I preached at the Sunday evening service at Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.
Afterward, I had the pleasure of speaking at the open-air in Kilskeery that evening.
It was lovely to have the weather to get outside to speak to our neighbours.
Please ignore my singing at the start – it was unavoidable.
We wanted you to hear all of the brief witness.
The Lord bless you.
Sincerely in Christ’s name, Ivan Foster.
Sunday Evening Service:
Open air meeting:
If like me you use Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s Bible Reading Calendar, then you will see that Matthew 24 is part of the schedule for today.
My reading again of this portion brought me much joy and prompted me to consider the words in verse 8: “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
As is my habit, I was prompted to start making a few notes and this developed into the following study which I hope to continue on a weekly basis.
I can but pray that the Lord is pleased to bless it to your comfort, edification, joy and spiritual benefit.
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster
THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS, Part 1
“All these are the beginning of sorrows,” Matthew 24:8.
Thoughts arising from my reading of this chapter as part of my daily reading today and which are the first section of a brief study of Mathew 24:1-31.
I hope to continue the study on a weekly basis.
Like so many of God’s people throughout the ages since Matthew recorded these words, I have delighted in this chapter. Yet, it is a chapter which all too many have misunderstood and made the basis of false notions. The lack of clarity of the Word of God is not to be blamed for this nor would we be correct in concluding that such error arises because God’s Word is hard to be understood. It is our foolish tendency to jump to conclusions without due consideration that causes misunderstanding and folly. The ‘golden rule’ of Scriptural interpretation is “rightly dividing the word of truth”. That is, “comparing spiritual things with spiritual,” 1 Corinthians 2:13. Thus we will be led to an understanding of ‘the mind of the Lord,’ 1 Corinthians 2:16.
I have ever rejoiced at the Saviour’s readiness to answer the questions of His disciples. “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you,” Matthew 24:3-4.
Please note:
1. These questions arose from the Saviour’s troubling disclosure.
“And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down,” Matthew 24:2. Men have ever loved the OUTWARD symbols of religion. Even among true Bible believers the outward may take the place of that of which it merely is a witness. In this case the temple with its beauty, had become more important than the ONE Who was to be worshipped there! (more…)
While listening to the unfolding of events in London today, with Boris Johnston resigning his post as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister in humiliation and ignominy, I was reminded of the wonderful old text of God’s Word.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,”Galatians 6:7.
I noticed that he described the system of politics here as ‘Darwinian’ and that it would continue and provide leadership for the nation.
If only he realised how ironically true his words are. ‘Darwinianism’ is another name for the false notion of ‘evolution’, which claims that things are improving and getting better. The opposite is the case of course, as the testimony of every graveyard declares.
Boris will be followed by one who will prove and even greater failure.
So says the Word of God.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,”2 Timothy 3:13.
As a result of the turmoil in London, we in Northern Ireland now have a new Secretary of State, Shailesh Vara. He is a Hindu!!! (more…)