of the past were aimed at those OUTSIDE the Free Presbyterian Church who were guilty of transgressing the Word of God. Now, however, protests of a similar nature are deemed wrong and worthy of sanction when they are directed against some WITHIN the Free Presbyterian Church who are in transgression of God’s Word. There ought to be no distinction drawn. Both protests are proper and warranted by Scripture.

I would have every Free Presbyterian know and understand that Rev David DiCanio, who has been deposed from the ministry of the Free Presbyterian Church of North America, in essence, if truth be told, for exposing the sin of ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ within the Free Presbyterian Church, acted in total concord with Holy Scripture and in agreement with the FPCNA’s own statement on the sinfulness of such music. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-12 a 7:31 pm


THE GOLDEN AGE - When will it dawn? Part 1

“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God,” Isaiah 35:1-2.

I was prompted to consider this subject by the foolish boasting of the recently inaugurated president of the United States, Mr Donald Trump. He is a man renowned for his swank and swagger and vain-glorious self-promotion. But even he ‘outstrips’ himself when he claims that his election is an indication that America’s ‘Golden Age’ has begun.

Screenshot from a YouTube video

Time will tell the truth or otherwise of this assertion which is a mere repeating of what presumptuous and imperious politicians have promised the gullible since the fall of man! It is a fictitious myth, a ‘pipe dream’, an ‘El Dorado’ comprised of the empty imaginings of what man considers to be the answer to all his needs.

Men will cling to this empty hope, proffered by a man whose lifestyle comprehensively demonstrates his total unreliability, rather than heed the promise of the God, “ that cannot lie,” (Titus 1:2) and who has “the words of eternal life,” (John 6:68).

We grieve for those whose folly causes them to embrace this end-time ‘political flim-flam’. No good can come of any administration built upon such a dubious foundation! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-02-03 a 2:37 am


A great and timely sermon

This sermon by Dr Paisley in his heyday, the Sabbath morning of 25th May 1969, was sent to me by Rev Stephen Hamilton a few days ago. I felt that there was no better way to start a new month than by sharing it with you all.



Brother Hamilton says that he was ten-years old when it was preached and that he would have been at the service with his parents. What a privilege was enjoyed by those present to hear such preaching.

As I listened to the sermon from almost 56 years ago, I rejoiced to hear again the setting forth of the doctrines of ‘the whole counsel of God’, rarely heard today.

I was especially touched by his mention in his closing prayer of his planned visit to ‘Trillick’, that Sabbath afternoon. I can remember well that gathering in a field belonging to the Wilson family, just over a mile from the church that is now here in Kilskeery, for I took part in the meeting.

I solemnly listened with thanksgiving to the boldness and knowledge and discernment, evidenced in the message, that was so common amongst us back in those days.

But as I listened to what I can rightly term ‘prophetic’ utterances by the servant of God long ago, regarding the consequences of unfaithfulness and departures from ‘the old paths’, my heart trembled for the Free Presbyterian Church today.

The picture that Dr Paisley paints of the repercussions that follow drifting and retreat from the ‘good way’, is evidenced before the eyes of those prepared to honestly assess our present spiritual condition.

But the essence of what the sermon sets forth is the means by which we can recover our former faithfulness and power and blessing.

Dear Christian, listen prayerfully and humbly to this sermon, preached under the blessing and power of God.

 

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2025-02-01 a 10:17 am

January 2025

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Why we should love the Jewish people

To mark the anniversary of the cruelty experienced by the Jewish people under Adolf Hitler, when 6 millions were murdered, I republish this article from 2016. It is the substance of what was taught to the pupils of Kilskeery Independent Christian School back then.

Ivan Foster.


Why we should love the Jewish people

As the introduction to this article states, it is the substance of two school assembly talks, in Kilskeery Independent Christian School, I gave to the children back in 2016 to mark ‘Holocaust Memorial Day’, January 27th.

It states some truths that are very relevant in the light of the upsurge of hatred toward the Jewish people, not just on the borders of Israel but reports of anti-semitism are coming in from many lands where there is an ignorance of what modern society owes to the Jewish race.

Why we should love the Jewish people(Holocaust Memorial Day 2016.)

The substance of two school morning assembly messages given in Kilskeery Independent Christian School, by retired minister and school administrator, Rev Ivan Foster, on 27th and 28th January.

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: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,” Genesis 12:1-3.

It is clear from the first words spoken to Abraham, from whom sprang the Jewish people, that he and his descendants would be those about whom there would a division of opinions. There would be those that would “bless” them and there would be those who would “curse” them!

Those that “bless” them would be blessed of God and those that “cursed” them would be cursed of God. They were, in heaven’s eyes, a very special people. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-27 a 10:34 am


The Bible says that there are only two genders - male and female!!

The ludicrous, utterly ridiculous and perverted notion, promoted today by all too many organisations and public figures, that there are more than two genders, flies in the face of the declaration of God at the creation of man.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them, Genesis 1:27.

Mankind bears the ‘image’ of God, not His divine nature but  likeness to God principally consists and most eminently appears in man’s soul.

In its nature and substance it is like God, spiritual, invisible, immortal. (Matthew Poole)

Man was, at the first, pure and holy. Today, man is a fallen creature as a result of Adam’s failure to obey God as our representative in the Covenant of Works and thus bringing upon all mankind guilt and condemnation.

In this age of the final apostasy, man has dived to the depths of depraved folly by permitting the notion of many genders to be embraced and incorporated in law.

While I am aghast at the pride and arrogance manifested by Donald Trump in his inaugural speech, I am happy to hear his comments on the ‘multiplicity of genders’ so promoted today!

I must offset his views, however, with the fact that he has endorsed sodomy by appointing sodomites to positions in his government.

See But Still They Adore Him

An  article in today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’ touches on the folly and the consequences of the acceptance of the liberal views of genders.

President Trump’s clarity on gender poses a tricky question for some of Northern Ireland’s politicians

Here it is. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-25 a 5:05 pm


Service of ordination and installation of Rev Samuel Fitton

Here is the link to the service of ordination and installation of Rev Samuel Fitton as minister of Kilskeery Free Presbytery Church this afternoon.

Taking Part in the service: Rev James Porter (officiating), Rev Brian McClung (Opening Prayer), Rev Ivan Foster (Scripture Reading). Prescribed Questions (Rev John Greer), Sermon (Rev Samuel Murray) and Presbytery Greetings (Rev John Armstrong).

 

I trust that you are blessed as you watch the video.

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2025-01-25 a 3:19 pm


The folly and cost of putting family interests first!

“‭And‭ some‭ days‭ after‭ Paul‭ said‭‭ unto‭ Barnabas‭,‭ Let us go again‭‭ and visit‭‭ our‭ brethren‭ in‭ every‭ city‭ where‭‭ we have preached‭‭ the word‭ of the Lord‭, ‭and see‭ how‭ they do‭‭.‭ ‭And‭ Barnabas‭ determined‭‭ to take with them‭‭ John‭, whose surname was‭‭ Mark‭.‭ ‭But‭ Paul‭ thought‭‭ not‭ good‭‭ to take‭‭ him‭ with them‭‭, who‭ departed‭‭ from‭ them‭ from‭ Pamphylia‭, and‭ went‭‭ not‭ with them‭ to‭ the work‭.‭ ‭And‭ the contention‭‭ was‭‭ so sharp‭ between them‭, that‭ they departed asunder‭‭ one from the other‭‭: and so‭ Barnabas‭ took‭‭ Mark‭, and sailed‭‭ unto‭ Cyprus‭;‭ ‭and‭ Paul‭ chose‭‭ Silas‭, and departed‭‭, being recommended‭‭ by‭ the brethren‭ unto the grace‭ of God‭.‭ ‭And‭ he went through‭‭ Syria‭ and‭ Cilicia‭, confirming‭‭ the churches‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Acts 15:36-41.

(Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar-15th January 2025)

Even in the halcyon days of the Holy Ghost empowered apostolic age, there were disputes amongst the brethren. Faithfulness to God and His will brings one into conflict with those less inclined to seek to rigidly abide by the plain Word of God.

Compromise is ever suggested to us by the flesh when we find ourselves caught between God’s will and that which is more pleasing to ourselves and those whom we would seek to please.

The incident before us here in Acts chapter 15 records that which has been repeated ‘ad nauseam’ throughout the ages!

Paul, moved by a concern for recent converts, suggests to his hitherto faithful companion in the service of God that they retrace their steps and visit those they had been the means of leading to Christ and ‘ see how they do’.

It immediately becomes obvious that poor Barnabas was harbouring some resentment regarding a sad incident which took place during their first missionary journey. It was a journey initiated by the Lord.

“‭Now‭ there were‭‭ in‭ the church‭ that was‭‭ at‭ Antioch‭ certain‭ prophets‭ and‭ teachers‭; as‭ Barnabas‭, and‭ Simeon‭ that was called‭‭ Niger‭, and‭ Lucius‭ of Cyrene‭, and‭ Manaen‭, which had been brought up‭ with Herod‭ the tetrarch‭, and‭ Saul‭.‭ ‭As‭ they‭ ministered‭‭ to the Lord‭, and‭ fasted‭‭, the Holy‭ Ghost‭ said‭‭,‭ Separate‭‭ me‭‭ Barnabas‭ and‭ Saul‭ for‭ the work‭ whereunto‭ I have called‭‭ them‭.‭ ‭And‭ when they had fasted‭‭ and‭ prayed‭‭, and‭ laid‭‭ ‭their‭ hands‭ on‭‭ them‭, they sent ‭them‭ away‭‭,‭”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Acts 13:1-3.

I. IT WAS ON THIS JOURNEY THAT LEADERSHIP AND GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY OF PAUL WAS MANIFESTED.

1. It is to be noted that Saul at the first is given a lesser prominence than Barnabas. Verse 1 has Barnabas mentioned first and Saul last! Again, in verse 2 the Lord refers to Barnabas before Saul. This order is repeated in verse 7.

But it changed thereafter! Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-18 a 5:30 pm


You are welcome to join us!

 

 

Posted on 2025-01-15 a 11:49 pm


Artificial Intelligence - the frenzied hope of many . . . .

Photo by Igor Omilaev on unsplash.com

The BBC carried the following headlines in a news report:

PM plans to ‘unleash AI’ across UK to boost growth

Whenever the supporters of AI begin to pontificate on the topic of their latest fantasy, they sound like a recital from a science fiction comic!

It is the ‘be all and end all’ of man’s fondest dream! Supporters of AI would have us believe that it will usher in a utopian era, BUT will it??

BBC commentators, Liv McMahon, Zoe Kleinman & Charlotte Edwards had some words of warning for the Prime Minister!

“But the government faces questions over how much time and money will be needed to make its vision a reality, amid concerns over borrowing costs and the falling value of the pound.”

“The government tasked AI adviser Matt Clifford with creating a UK action plan for supporting the growth of artificial intelligence and its use in public services.

He came back with 50 recommendations which are now being implemented.

Among these is for the UK to invest in a new supercomputer to boost computing power – marking a change in strategy after the Labour government ditched the previous government’s plans for a supercomputer at Edinburgh University.

Sir Keir said AI ‘will drive incredible change’ in the country and ‘has the potential to transform the lives of working people’.

‘We’re going to make AI work for everyone in our country,” he added, saying the “battle for the jobs of tomorrow is happening today’.

“Sir Keir said the UK would become one of the AI “superpowers” – mirroring former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s drive to boost the UK sector so it could rival that of the US and China.”

The article goes on to set out: _

How the AI plan could affect you

Among the government’s proposals are:

AI will be used by the public sector to enable its workers to spend less time doing admin and more time delivering services. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-15 a 11:43 pm


A further step down the road to national destruction

I recall once, in the late 1970s, when preaching in the Bedford, England area and staying with my dear friend, Dr Stephen Scott-Pearson and his family, I paid a visit a small museum there which was dedicated to the memory of John ‘the Tinker’ Bunyan, a native of that area.

The lady who supervised the little establishment asked me to sign the visitors book and excitedly informed me that Prince Charles had visited the museum and signed the visitors’ book but a short time before. She spoke excitedly of him and asked me what I thought of him, doubtless expecting me to endorse her opinion.

In reply I said, ‘King Charles I was a rascal, King Charles II was a greater rascal and I expect King Charles III to be an even greater rascal!’

This greatly astonished the dear lady but if she is alive, still she has had ample evidence that my assertion was in fact very true!

The latest evidence of Charles III’s ‘rascality’ has been announced in the press in recent days. One news website,  GB news, heralded forth:

King Charles ‘set to travel to Italy to hold momentous first meeting with Pope’ since becoming monarch.

He is a ‘lover’ of all things popish as the previous encounters with the papal antichrists indicate.

Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-11 a 11:01 pm


Tears of Joy and Sorrow

Rev. Ivan Foster

This is the audio recording of the message I preached at Wednesday night’s prayer meeting in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.

The text was Ezra 3:10-13.

Read sermon notes here

Watch this sermon below:


Posted on 2025-01-09 a 11:36 pm


So near and yet so far away . . . .

Here is the headline in a BBC news report on Thursday, 2nd January.

UK’s biggest ever dinosaur footprint site unearthed

It is about the discovery of fossilised footprints of large dinosaurs. Of course you have the ‘evolutionist’s folly’ displayed in that they dated at some 166 million years ago.

The report details how they were uncovered. “The tracks were first spotted by Gary Johnson, a worker at Dewars Farm Quarry, while he was driving a digger.

I was basically clearing the clay, and I hit a hump, and I thought it’s just an abnormality in the ground,” he said, pointing to a ridge where some mud has been pushed up as a dinosaur’s foot pressed down into the earth. But then it got to another, 3m along, and it was a hump again. And then it went another 3m – hump again. Another trackway site had been found nearby in the 1990s, so he realised the regular bumps and dips could be dinosaur footprints.

“I thought I’m the first person to see them. And it was so surreal – a bit of a tingling moment, really,” he told BBC News.

The footprints uncovered

The Evolutionist — ‘So near yet so far away from God’s truth’!

This was offered by way of explanation for the wonderful preservation of the very old footprints: “Something must have happened to preserve these in the fossil record,” said Prof Richard Butler, a palaeobiologist from the University of Birmingham. We don’t know exactly what, but it might be that there was a storm event that came in, deposited a load of sediments on top of the footprints, and meant that they were preserved rather than just being washed away.” Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-05 a 12:04 am


The men the Free Presbyterian Church needs in 2025

“‭And Uzziah‭ . . .‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭ when he was strong‭, his heart‭ was lifted up‭‭ to ‭his‭ destruction‭‭: for he transgressed‭‭ against the LORD‭ his God‭, and went‭‭ into the temple‭ of the LORD‭ to burn incense‭‭ upon the altar‭ of incense‭.‭ ‭And Azariah‭ the priest‭ went in‭‭ after‭ him, and with him fourscore‭ priests‭ of the LORD‭, ‭that were‭ valiant‭ men‭:‭ ‭And they withstood‭‭ Uzziah‭ the king‭, and said‭‭ unto him, ‭It appertaineth‭ not unto thee, Uzziah‭, to burn incense‭‭ unto the LORD‭, but to the priests‭ the sons‭ of Aaron‭, that are consecrated‭‭ to burn incense‭‭: go out‭‭ of the sanctuary‭; for thou hast trespassed‭‭; neither ‭shall it be‭ for thine honour‭ from the LORD‭ God‭.‭ ‭Then Uzziah‭ was wroth‭‭, and ‭had‭ a censer‭ in his hand‭ to burn incense‭‭: and while he was wroth‭‭ with the priests‭, the leprosy‭ even rose up‭‭ in his forehead‭ before‭ the priests‭ in the house‭ of the LORD‭, from beside the incense‭ altar‭.‭ ‭And Azariah‭ the chief‭ priest‭, and all the priests‭, looked‭‭ upon him, and, behold, he ‭was‭ leprous‭‭ in his forehead‭, and they thrust him out‭‭ from thence; yea, himself hasted‭‭ also to go out‭‭, because the LORD‭ had smitten‭‭ him,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬”2 Chronicles 26:14, 16-20.

Paul wrote, “‭For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,” ‬Romans 15:4. There is much to be learned from the verses from 2 Chronicles 26 which I have quoted above. I read them on the Lord’s Day, 22nd December.

How very relevant they are for the Free Presbyterian Church today!

The first thing I would have you notice in the verses is that:

I. GOOD MEN CAN MAKE VERY SERIOUS MISTAKES!

1. Without a shadow of doubt, Uzziah was a good man, a great man! We can take God’s word on that!

“‭Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper,”‬ 2 Chronicles 26:3-5.

2. Yet despite his undoubted regeneration by the grace of God, he committed a dreadful sin. We are told the ‘source’ of his sin. “And his name‭ spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.‬ When he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction,” verses 15-16. That phrase simply means that when his kingdom became wonderfully strong for the Lord “marvellously‭ helped‬” him, he became proud and haughty, and that to his “destruction”. Click to read more…

Posted on 2025-01-01 a 11:00 pm


Happy New Year!

Sincere good wishes to all our readers for a happy 2025 and my grateful thanks for your support and prayers for the witness of ‘The Burning Bush’ during the last year.

For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name,” Hebrews 6:10.

Posted on 2025-01-01 a 10:49 pm