Audio sermons

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

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KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Analysing Acts”

• School is out for the summer holidays. No talks will be posted this month.
• See all the talks in this series here.
• See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

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Recently Featured Sermons

The Return of Christ, Pt 36
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Wed Jan 21, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 28, 2026

The Return of Christ, Pt 35
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Jan 20, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 21, 2026

The Return of Christ, Pt 34
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Thu Jan 15, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 14, 2026

The Return of Christ, Pt 33
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Jan 13, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 7, 2026

Click here to view previous featured sermons

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Recently Preached Sermons

The 1966 protest and imprisonment remembered with joy and thankfulness
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sat Jun 6, 2026

Deep sin within the Free Presbyterian Church
preached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 26, 2026

Remember the days of old
preached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 19, 2026

View all recently preached sermons

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Older Sermons Recently Added

Testimony of Rev. John Wylie
preached by Rev. John Wylie on Tue Jan 1, 1985

Reminiscences on her 70th birthday
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Oct 22, 2016

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

View all recently added sermons

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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side,” Isaiah 60:1-4.

One thing is ever a source of displeasure when I turn to a chapter like Isaiah 60! It is the notes that most publishers of the Holy Scriptures have placed above the chapter in an attempt to supposedly help the reader understand its contents.

However, when it comes to prophetic chapters, the notes are too often erroneous and most misleading!

In my Bible the notes above Isaiah 60 read:—

1. The glorious access of the Gentiles into the church.
15. The blessings of the church after affliction.

These words are utterly wrong. This chapter is not about what happened after the crucifixion of Christ and the Gospel outreach which followed Pentecost. No, it is dealing with the conversion and the restoration of Israel to God’s favour and blessing at the second coming of Christ and what follows that glorious event amongst the Gentile nations.

Not the Church

Some verses plainly indicate that it is not the church but Israel that is referred to.

“And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee,” Isaiah 60:10.

The redeemed people of God, the church, has never been subject to wrath! Chastening yes, but WRATH, no!

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons,” Hebrews 12:6-8.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent,” Revelation 3:19.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” Romans 8:1.

Judgment

However, God’s wrath has rested upon Israel ever since they rejected the Lord Jesus Christ, their Messiah. That which they had experienced in a measure under the Babylonian captivity has been their experience to a much greater degree since their rebellion and rejection of their Messiah.

“And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them,” Ezekiel 39:23-24.

Those words were written around 587 BC, and were a foretaste of that which would follow their even greater wickedness in the rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah.

Since AD 70, and the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple and the scattering of the nation, the Jew has been an outcast until this day. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-07-01 a 6:00 am

Audio sermons

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

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KICS assembly talks. Current series: “KICS Studies – Analysing Acts”

• Part 36, Part 37, Part 38, Part 39
• See all the talks in this series here.
• See all the KICS assembly talks listed here.

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Recently Featured Sermons

The Return of Christ, Pt 36
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Wed Jan 21, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 28, 2026

The Return of Christ, Pt 35
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Jan 20, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 21, 2026

The Return of Christ, Pt 34
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Thu Jan 15, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 14, 2026

The Return of Christ, Pt 33
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Tue Jan 13, 2015
featured on Sun Jun 7, 2026

Click here to view previous featured sermons

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Recently Preached Sermons

The 1966 protest and imprisonment remembered with joy and thankfulness
preached by Rev. Ivan Foster on Sat Jun 6, 2026

Deep sin within the Free Presbyterian Church
preached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 26, 2026

Remember the days of old
preached by Rev. David Linden on Sun Apr 19, 2026

View all recently preached sermons

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Older Sermons Recently Added

Testimony of Rev. John Wylie
preached by Rev. John Wylie on Tue Jan 1, 1985

Reminiscences on her 70th birthday
preached by Mrs. Ann Foster on Sat Oct 22, 2016

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

View all recently added sermons

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Watch Kilskeery Free Presbyterian services live online here

Notes of a message preached in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church — September 26th, 1982.

“And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem,” 2 Chronicles 14:9-15.

My purpose in recalling the events of 1912 is three-fold.

1. As an Ulster man I am proud of and thankful for the actions of my forefathers and I would have all to remember their daring.

2. As a Christian I am encouraged when I recall the mighty deliverance that the Lord wrought in those times of political betrayal.

3. As a citizen I believe a perusal of those far off events will shed light upon the troubled path we are called upon to tread today.

The year 1912 was a year of political activity and much anxiety amongst the Protestants of Ulster.

Since the introduction by the Liberal Prime Minister, William Gladstone, of the First Home Rule Bill of 1886, which aimed to establish an Irish legislature in Dublin, Ulster Protestants had been voicing their opposition under the slogan, ‘Home Rule is Rome Rule’. The Bill was defeated in the House of Commons and heavily split the Liberal Party.

The Second Home Rule Bill in 1893 was also introduced by Gladstone. It successfully passed the House of Commons but was overwhelmingly vetoed by the House of Lords.

The Third Home Rule Bill of 1912–1914 was introduced by Prime Minister H. H. Asquith, another Liberal Party leader. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-29 a 6:00 am

A word for the Free Presbyterian Church at this present time!

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey:

And the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment,” Isaiah 59:1-15.

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

Saturday 27th June 2026

Posted on 2026-06-27 a 3:15 pm

AN ANSWER TO FOUR LECTURES DELIVERED IN ENNISKILLEN CATHEDRAL BY THE BISHOP OF CLOGHER RICHARD HANSON

by

REV. IVAN FOSTER

Minister of Lisbellaw Free Presbyterian Church

Published as a booklet in 1970

The rage of the Bishop against the rock of Holy Scripture

 

Chapter IV 

The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible

In his first lecture the Bishop seeks, as he tells us, to “clear the ground”. What the Bishop means by this is later revealed. He is out to remove from the people’s minds all “obstacles” to the introduction of his own doctrines. He commences this clearing operation with characteristic subtlety. He wanted to make it clear, we are told, that he “did not believe Christianity to be an entirely fluid thing wholly subject to changes in intellectual fashion, a matter of subjective opinion with no unchanging or eternal element in it”. Having thus reassured us with this statement he continues: “But” – and HERE COMES THE POISONED BARB – he was giving these lectures “in order to point out that Christianity in one sense always had changed, must be expected to go changing, and was manifestly changing at the present time”. He goes on to say: “What we think is good old Christianity, the genuine, original, unchanging faith -our faith, of course – almost certainly is not what the first Christians believed”. The Bishop tells the truth here – quite unintentionally, of course. HIS CHRISTIANITY IS NOT THE FAITH OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS. What the Bishop is maintaining, of course, is that Christianity should NOT be expected to be the same as that of the early believers. There is nothing wrong with us believing something that they disbelieved or disbelieving what they believed. We can simplify the whole matter by saying the Bishop believes that Christians today are not tied to the Bible as the early Christians were.

Thus the clearing begins. He goes on now to finish the task by declaring: “Another important assumption which will govern these lectures is that the hypothesis that the Bible is accurate and exact and without mistakes in every sense in every part is an IMPOSSIBLE ONE”. So, step by step Dr. Hanson levers his audience away from the Bible. He seeks to destroy any tendency on the part of his audience to return to the Bible by stating that it is not without mistakes and errors. He gives us his opinion of the Bible. “THE DOCUMENTS OF THE BIBLE HAVE THE SAME HISTORICAL AUTHORITY AS SIMILAR DOCUMENTS OF THEIR TIME, NO MORE AND NO LESS.” There you have it. The site is clear now for the building of the Bishop’s edifice, a building that will consist of falsehoods and lies, deceptions and delusions, and which will fail its occupants on the great day of God’s wrath.

“Judgement also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it” (Isaiah 28 : 17-18). Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-27 a 6:00 am

I downloaded the following document from a Free Presbyterian Church website yesterday.

I wish to set before the Moderator and the Clerk of our Presbytery and the readership of ‘The Burning Bush’, two points from the ‘Statement on Ecclesiastical Separation’ as issued by our Presbytery, and to ask some questions which arise with regards recent procedures sanctioned by the Presbytery.

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FPC Position on Ecclesiastical Separation

Statement from the Free Presbyterian Church in Ulster General Presbytery

OUR STAND ON SEPARATION

The Scriptures lay before Christ’s Church the will of God pertaining to the doctrine of separation. With regard to this doctrine the following points are made clear in God’s Word. (It is important to underline that the points outlined below that present the Biblical teaching on separation, constitute a summary of what the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster has stated, believed and preached during its entire history).

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The following is a notice of an amendment I submitted to the Presbytery back in 1998, in the days when Dr Paisley was Moderator.

“October 1998 Notice of Motion

Rev I Foster proposed the following notice of motion: Reaffirmation of our stand on separation from Ecumenism.

“That this Presbytery reaffirms its opposition to the modern Ecumenical Movement and reiterates its call to God’s people to separate from all forms of fellowship with this end-time apostasy.

Furthermore,  in keeping with our position on Ecumenism, the Presbytery calls upon all ministers, elders and members of committees, irrespective of their civic duties, to refrain from attendance at or participation in any ecumenical community service, especially those that have followed in the wake of recent terrorist bombings since such gatherings have clearly become an effective means of advancing and strengthening the cause of ecumenism and must not, therefore, have any form of endorsement from Free Presbyterians”.

Rev Foster stated he did not feel that as a denomination we were tottering on the edge of compromise. However, he reminded members that in scripture we often read of God’s people reaffirming their position. He said, “In the wake of recent bombings tremendous pressure had been exerted by Ecumenical churches on the Protestant people, especially those who hold civic office.”

He stated he felt it was wrong for Free Presbyterians to attend Ecumenical services no matter where they were held. Priests of Rome he said were brought onto platforms and accepted as ministers of Christ. He felt there was need to raise a banner high for all to see and for sessions to take note that they are to be guardians of our stand.

He asked that if agreed the motion should be carried in our magazines and as we are approaching Reformation Sunday ministers preach on the issue.

Clarification was sought as to what constituted an ecumenical civic service. The question of participation in Remembrance services and services of the Loyal Orders was raised. The Moderator stated he considered it was one organised by the clergy of the town for the purpose of promoting ecumenism. He said that with that interpretation put on the motion he would support it. Upon being seconded by Rev. T. Baxter the motion was adopted. It was agreed that an advert reaffirming our opposition to Romanism and Ecumenism should be placed in the newspaper.’ Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-26 a 6:04 pm

Moments after sending out my last email, entitled –  ‘A VERY PUBLIC REBUKE!’ – I received the following Facebook photograph.

Rev Ron Johnstone cannot argue, as he has in the past, that he was not sharing the platform with a ‘disobedient evangelical minister’. One who defies God’s Word and remains within the ecumenical apostasy. On this occasion it was Methodist minister, Rev Maurice Laverty.

I need not ask if he obeyed the requirement of the ordination oath the swore to uphold.

I will, nevertheless, remind him of it with an important emphasis.

Will you maintain with all the strength God shall give you the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland?

As God helps you will you expose and resist the continued apostasy from Christ manifested within Irish Presbyterianism, METHODISM, Episcopalianism and other visible church bodies; exhorting God’s people to obey the teaching and commandment of 1 Timothy 6: 3-5?’

Thus the slide accelerates and those engaged in it are emboldened by the failure to uphold the distinctives of the Free Presbyterian Church by its Presbytery.

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
23rd June 2026

Posted on 2026-06-23 a 5:18 pm

Matthew 3:7-12.

The Lord Jesus said of John the Baptist what we should ever remember.

“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he,” Matthew 11:7-11.

With such a matchless commendation of John, I dare say we can make him an example in preaching that we may safely follow!

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matt 3:7.

1. Please notice that these men thus rebuked professed faith and repentance. “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism,” verses 5-7.

Sadly, many who act in this very proper way do so hypocritically. They lack the evidence in their lives that indicates true faith and repentance.

John, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, was made aware of this and called for evidence to be produced by them. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance,” verse 8.

2. He rebuked them in a very public fashion. The Pharisees and Sadducees were engaged in a very PUBLIC act so John rebuked them in keeping with the environment in which the Pharisees and Sadducees were acting!

Private acts, if sinful, will be rebuked privately for they have not been observed by others and there is therefore no requirement that the mind and will of God be declared to any observers, regarding this private sin.

In the case of John rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees, he was rebuking their very public show of repentance WITHOUT any evidence of it being genuine, therefore he must let the observers know God’s mind on what was happening.

Paul

This is in keeping with Paul’s directive to Timothy. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear,” 1 Timothy 5:20. Without a pubic rebuke observers might think that the behaviour being reprimanded was acceptable. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-23 a 5:12 pm

This ‘professing’ Christian has shamed the Gospel he claimed to embrace and has brought great dishonour upon Ulster.

BBC News: Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson guilty of child sex abuse charges including one count of rape

He added to his crimes by denying he was guilty and thus forcing his victims to relive the torments and shame he had put them through and, furthermore, calling them liars in court.

News Letter: Ex-MP Jeffrey Donaldson repeatedly denied abuse during two days in witness box

His name will forever be linked to wicked infamy!

His contemptible behaviour is indicative of the fruit of the apostasy that has blighted our land through the evicting of God’s Word from the pulpits of the main churches and the replacing of it with ecumenical and liberal fantasies that have become the religion of all-too many in Ulster!

“This‭ know‭‭ also‭, that‭ in‭ the last‭ days‭ perilous‭ times‭ shall come‭‭.‭‭For‭ men‭ shall be‭‭ lovers of their own selves‭, . . . lovers of pleasures‭ more‭ than‭ lovers of God‭;‭‭having‭‭ a form‭ of godliness‭, but‭ denying‭‭ the power‭ thereof‭ . . ,” 2 Timothy 3:1-2, 4-5.

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

Posted on 2026-06-22 a 6:53 pm

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,” Revelation 3:2.

The role and duty of those in the position of leadership within the Church of Christ are clearly set forth throughout Holy Scripture, and nowhere more succinctly than in the words set down by Moses.

“Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment,” Deuteronomy 16:18.

The outcome of the special Presbytery in Dungannon, 20th June, convened to hear the report of the ‘Commission of Inquiry’ set up after  Revs R Johnstone and M Lecky were permitted to make statements of complaint before the Presbytery against Rev David Linden and myself on May 1st, has left a lot of questions unanswered and probably aroused many more!!

From the very beginning of the process, fairness and proper procedure were set aside and it was indicated, for any with eyes to see, that there was something very wrong within our ranks!

The whole episode has highlighted for many Free Presbyterians that there has been a drift away from the position, principles and philosophy of the witness and stand of our church as it was first formed, by God’s grace, in 1951.

It appears that there are those amongst our ministers and elders who are opposed to the command of Scripture to denounce sin, but who are prepared to misuse and misapply Holy Scripture to support their position.

Yet such denunciation of sin and backsliding is what the Free Presbyterian Church was brought into existence to do, irrespective of who is the guilty party.

Was it not the custom for the following verses to be read out, if not preached upon, at every minister’s ordination?

It would appear that of late few have heeded the words or noted their significance!

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables,” 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

On the day of my ordination, some fifty-eight years ago, Dr Ian Paisley preached on Jeremiah chapter 1.

There you find a definition of that prophet’s call and it embraces every minister’s calling, as was pressed home upon my soul that night!

“But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant,” Jeremiah 1:7-10.

Paul echoed these sentiments:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

NO CHARGES

Whatever some might have desired as the outcome of this Commission, it would appear that no disciplinary proceedings will be taken against myself and Rev Linden.

It must be stated that there never were any grounds for proceeding against us since what we did was fully supported by the Word of God. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-22 a 6:00 am

AN ANSWER TO FOUR LECTURES DELIVERED IN ENNISKILLEN CATHEDRAL BY THE BISHOP OF CLOGHER RICHARD HANSON

by

REV. IVAN FOSTER

Minister of Lisbellaw Free Presbyterian Church

Published as a booklet in 1970

The rage of the Bishop against the rock of Holy Scripture

 

Chapter III

 

The Authenticity of the Books of the Bible

Like all enemies of truth before him the Bishop of Clogher first of all sets the sights of his scholastic pea-shooter against the Word of God. The Word of God is the great barrier to all such as Dr. Hanson who wish to abolish fundamental Christianity.

Here is what he says concerning Paul’s pastoral epistles, i.e., epistles to Timothy and Titus: “… the pastoral epistles (which I assume to be written not by Paul but by somebody living early in the second century)”. (Lecture 2, paragraph 3.) He also attacks the authenticity of John’s Gospel. “St. John’s Gospel, which was certainly not written by John the Apostle, though it may have originated from a place where traditions about John were treasured.” (Lecture 2, paragraph 4.) Referring to the Second Epistle of Peter, he pontificates with great audacity: “Which is not, of course, by St. Peter.” (Lecture 2, paragraph 3.) Thus the Bishop has left us with a New Testament containing at least five forgeries. If the Bishop can substantiate his assertions he has of course very good reasons for changing doctrines based upon forged epistles. BUT HE DOES NOT AND CANNOT SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIMS.

Before we refute the errors of Dr. Hanson perhaps we would consider the supposition: “What if the Bishop is right and these epistles are forgeries?” Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-20 a 6:00 am

I recently heard, what I consider a very astute and accurate statement which had been made by an elder of many years standing as his summary of the change that has taken place within the Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church.

He said: ‘In earlier times, a minister or an elder would stand up with his Bible in his hand to make his point during a debate. That rarely happens now!’

That to me indicates a lesser knowledge of the Bible amongst many of our Presbytery members and/or there is no basis to be found in the Bible for that which is being supported!

The present controversy that surrounds Rev David Linden and myself, with regards the actions of Rev Marcus Lecky and Rev Ron Johnstone, give proof of the ‘Bible-less’ arguments prevalent today.

I pointed out in an article entitled: Response to Rev R Johnstone’s Presbytery statement against me that in the statement against me that he was allowed to make in Presbytery, which the Officer Bearers permitted without me being informed that the statement was going to be made, contrary to rule 10.5 of the ‘Book of Church Order’, and in  his email response to my original article,  Unambiguous witness or an uncertain sound — which?, Rev Ron Johnstone did not make one reference to the Bible in defence of his mingling with evangelical ministers in the ecumenical churches.

Again this absence to any reference to God’s Word was sadly seen in Rev Lecky’s upholding of ‘Contemporary Christian Music’.

My article, in response to it was published in ‘The Burning Bush’  and was entitled: Why no Bible references???

Even when this was pointed out, neither man seemed able to produce a defence from God’s Word. That says a lot! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-17 a 6:00 am

“And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest,” Revelation 15:1-4.

Chapter 15 of the Book of the Revelation was one of the chapters for reading on Saturday 13th June, as set down in M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar.

I frequently mention my use of this wonderful aid to regular and methodical reading of God’s Word in order to commend it to the readers of ‘The Burning Bush’. I believe it to be without  parallel!

My thoughts were transported to heaven as I read the chapter and particularly the verses which head this article. My washing machine was tumbling my weekly wash as I sat and read the verses and somewhat like my clothes in the machine, thoughts began to tumble about in my mind as I mused upon what is stated in the verses!

Contrast

What a contrast there is revealed here, between the events on this earth and that which is taking place in heaven! The earth is about to encounter the full and final manifestations of God’s wrath against man’s sin and rebellion. Seven angels are given “seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever,” verse 7. In those vials was “filled up the wrath of God,” verse 1.

The ‘vials’ were shallow saucer-like vessels and I am inclined to think of them being dipped in the ‘lake of fire’ (20:15) and their contents pour out upon the nations following Antichrist. The vials being shallow indicates that the fulness of God’s wrath is not being poured out but only a foretaste of that which is to come!

How little mankind today knows of what lies ‘just round the corner’ for this world, especially that area which comprises the territory of the AntiChrist who will be manifested in final days of this age, the lands of the old Roman Empire!

Christian, it is your privilege to KNOW and UNDERSTAND what lies ahead, for it is revealed to us in great detail in that wonderful BOOK, so sadly neglected by Christians, the BIBLE!

I. WHAT JOHN SAW AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO SHARE WITH US, WE SHOULD CONTEMPLATE AS EARTH’S TROUBLES INCREASE DAILY!

1. Like John, every true servant of God should relate what is revealed here to his flock! This blessed book begins with these words: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand,” 1:1-3.

This book is a REVELATION, a revealing, a manifestation of that which the Lord would have us know! The devil would have us believe that it is an ‘unknowable’ tangle of verses containing ‘uninterpretable’ scenes which has led to the confusion of Christians!

That is the devil’s lie, sadly peddled by very foolish believers and even more foolish, ministers of the Gospel! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-16 a 2:15 pm

AN ANSWER TO FOUR LECTURES DELIVERED IN ENNISKILLEN CATHEDRAL BY THE BISHOP OF CLOGHER RICHARD HANSON

by

REV. IVAN FOSTER

Minister of Lisbellaw Free Presbyterian Church

Published as a booklet in 1970

 

The rage of the Bishop against the rock of Holy Scripture

Chapter II

The Bishop’s Yardstick

Before we consider the conclusions (or should we say confusions) the Bishop comes to, we would do well to consider the principles by which he made his judgments. We quote from his first lecture. ‘Next, I want to give an account of the criteria (standard by which he will decided what is good and what is bad) which I am going to use in these lectures…The first pole is the faith of the individual believer and of the Church…The other criterion which I shall use is… the verdict of historical and theological scholarship.’ The Bishop then is guided by what is acceptable to the Church today and what is acceptable to the theological scholars of today and yesterday. But does it not matter what the Bible says we should believe? NOT TO THE BISHOP. You see, we (in this new and changed world of the Bishop’s making) are going to be given from the Bible that which has first of all passed the test of the theologians of ecumenism. In other words the Bishop would place us in the yoke of bondage which Luther and an enlightened Europe cast off at the Reformation. THE BISHOP WOULD HAVE US ACCEPT THE POPISH DOCTRINE OF SUBMISSION TO THE CHURCH AND NOT TO THE WORD OF GOD ON MATTERS OF FAITH AND PRACTICE. The cry of Fermanagh Protestants to the Bishop and his fellow-Romanisers is a long and loud ‘NO POPERY’!

Broken vow

Dr. Hanson swore at his ordination that his standard of faith was the Word of God. He has only recently changed his mind, because he swore the oath in the spring of 1970. Such is the hypocrisy and dishonesty of ecumenists. God’s Word says, ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.’ (Isaiah 8:20.) The Bishop has put the cart before the horse. We do not judge the Bible by the scholars, but the scholars by the Bible. It is God’s Word by which we judge the words of men. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-13 a 6:00 am

Much has been said by way of condemnation by both church men and politicians with regard to the recent riots in Belfast and in some other areas.

It would appear that the very serious public disorder was sparked off by a murderous Sudanese migrant, who appears to have unlawfully entered Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic. He travelled from the north African country to Paris and then on to Dublin, before catching a bus to Belfast in February 2023.

The border between that separates the Republic from this part of the United Kingdom is exceedingly ‘porous’! It is now acknowledged that the knife-attack suspect Hadi Alodid, was granted asylum under a ‘fast-track’ scheme.

Hadi Alodid attacked a local man, a Mr Stephen Ogilvie, in North Belfast with a knife and caused him serious injuries. The victim has been reported as suffering serious injuries  in the attack and being blinded in one eye. It appears that the migrant was attempting to ‘behead’ his victim!

Had it not been for the intervention of some bystanders and the beating the attacker off from his victim, it seems likely that the local man would have been murdered.

Treacherous policy

The lack of border security, a deliberate policy on the part of the British Government in London, which is bent on pushing Northern Ireland into a ‘United Ireland’ under Dublin, played a large part in causing the riots.

But the root cause goes deeper.

Mr Jim Allister, party leader of ‘Traditional Unionist Values’,  referring to the attack in Parliament said: ‘What I want to know, and what I know that my constituents want to hear, is what will be done to stop the importation of an alien culture that thinks it is appropriate to try to behead someone within the United Kingdom.” (Read report here). Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-12 a 6:00 am

On Wednesday evening in Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church prayer meeting, the minister, Rev Samuel Fitton brought a challenging word to us all from Haggai chapter 1.

That message may be listened to with profit by accessing the church website on Facebook.

As a preacher, it is impossible for me to look at a passage of God’s Word without seeing an application of it to the circumstances that prevail around us.

1. Please notice that the call for a ‘considering of their ways’ was directed to the leaders of the work of God in that day.

“In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,” verse 1.

These men, the governor of Judah and the high priest, had for some seventeen or eighteen years been presiding over a ‘dying work and witness’!

Doubtless, both attended to some duties attached to their offices. I cannot but think that Joshua, the high priest never missed a service, but all that time the work of God was dying under their hands!

2. They had to have the careless ways of the people drawn to their attention by the Lord!

“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD’S house should be built,” verse 2.

The leaders were blind and deaf and indifferent to the spirit that presided amongst the people. The neglect of God’s house was surely most obvious! It surely could not have gone on for some ‘seventeen or eighteen years after the proclamation of Cyrus for the Jews to return to their own land’ as has been pointed out by the learned, Bishop Ussher. And yet the leaders did nothing! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-11 a 9:40 pm

Deuteronomy chapter 13

This chapter was part of the Bible reading schedule for today as set down in Robert Murray M‘Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar.

The date of the warnings issued in this chapter is just prior to  Israel’s crossing of the Jordon and entering the ‘Promised Land’.

The Lord is frequently given to repeating Himself. He repeated the promise of His blessing upon them, reminding them of His mercy and grace toward their fathers and the generations which followed. They will be brought into the ‘land flowing with milk and honey’. He also repeats His warning about disobedience and straying from His Word. Both of these matters God’s people are prone to forget, especially the latter matter.

Of course, it was not just the Israelites who tended to forget the command that God has issued to us all: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” Exodus 20:3.

The history of the people of God in this New Testament era is just as marked by departure and spiritual delinquency as was any generation of the Old Testament saints.

The professing people of God in the Old Testament ended their era with a total rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ, their Messiah.

Peter made that plain to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.

“The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses,” Acts 3:13-15.

That age ended in the same manner as will this present age! ‘Christendom’ as the body of professing Christians today are often labelled, will end up rejecting Christ to the same degree as did the Jewish race back in the early years of this epoch.

The spirit of apostasy that gripped and dominated Israel and resulted in the crucifixion of the Saviour, will in like manner grip the ‘professing church of Christ’ in the last days and the Lord Jesus, as He is revealed in Holy Scripture, will be utterly repudiated. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-10 a 6:00 am

On Saturday 6th June in Kilskeery FPC, the 60th Anniversary of the 1966 protest and imprisonment was marked with a special meeting where one of the imprisoned ministers, Rev. Ivan Foster spoke about these matters, and how the Lord used it for the furtherance of the Gospel in Northern Ireland.

On Monday 6th June 1966, the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Dr. Ian R.K. Paisley led a protest to the General Assembly Buildings in Belfast.

As the protestors marched, a cordon was placed across the road by the police which resulted in the march being brought to a halt outside the entrance to Assembly Buildings. Shortly after, a number of individuals were arrested and brought to court charged with unlawful assembly.

Consequently, three Free Presbyterian ministers, Dr. Ian Paisley, Rev. John Wylie & Rev. Ivan Foster were imprisoned in Crumlin Road jail for 3 months.

Both during and after that period of imprisonment, the Lord came down and the Free Presbyterian Church flourished with many new congregations being constituted. Between 1966-1970, approximately 17 new congregations were added to the 13 already in existence which took the Free Presbyterian Church into every County in Ulster for the first time.

Read sermon notes here

 

View a video of this sermon below:

Here is a link to an old news film of the march which begins with scenes from the Cromac Square riot by republicans and police injured in the riot and then the march and gathering outside of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, General Assembly.

1966 Protest March

Note: this video link will not work outside of locations in Great Britain!

Posted on 2026-06-06 a 11:30 pm

AN ANSWER TO FOUR LECTURES DELIVERED IN ENNISKILLEN CATHEDRAL BY THE BISHOP OF CLOGHER RICHARD HANSON

by

REV. IVAN FOSTER

Minister of Lisbellaw Free Presbyterian Church

Published as a booklet in 1970

 

Chapter 1 – The Unchangeable Character of Christianity

Before examining the text of these lectures we shall examine the title:  “CHANGING CHRISTIANITY IN A CHANGING WORLD”. Its suggestion as before stated, is that Christianity must change with the times. But is this so? We say no.

I. My first reason for rejecting a changed Christianity is that the needs of the world (i.e. mankind) have not changed.

Solomon, the wise man, said: “There is no new thing under the sun”. The scoffer points to the men who recently walked on the moon and cries: “There is something new”. No doubt this is man in new surroundings and new circumstances, but—and this is what Solomon meant —it is old-fashioned man who is on the moon. Th men who trod the earth in the dawn of creation and those who trod the moon’s surface in recent times are exactly the same SPIRITUALLY and MORALLY. Six thousand years may have brought man many technological advances, but he has not advanced one inch toward God or holiness. The sins of the world today were those of the world at the time of the Roman Empire, and correspond with those of the Babylonian Empire. The awful virus of depravity can be traced to its source—Adam’s transgression. ‘By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners’ (Romans 5:19).

In his unrighteous state before God man has remained and will remain utterly alienated from God. However, the grace of God has decreed that this state of affairs can be remedied and that only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The preaching of the Gospel is the spreading of this good news. The resultant religion that stems from faith in the Gospel is Christianity. Christianity is the religion based upon and agreeable to the Holy Scriptures. The position of the reformed theologian can be summed up in the words of the statement which the Bishop swore he believed.

‘Are you persuaded that the Holy Scriptures contain sufficiently all doctrine required of necessity for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ?’ (Consecration of a Bishop, Book of Common Prayer.)

In answer to this the Bishop should have been honest and said, ‘No’, since he believes that the Bible does not give us sufficient doctrine and we must add to and alter it. Of course the Bishop was posing as a reformed and Protestant Bishop, and since this is what the Reformers believed—namely that the Bible contains all the doctrines necessary for our salvation through Jesus Christ—he said, ‘I am persuaded…’ Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-05 a 6:00 am

“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. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees,” Isaiah 35:1-3.

I read these verses with the mindset that ‘The Lord says what He means and means what He says!’

I consider these words to be a literal setting forth of what the Lord purposes to do one day for Israel and in the midst of mankind. I recall my brother in law, the late Dr John. Douglas, responding to a Christian who held to an ‘A-millennial’ view of prophecy, that if he is wrong in taking God  to mean what it says, then he will explain to the Lord on that great day of standing before Him to give an account of our ways and doings, ‘Lord I simply believed what you said, rather than trusting in any notion of man as to what you meant!’

It came home to that A-millennialist, that there was simple and honest logic behind Dr Douglas’s understanding of Scripture!

Metaphorical

A-millennialism is essentially a dismissing of a considering  of the wording of prophecy as being literal but rather it is to be understood as figurative and metaphorical.

Such a notion gives licence to man’s fertile imagination and produces the most ludicrous notions as to what God’s Word means! The ‘prophetic’ exegesis of those who hold to this notion, demonstrates a likeness to the famous Heinz ’57 varieties’ advertising slogan of some years ago! It is a case of making God’s Word to say whatever you would like it to say!

When we stay with a literal understanding of God’s Word, except where He makes it clear that He is using parabolic language, then that is wise, irrespective of the empty scoffing of foolish men!

What is stated in this chapter is entirely in keeping with other portions of God’s Word.

Isaiah 11 is just such a chapter as is 2:1-4; 9:6-7; 60:1-22; 65:17-25; Micah 4:1-8; Zechariah 14, and I must, of course, add Revelation 20:1-10.

We are told very specifically by Peter that: “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed,” Acts 3:24-25.

To return to Isaiah 35, one of the chapters I read today (3rd June), what wonders are here outlined as being what the Lord plans to do on the earth and amongst mankind.

IN THIS CHAPTER IS EMPHASISED GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS ANCIENT PEOPLE ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD IN GENERAL

1. It is very wrong to believe that the Lord has abandoned and is finished with the nation of Israel! Paul makes that clear in his writing to the church at Rome. “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew,” Romans 11:1-2.

He then goes on, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to detail God’s future purpose for that ancient people. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-04 a 6:00 am

A few comments on a most appropriate psalm for the people of God today.

Psalm 85 is one of the four chapters of God’s Word allocated in McCheyne’s Bible Reading calendar for reading and study on Saturday 31st May.

As I read it, I found it so appropriate and relevant to the circumstances prevailing in many places amongst the people of God, not least here in Northern Ireland.

I jotted down some observations as I read the Psalm and then felt that I should share them with our ‘Burning Bush’ readers.

So here they are, (a little enlarged) for whatever they are worth, and I trust the Psalm will bless you as it has blessed me — aye and much more!

1. «To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.» LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

‘It is the prayer of a patriot for his afflicted country, in which he pleads the Lord’s former mercies, and by faith foresees brighter days,’ C H Spurgeon.

As it was with Jacob, the nation of Israel, so it has ever been with the New Testament Church! How frequently the Lord has had to ‘bring us back’ from captivity! His bringing us back from captivity is a wonderful evidence of ‘favour’! The word means ’to take pleasure in’. What a favour is that!

2. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

What a ‘bringing back’ it has ever been! There is ‘forgiveness’ for our many sins which CAUSED our captivity. In our folly we abandoned the Lord and became slaves of that which oppressed us.

3. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

How we need to ever remember what backsliding and departure from ‘the Old Paths’ bring upon us! ‘Wrath and fierce anger’!

Sadly, God’s people repeatedly forget this truth and only learn it afresh when they begin to reap that sad harvest! “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting,” Galatians 6:7-8. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-06-01 a 6:00 am

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AN ANSWER TO FOUR LECTURES DELIVERED IN ENNISKILLEN CATHEDRAL BY THE BISHOP OF CLOGHER RICHARD HANSON

by

REV. IVAN FOSTER

Minister of Lisbellaw Free Presbyterian Church

Published as a booklet in 1970

 

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Ecumenism in the Clogher diocese received a shot in the arm (which could yet prove fatal) with the ascension of Dr. Richard Hanson to the Bishop’s throne. Members of the Church of Ireland in the diocese, while involved in the Romanising ecumenical movement by virtue of their Church affiliation, were in the great majority opposed to ecumenism. Such was their personal experience of the Roman Catholic Church that the fawning overtures of Romanism – reinforced by the tidbits of so-called reforms within its fold – did not fool or deceive them. This plain dislike for the principles of ecumenism stunted its growth and hindered its spread. To some extent the advent of Dr. Hanson changed that. He did something that no other ecumenical cleric in the diocese had done before. He came right out into the open with his ecumenism. I say this not to the praise of his courage, but rather I believe that a combination of pride and misjudgement resulted in the unveiling of the Bishop’s ecumenism. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-30 a 6:00 am

“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee,” Psalm 81:10-16.

As I read this Psalm this morning, one of the portions of God’s Word allocated for reading today in Robert Murray M‘Cheyne, Bible Reading Calendar, I recalled wth joy of heart the words of verse 10 : “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it”.

How often I heard my wife Ann, now in glory, plead these words before the Lord for the school she pioneered in Kilskeery in September 1979 until she went to be with the Lord. It was a promise given to her of the Lord in the very early days of the school. Her prayers, and those who joined with her in praying for the school, were wonderfully answered so that the little school, totally without Government aid of any kind, prospered and enjoyed spiritual and academic success.

However precious the memories provoked by the words in verse 10, the rest of the Psalm provokes thoughts of a very different nature. Here are not thoughts of God’s faithfulness and care but of the dire consequences of the disobedience of God’s people and the vexation such causes the Lord!

I. A REJECTING OF GOD’S WORD IS THE BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLES OF GOD’S PEOPLE.

That takes place, at least at the first, with NOT an outright rejection of the Bible, but a questioning of some portions which would deny us what we particularly like from within the realm of worldly and carnal activities.

The errors of Israel that led on to great sin and brought down a severe punishment upon those guilty, often started in relatively ‘small’ ways!

“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel,” Numbers 25:1-3.

The ‘beginning’ of that which resulted in the “anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel,” was the accepting of an invitation to ‘a feast’!

It went on from there. The road of disobedience is “dark and slippery” (Psalm 35:6) and is one that is very difficult to maintain one’s footing upon and, it being dark, it is easy to get lost! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-28 a 1:38 pm

“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead,” Acts 17:29-31.

Mankind generally has cast away the ‘Book of Certainties’, the Bible. In consequence, all that is left is a process of guessing which, in turn, ushers in nothing but continual reassessment of the path that our best deductions had us believe was the right path!

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death,” Proverbs 14:12.

It was part of the Gospel the apostles preached (and which we must also preach) that there are ‘certainties’ upon which we can utterly depend.

One of those is the appointed day, in which God “will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.”

This glorious truth must ever feature in our preaching!

Consider first of all . . .

I. THE VERY FIRST WORD OF VERSE 31 IS A CALL FOR ACTION

“Because he hath appointed a day.” Here is why men should repent.

1. Note that the ‘times’ before the universal Gospel era are called ‘times of ignorance’. Prior to the Gospel coming into our lives we were in darkness and ignorance of all that was of God. It would be true that mankind retained a faint awareness that there was a God, but as to His nature, character and His Law, men could only guess and speculate. That is the reason why the world is dotted with innumerable ‘religions’, all having their own ‘deities’ under a raft of titles and likenesses!

Even when they have constructed a ‘theology’ regarding their idols, they are still aware that they have not got it right.

It was because of his that the Athenians erected an altar, among their many altars, with the inscription, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” (Acts 17:23)

Zophar the Naamathite asked the question, “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” Job 11:7.

The answer, confirmed by history, is NO! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-26 a 6:00 am

Presbytery allowed Rev Ron Johnstone and Rev Marcus Lecky to make statements in Presbytery on 1st May. I only received on 22nd May a copy of what Rev Johnstone had said.

Presbytery Officers had given Rev Johnstone and Rev Lecky  permission to make personal statements about myself and Rev David Linden, five days before the Presbytery took place on May 1st, but did not inform myself or Rev Linden that such would be happening.

That was a clear breach of Rule 10.5, which states:

‘Presbytery business will be strictly according to an agenda agreed and compiled by the moderator and clerk. In normal circumstances, any member who wishes to have a matter raised must notify the clerk no later than one week before the meeting.

The Moderator will read the agenda at the start of the Presbytery meeting. Any business relating to any member of Presbytery shall be brought to the member’s attention as soon as possible.’

There was a period of at least 5 days in which we should have been informed.

Rev Johnstone’s statement to Presbytery is some 2000 words long but there is scant reference to the Bible except for direct reference to a verse in 1 Corinthians chapter 5. It was verse 11.

There is NOT ONE verse which justifies his actions which I criticised in my article and which he is complaining to Presbytery about. But rather a verse which he implies is an indication of my character.

The verse in question reads:

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

He then quotes Albert Barnes, whose full comment on the element of this verse that Rev Johnstone highlights is:

 “A reproachful man; a man of coarse, harsh, and bitter words; a man whose characteristic it was to abuse others; to vilify their character, and wound their feelings. It is needless to say how much this is contrary to the spirit of Christianity, and to the example of the Master, “who when he was reviled, reviled not again.”

It was repeatedly stated to me that Rev Johnstone, when making his statement to Presbytery, made no accusation against me.

Mr Johnstone delights in ‘oblique’ wording, but I can see no other meaning to his quoting the above verse than that he is applying it to me.

If that is the case, I can think of no greater accusation to be levelled against a minister, and yet the Commission has repeatedly stated that Rev Johnstone had levelled no charge against me in Presbytery! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-25 a 6:00 am

“In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden,” Isaiah 14:28.

Although I have already touched upon this, please notice the priority Isaiah has given to the future as planned by the Lord!

I. GOD’S WORD IN A DAY OF APOSTASY UNDERSCORES THE PROPHETIC FUTURE AS REVEALED BY HIM

1. Consider the opening verses of Isaiah 14. “For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,” verses 1-3.

Here we have the Lord indicating that a day is coming when He “will have mercy on Jacob.” Furthermore, He “will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land.” See as well that  it will be a day of the concession of the Gentile. “The strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.” Please also note that Israel will be assisted by the Gentiles in their return to their own land. “The people shall take them, and bring them to their place.” Especially note that it will be a day of domination by the former downtrodden Israelite! “The house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.”

I can imagine how comforting and encouraging such word would have been to a believing elect amongst the people of Judah back in the evil days of Ahaz!

Likewise, nothing uplifts the spirits of God’s people in these days than an emphasis upon what is set froth in the Bible regard the triumphant future of the saints of God.

Paul the Apostle followed this principle and practice in the days when the church in Thessalonica was troubled and afflicted. “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost,” 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

Even though Paul was only amongst them for some three Sabbath days, he still taught the recent converts prophetic truth!

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him,” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10.

How different were these believers from today’s average Christian! And how different was Paul’s message from today’s weak preaching! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-22 a 12:00 pm

Here is a new article published by Rev David Dicanio about the subject, “Music, Affections, & Fruit: What Shapes the Heart?”

 

Rev. Dicanio is the country director of Free Grace Gospel Mission in Liberia.

You can subscribe to his monthly newsletter at this email address: info@fggmil.org

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Ivan Foster

Posted on 2026-05-21 a 6:00 am

UK companies linked to payments for small-boat crossings, BBC finds

Doubtless, the headline I have headed this article with will be deemed ‘racist’!

This what the ‘liberals’ and the ‘wokists’ have brought our nation to! Nothing of the truth concerning developments in the nation can be addressed as it truly is. Instead, we are threatened and coerced into a frame of mind akin to that denounced by the Lord long ago.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20.

Good has become evil and evil good in the religious, social  and political branches of our national affairs. Further more, we are not only expected to go along with this new definition of acceptable ethics, but we have to be prepared to support such out of the public purse, our purse!

State benefits support to a shocking degree the consequences  of the immorality of a sizeable sections of society. The perverting of the ‘social conscience’ by the godless mandarins, who dictate the direction of the nation from behind the scenes, have brought about multitudes who, without shame, live well on the fruits of their immorality!

Yes, there is a need to support those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. That is a teaching of the Bible. But it is also taught in the Holy Scriptures that immorality, laziness and deceitfulness is not to be rewarded!

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread,” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-20 a 6:00 am

‘Burning Yet Flourishing’

The Birth And Early History Of The Free Presbyterian Church

This video was made in 1987 by ‘Let The Bible Speak’ and its narrator is the late Dr Alan Cairns, the founder of  LTBS.

It contains interviews with devoted servants of God who have gone to glory, including some of those from the earliest days of the Free Presbyterian Church.

I commend it to the readers of the Burning Bush because I believe it presents one of the best accounts of our early history and has about it a strong ambiance and ‘flavour’ of true Free Presbyterianism, which our younger generation  need to know and embrace!

On a personal level, it contains an interview with Ann, my dear wife who went into the presence of the Saviour some 2 years ago, interviewed outside the school she pioneered.

I also caught a glimpse of some of my own children, now parents and grand parents, playing outside Kilskeery Independent Christian school on that day.

I trust it will prompt you all to pray:

“Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved,” Psalm 80:19.

Posted on 2026-05-18 a 5:29 pm

“In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden,” Isaiah 14:28.

Today (15th May, 2026) I read this chapter 14 of Isaiah’s prophecy, rejoicing at how wonderfully the Lord shares His purpose with regards Israel and the whole world, with His people in a day of Judah’s sin and rebellion in high places.

The word “burden” is simply a reference to the Word of God which lay heavy upon the heart of the prophet. There are few sermons today that are preached from a ‘burdened’ heart!

The Internet and not the Bible

Sadly, all too often the source of sermons in today’s pulpits, even those which pass as evangelical and fundamentalist, is something ‘filched’ from the internet and which, no matter how sound in doctrine it may be, becomes just a meaningless, frivolous recitation of powerless words, for they are NOT given of the Holy Ghost!

In this case, Isaiah was a “burdened” man! It is little wonder the servant of the Lord was distressed in his soul! We are told that this message was preached “in the year that king Ahaz died.”

King Ahaz was a most wicked king. The Lord summed up his life in these words.

“Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree,” 2 Kings 16:2-4.

Despite having witnessed the overthrow of the ten northern tribes, the kingdom of Israel, Ahaz “walked in the way of the kings of Israel.” That is how blind, stubborn and stupidly wicked men can be!

We are told in 2 Kings 17, “In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him. Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents. And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison. Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,” Verses 1-6.

A Witness That Did Not Deter

Ahaz witnessed the consequences of Hoshea’s rebellion against the Lord. The ten tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by the king of Assyria but he learned nothing from it! Judah would have seen the sad procession of enslaved captives passing her ‘door’ as it were, on their way into Assyrian bondage.

Present Generation

In the lifetime of the present generation there has been abundant evidence of the price paid by the ecumenical churches for their rebellion against the Lord. They are riddled with the ‘leprosy’ of liberalism and the soul-damning doctrines of this Gospel-denying age!

Have we not also witnessed here in Northern Ireland the downfall of the Democratic Unionist Party, once the ‘behemoth’ of Unionism, following its shameful and reprehensible decision to cast overboard all it professed to  stand for and hold dear for the ‘mess of pottage’ of entering  government as the partner of Sinn Fein/IRA?

From this act of betrayal, hailed by ecumenists and republicans alike, it has descended into embracing lesbianism, sodomy and being guilty of many deceitful betrayals of all that our fathers were prepared to die in order to maintain!

Across The Water

The same picture of the terrible harvest of trampling underfoot the Laws of God has been witnessed across the Irish Sea in mainland Britain. Who can aptly describe the chaos and confusion, the downright absurdity, of British politics at this present time?

These things are but the inevitable harvest of defiance and contempt for God and His Word. We are warned of such an outcome of defiance of God in Galatians 6:7-8.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Here in Ulster there is the same blind folly to be seen amongst Christians who choose to ignore the clear warning signs all around — and that includes Free Presbyterian ministers! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-16 a 9:19 pm

A Free Presbyterian minister affirms submission to the follow questions at his ordination.

Will you maintain with all the strength God shall give you the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland?

As God helps you will you expose and resist the continued apostasy from Christ manifested within Irish Presbyterianism, Methodism, Episcopalianism and other visible church bodies; exhorting God’s people to obey the teaching and commandment of 1 Timothy 6: 3-5?

The following Facebook advert was sent to me . . . .

 

How many more Free Presbyterian ministers are ready to stand in the pulpits of the apostate denomination and by their actions endorse ecumenism, liberal theology and encourage people to continue defying God by their support of denominations in rebellion against God’s Word?

I am convinced that when they are in such pulpits there is never a word spoken against ecumenism and apostasy!

Here is God’s command to all of His people.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,”

2 Corinthians 6:17-18.

Entering the pulpit of a denomination in rebellion against God is much more than a TOUCH!

Will men not learn from the shaming debacle Rev Paul Thompson got himself into by such folly?

Such public articles as this is a doing of that which our Presbytery leadership is failing to do!

The present spirit of disobedience within our ranks have not gone unnoticed by the the Lord but rather it has “entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth,” James 5:4.

Even an ‘ass’ can see and understand the Lord’s opposition to what foolish men insist on engaging in!

Numbers 22:22-34.

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear,” 1 Timothy 5:20.

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
13h May 2026

Posted on 2026-05-13 a 5:31 pm

“The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth,” Ecclesiastes 12:10.

Earlier today, I had started and almost finished an examination of a statement issued by Rev Paul Thompson yesterday, defending his decision to participate in a meeting in Draperstown Presbyterian Church, which I, and others, had criticised.

The organisers of the meeting was a group going by the Irish name:

The sympathies of this organisation may be understood by considering the activities of the man who is its secretary:

Mr Seán Mac Giolla Fhiondáin

I understand from a Google search, that his name basically means, ‘Son of the servant of St. Fionnán/Brendan. The name derives from Giolla Fhiondáin, where Giolla means devotee or servant, and Fhiondáin refers to the saint. While there are multiple Irish saints named Fionnán, the name is often associated with Saint Finnian of Clonard.’

Hmmm!!!!!

This individual recently took part in a ‘commemoration gathering’, honouring the IRA terrorists shot by the army during their attack on Loughgall police station, back in 1987.

I left off that article because the following statement had been issued by Rev Paul Thompson.

That statement would imply that Rev Thompson was not acquainted with the character of the organisation from which he had accepted an invitation to speak at a meeting in Draperstown Presbyterian Church.

If I believed that, then I must consider Mr Thompson quite a naive fool to accept an invitation from an organisation that went under an Irish name and yet he did not investigate just who or what it was he was getting involved with!

I simply do not believe that Mr Thompson is an ‘innocent abroad’. I must reject the implication that he did not know who he was getting mixed up with!

Last Year

I posted an article back in April last year, entitled:

The Irish Language and the Sinn Fein/IRA campaign to extort more money from the public purse to finance their ‘Gaelitising’ Ulster!

It was a response to a report by the BBC here in Northern Ireland, of a meeting in Antrim. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-12 a 6:07 pm

My recent post and email of the advertisement of a meeting in Draperstown Presbyterian Church has prompted some to allege that the meeting announced in this advert is not linked to Draperstown Presbyterian Church!

One Free Presbyterian has been circulating the following, ‘It is kindly granted. It’s a Historical Society using a vacant church building to facilitate Paul to preach the Gospel.’

That being so, somebody failed to tell the Draperstown Presbyterian Church minister!

Here is the advert again and also a video of the minister of that church making the announcement.

The video – about 45 seconds into the announcement
Please note the words by the minster, ‘Here in the church . . . ‘

Perhaps the video of an announcement in that church will help people to make up their minds as to the truth!

Sincerely in Christ’s name,

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
11th May 2026

Posted on 2026-05-11 a 6:05 pm

AND OUR PRESBYTERY LEADERS WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE:  ‘WE HAVE NOT CHANGED!’

Does this look like Rev Thompson is keeping the terms of the oath he took at his ordination?

“As God helps you will you expose and resist the continued apostasy from Christ manifested within Irish Presbyterianism, Methodism, Episcopalianism and other visible church bodies; exhorting God’s people to obey the teaching and commandment of 1 Timothy 6: 3-5?”

1 Timothy 6:3-5 states: “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

The minister of Draperstown Presbyterian Church does not “consent to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness” for he refuses God’s command to separate from the apostasy of Irish Presbyterianism.

This is but yet another indication that there are those within the Free Presbyterian Church who are determined that the stand taken in Crossgar 75 years ago, in obedience to God’s Word, is overturned.

Sadly, all too many are either too scared, not interested, or just fast asleep, to raise a protest!

The Lord’s attitude toward those who would go back to apostasy is plain.

“And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt. . . And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they,” Numbers 14:4, 11-12.

The will of God for His faithful is still that which motivated our separatist forefathers 75 years ago! “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Those who are abandoning these commands of God and encourage others to join in their rebellion, are ill spoken of in God’s Word! Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-11 a 5:56 pm

or  The agnostic evolutionist who repeatedly and inadvertently demonstrates to millions the truth of God’s Word!

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear,” Hebrews 11:3.

The Greek word translated in our text by the phrase, “we understand”, is NOIEO. It means ‘to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding.’

1. Those who believe the inspired record of God creating all that we see around and above us, stretching out into the immensity of the universe, are enabled ‘to perceive with the mind’ just how this has come into existence and rejoice in that knowledge

Those who follow the subject of man’s excavations of the earth’s record of former times, with any degree of dedication, will have noted how many times we read headlines which may be generalised as :—

‘Experts discover new evidence which throws in doubt former opinions on the origin of all things.’

I read the following statement recently:

‘As of early 2026, several groundbreaking scientific discoveries—primarily from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and CERN—have challenged the conventional Big Bang model and, by extension, traditional understandings of the origin of the universe, galaxies, and matter. These findings suggest that the early universe was far more mature, complex, and active than previously believed.’

Such is the repeated history of the unbelievers’ guesswork as to the origin of all things!

There has been a constant and necessary casting aside of yesterday’s ‘certainties’ and an embracing of yet another short-lived confident definition of the most ‘certain’ truth of how all things began, by Bible-rejecting ‘experts’!

Faith’s Response

All the while, the one who embraces by faith what the Lord says in Genesis chapter 1, finds in the latest discoveries which demolish the ‘authoritative’ declarations of yesterday of the evolutionists, but confirmation of the Bible’s account.

Student

While a student back in the mid-‘60s, part of my theological studies, under the late Dr Alan Cairns, involved an in-depth study of “The Genesis Flood.”

It was much more than helpful in my grasping of how unbelieving man’s searching of the fossil records was but fully endorsing of God’s account of creation.

Of course, palaeontologists, who are disciples of Darwin, place upon such discoveries the most ludicrous interpretations. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-11 a 6:00 am

Posted on 2026-05-09 a 6:51 pm

(My letter to the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ in response)

Dear Editor,

I note that Caroline Cunningham, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, NSPCC Northern Ireland, has made no response to my letter while replying to Dr Birnie’s letter.

Physical punishment of children has no place in today’s society – the Northern Ireland Assembly must act now to remove outdated law

Her reply contains no reference whatever to the Law of God to which I referred.

Might I suggest she should tell the public why experts, ever given to rescinding, changing and abandoning their ‘opinions’ most frequently, having to change because time displays their errors and mistakes, should be heeded rather than the Lord on the matter of disciplining children?

The first Person in the Godhead is the FATHER.

Bearing such a name, He is described in the answer to the 7th question of the Larger Catechism, as being ‘infinite in being, all-sufficient, unchangeable, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.’

That being so, would He not know how children should be disciplined better than any mortal being?

Perhaps Caroline Cunningham could tell us why she ‘out-ranks’ God in knowledge and wisdom, and why she should become the authority on this vital subject, rather than the Word of God?

Sincerely,

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
Kilskeery, Co. Tyrone
8th May 2026

Posted on 2026-05-08 a 11:18 pm

By Rev Samuel Fitton
Minister of Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church

In June 1872, Charles Haddon Spurgeon preached on the words of 1st Kings 18:40. In his introduction, he made the remark that “unholy compromises are the fashion of the day.” He went on to describe some of the specific issues facing biblical Christianity at that time. Although almost 154 years have passed since those words were uttered from the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, nothing has changed. If anything, such unholy compromises are even more popular today!

It is the duty of a minister of the Gospel, as a watchman, to warn the people of God about such things lest they be led astray into error.

“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” (Ezekiel 33:6-7)

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2nd Timothy 4:1-2)

Therefore, the purpose of this article is to warn Christians about the “unholy compromises” of the upcoming March For Jesus that is to be held in Belfast on May 16th 2026. So, in considering this event, I want to set three questions before you:

I. WHAT IS MARCH FOR JESUS?

The official website describes it as follows: “March for Jesus Belfast is a large-scale, non-political, family-friendly public event celebrating the Christian faith. The event brings together churches and Christians from across the land in worship, prayer, and public testimony to exalt the Name of Jesus Christ in the heart of Belfast.”

This description immediately reveals the ecumenical nature of the event as it desires to bring churches and ‘Christians’ together for worship, prayer and public testimony. One advertising video by Pastor Ryan Penn of Island Church, Londonderry further encourages such unity and the setting aside of differences. This is the language of ecumenism, by which I mean the setting aside of biblical doctrine and separation in order to create a visible outward unity. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-08 a 6:08 pm

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 18:3.

Recently, there was some good parliamentary news!

Assisted dying bill runs out of time

What is sad is that the supporters of the bill, who would make legal this ungodly and heathen practice, have vowed to continue campaigning for its acceptance.

‘Supporters said they would not give up and were confident the legislation would return in the next session of Parliament, which will begin on 13 May.’

This is what the departure from the Word of God, led by ecumenists and liberals in the professing Church of Christ, has brought the nation to!

The enemies of truth do not give up in their campaigning to destroy truth and have the ‘lie of the devil’ embraced.

It is said in Luke’s account of the devil’s temptation of Christ:“And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season,” Luke 4:13.

The devil had not given up! He planned to be back!

Neither do those who blindly seek to promote his interests!

Distressing

One of the most distressing news reports that all too frequently appears is that of someone being assisted to end their life. One headline recently appeared which indicated the growing acceptance of that which the Lord utterly forbids!

‘Swiss assisted dying clinic accepts five Britons a month’

The sixth commandment is explicit:— “Thou shalt not kill,” Exodus 20:13. That means we must not unlawfully kill others OR ourselves. That clinic in Switzerland is a house of murder!

Our dying is in the hands of the Lord.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” Hebrews 9:27.

As our birth took place without our having any part in its timing so it is with our death.

Suffering

Yes, often pain and much suffering is linked to dying, though in these days of advanced medical treatment and care, that is thankfully greatly reduced from former times.

However, such suffering is a solemn reminder of the awful consequences of the fall of Adam and the outworking of the sinful natures we have inherited from our surety and the father of mankind.

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return,” Genesis 3:17-19.

All around us, in the fields and our gardens is the living proof of the curse that sin has brought upon this world.

Furthermore, the fruit of sin in our bodies brings inevitable pain and suffering, both physical, mental and spiritual.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” Galatians 5:19-21.

The closing words of this passage sets forth the ETERNAL harvest of sin — “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-06 a 6:00 am

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” Song of Solomon 8:5

I understand that at the Presbytery meeting of Friday 1st May, I, along with Rev David Linden was charged with wrong-doing by Rev Ron Johnstone and Rev Marcus Lecky.

I was not informed that this would be taking place nor have I been officially notified yet of the charge laid against me.

The Free Presbyterian Church Book of Church Order, Chapter 10.5, states:—

‘Any business relating to any member of Presbytery shall be brought to the member’s attention as soon as possible.’

Since both Rev Linden and myself are on the phone it would have been an easy matter to have informed us before the meeting of Presbytery that this was going to happen. The Presbytery officers would have been informed of the matter otherwise it could not have been raised without notice.

Furthermore, I was phoned by Rev Marcus Lecky just after 5.00 pm on the Friday evening, but he did not tell me that he was about to charge me with wrong-doing, which in the circumstances seems rather remiss of him!

I understand that the attention of the Moderator was drawn to this obvious violation of the above rule that was taking place, but that was dismissed as not applying in this instance!

I await with confidence in the Lord that the matter will be resolved and sin exposed and, under the grace of God, it will prove a means of the Free Presbyterian Church returning to its first love and works.

This morning I read The Song of Solomon, chapter 8 and the verse 5, as part of my daily reading.

I had planned to send out in a day or so a message I preached on this verse twenty years ago. However, in the light of recent events, I thought I would send it out this morning.

The text poses a question that is very worthy of consideration in a day when Christians are bombarded with men’s thoughts and reasonings, without reference to the Word of God, and are being urged to lean on such unscriptural notions.

Such reasoning will draw us away from Christ and encourage us to cease to lean on His immoveable, all powerful shoulder and instead trust in the proud thoughts of men.

It will result in the same outcome as endured by disobedient Israel long ago. “And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand,” Ezekiel 29:6-7.

Man’s reasoning is but a ‘broken reed’ from which no help or support will come, only disappointment and disaster!

To heed and respond to such unscriptural reasonings has ever been the first step out of God’s will and on to the path of backsliding for an individual or a church, and then eventual apostasy.

It happened 100 years ago in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and it will happen to us in the Free Presbyterian Church if we likewise cease to lean ONLY on the Lord and His Word for guidance and instruction in righteousness.

The Song of Solomon is a love song which celebrates the affectionate relationship between Christ and His spouse, the Church, under the terms expressive of the loving relationship between a husband and wife.

In these days of unbridled impropriety and licence, the terminology of this song is very much open to misunderstanding and abuse. However, the sanctified heart and mind will see only the purity and delights of the unbounded love of Christ for His people and the response to that love that grace engenders within the regenerated soul.

“We love him, because he first loved us,” 1 John 4:19.

From our text please observe the pilgrimage of the child of God from the wilderness to the wonders of heaven and the only enduring source of support and comfort — our Beloved Saviour!

Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)

3rd May 2026

Posted on 2026-05-03 a 12:27 pm

“‭Remember‭‭ therefore‭ from whence‭ thou art fallen‭‭, and‭ repent‭‭, and‭ do‭‭ the first‭ works‭; or else‭ I will come‭‭ unto thee‭ quickly‭, and‭ will remove‭‭ thy‭ candlestick‭ out of‭ his‭ place‭, except‭ thou repent‭‭,‭” Revelation 2:5.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I believe I may respectfully and reverently paraphrase the Saviour’s words in this manner:

“If you do not face up to the fact that you have backslidden and departed from what you once believed and practiced and return to your former ways, I will swiftly cast you off for you are on the doorstep of apostasy.”

We should remember that these words are addressed by the Saviour to a church which before was spoken of by Paul the Apostle in these words.

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Ephesians 2:12-22‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‭That‭ at‭ that‭ time‭ ye were‭‭ without‭ Christ‭, being aliens‭‭ from the commonwealth‭ of Israel‭, and‭ strangers‭ from the covenants‭ of promise‭, having‭‭ no‭ hope‭, and‭ without God‭ in‭ the world‭:‭ ‭but‭ now‭ in‭ Christ‭ Jesus‭ ye‭ who‭ sometimes‭ were‭‭ far off‭ are made‭‭ nigh‭ by‭ the blood‭ of Christ‭.‭ ‭For‭ he‭ is‭‭ our‭ peace‭, who‭ hath made‭‭ both‭ one‭, and‭ hath broken down‭‭ the middle wall‭ of partition‭ ‭between us‭;‭ ‭having abolished‭‭ in‭ his‭ flesh‭ the enmity‭, ‭even‭ the law‭ of commandments‭ ‭contained‭ in‭ ordinances‭; for to‭ make‭‭ in‭ himself‭ of twain‭ one‭‭ new‭ man‭, ‭so‭ making‭‭ peace‭;‭ ‭and‭ that he might reconcile‭‭ both‭ unto God‭ in‭ one‭ body‭ by‭ the cross‭, having slain‭‭ the enmity‭ thereby‭‭:‭ ‭and‭ came‭‭ and preached‭‭ peace‭ to you‭ which‭ were afar off‭, and‭ to them that were nigh‭.‭ ‭For‭ through‭ him‭ we‭‭ both‭ have‭‭ access‭ by‭ one‭ Spirit‭ unto‭ the Father‭.‭ ‭Now‭ therefore‭ ye are‭‭ no more‭ strangers‭ and‭ foreigners‭, but‭ fellowcitizens‭ with the saints‭, and‭ of the household‭ of God‭;‭ ‭and are built‭‭ upon‭ the foundation‭ of the apostles‭ and‭ prophets‭, Jesus‭ Christ‭ himself‭ being‭‭ the chief corner‭ ‭stone‭;‭ ‭in‭ whom‭ all‭ the building‭ fitly framed together‭‭ groweth‭‭ unto‭ an holy‭ temple‭ in‭ the Lord‭:‭ ‭in‭ whom‭ ye‭ also‭ are builded together‭‭ for‭ an habitation‭ of God‭ through‭ the Spirit‭.‭” ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It was a church of those gathered out of the darkness and ignorance of idolatry, a people without God, without hope and afar off. But they experienced reconciliation with God through the blood of the Lord Jesus and were now resting upon the foundation of the Holy Scriptures and enjoyed Holy Ghost fellowship with God the Father and were His holy habitation.

But see where they are just some thirty years later! They had “fallen”, no longer engaging in their first zealous works of holiness.

I. THE SAVIOUR CALLS UPON THEM TO REMEMBER FROM WHENCE THEY HAD FALLEN.

In this seventy fifth year of our existence as a denomination, just how much REMEMBERING of the stand taken by our founders and the generation that followed, has truly taken place?

I would claim there has really been very little.

Historical data

Oh yes, the details of the actions in Crossgar back in 1951, of Dr Paisley and the elders in the Lissara congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, have been repeated in a number of gatherings. The details of how the Presbytery of Down refused to allow a Gospel mission, at which Dr Paisley was the invited evangelist, to take place in church property, have been rehearsed.

But just how much of the ‘spirit of separation’ that our founders possessed and lived out, exists today amongst us?

There is not that much, in truth, when Free Presbyterian ministers can share meetings with ministers within the apostate denominations and our Presbytery has sanctioned such an ‘undoing’ of that step taken in Crossgar seventy-five years ago!

We are in grave danger of repeating the folly of Judah for which the Lord chided them by His servant Jeremiah. Click to read more…

Posted on 2026-05-01 a 6:00 am