Special services

Part 1

Here is the substance of the open-air meeting, held July 1st on Kilskeery’s village green following the evening service. We hope to have a recording made of the continuation of this vital subject in the next open-air, which in the will of the Lord, will take place next Lord’s Day evening. The preacher was Rev Ivan Foster.

Scripture: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,”  Rev 22:20.

This is the third time in this chapter that the Saviour states this glorious truth. Verse 7: “Behold, I come quickly.” And and verse 12: “And, behold, I come quickly.”

Let there be no doubt about this matter – JESUS IS COMING AGAIN!

Please note this great truth.

I. THE LORD  JESUS IS COMING AGAIN TO THIS WORLD FROM WHICH HE LEFT 2000 YEARS AGO.
1. The last words of a person are always important. Great respect and honour is given to a person’s “last will and testimony” for they are their last words.
Christ’s very last words would have men know that He IS coming again.

2. That He repeats these words adds importance to them. How the Saviour wants us all, especially the Christian, never to forget that He will return one day. The Christian in turn is charged with testifying to the world of His return.
There is very, very little consideration given to this truth, even amongst Christians, yet the last words in the Bible are all about Christ coming back.

I stand opposite a graveyard tonight. Often at the open grave these words have been read. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you,” John 14:1-2. But this sweet passage does not end there. The next verse declares: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also,” John 14:3.
Little thought is ever given to these wonderful words. Please think about this great event which affect us all and be prepared for it.

3. His second coming will differ greatly from His first coming.
a. The Second Time He will come Visibly. Jerusalem and Herod did not know that the “King of the Jews” had come. The shepherds would not have know had not the angels told them. Only Mary and Joseph knew about the coming of the Messiah.
But it will not be so at His second coming!
“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen,” Revelation 1:7.

b. The Second Time He will come Gloriously. How mean were the surroundings of the manager in which Christ was laid the first time. But His second coming will be marked by a splendour and glory the like of which this world has never seen before.
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory,” Luke 21:25-27.

c. The Second Time He will come Triumphantly. During His earthly ministry, the Saviour was the subject of man’s verbal and physical abuse. The events that led up to His cross were marked by the Lord Jesus being humiliated by men. “As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men,” Isaiah 52:14. “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. . . . . He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:2-3, 7-9.

How different it will when He comes again!

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS,” Revelation 19:11-16.
Tell me, have you ever thought about this wonderful event that lies in the future, and maybe not in the too distant future. Have you made preparation for that day.

Matthew 22, in the parable of the Marriage of the King’s Son speaks of one who was not properly prepared for the event. “Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:8-14.

If we would be ready for Christ’s return we need to now don the spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness which alone will fit us for His glorious presence when He returns.

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Part 2

Stream or download Jesus is coming again, Part 2

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II. HIS COMING IS MOST CERTAIN

1. God’s truthfulness assures us Christ will come again. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began,” Titus 1:2.
“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up,” 2 Peter 3:8-10.

2. The fulfilment of the promise of His first coming shows that. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” Gal 4:4.

3. The justice of God assures us that Christ will come again. Mankind cannot go on defying God more and more. “To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him,” Jude 1:15.

4. We are given pictures of the day in prophecy. Prophecy is history written before it happens! We are given many wonderful details about Christ’s return. 1 Thess 4:15-18.  What is a comfort to Christians ought to be a warning to any not saved!

Stream or download this message.

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“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. . . . Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved, . . . Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. . . . Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved,” Psalm 80:1, 3, 7, 19.

The opening verse brings us to the days of Israel marching to the promised land. The placement of the tribes was ordained of God. The three tribes mentioned here followed after the Kohathites who carried the Ark of the Covenant, the very symbol of God’s presence amongst His people.

“And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came. And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies,” Num 10:21-22.

When the people of God are going forward as God intends them to proceed then their eyes will ever be on the blood-sprinkled Ark. It is there that God meets with us. “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel,” Exodus 25:22.

If we are in communion with God this is where we will be.

Of course this is a symbol of the very place we seek to enter today.

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,” Hebrews 10:19-22.

The Psalmist repeatedly asks for a “shining forth.” In Psalm 94:1 the word is translated “shew thyself.” That is what we look for today.We come to “see the Lord”. Not with the physical eye but with the eyes of faith. Hebs 1:1, 27.

I want us to consider the repeated request today.

I. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS IN THE PLACE OF PRAYER THAT WE WILL SEE OUR NEED AND OWN IT.
“Turn us.” We need turning from backsliding. Word means: ‘recover’!
1. Do we see the evidence of our backsliding? Verses 4-6,12-13, 16.
2. Are we willing to humbly and brokenly acknowledge it.
3. Will we pray for restoration? There is a price to pay!

II. UNDERSTANDING OUR NEED, WE SEE THE MERCY OF GOD MORE CLEARLY.
1. At best our view of God’s mercy is limited. At best, we “see through a glass darkly,” 1 Cor 13:12.
2. In the place of prayer the blessings we have lost sight of come before us again. Verses 8-11. How we have forgotten (occupied with other things) what the Lord has done for us! Jer 2:32, 3:21.
3. Here is where God reveals Himself. Ps 94:1.

III. THE SHOWING OF GOD’S FACE IN THE PRAYER MEETING IS OUR SALVATION
1. In the face of the Lord we see ALL His mercy toward us. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” 2 Corinthians 4:6.
There is a clarity spoken of here.
2. Seeing it clearly we do not hesitate to claim in faith the blessings. Vague understandings of God’s mercy breeds unbelief!
3. Thus in the prayer meeting the victory is gained. “So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad,” 1 Samuel 1:18.
That is what Jehoshaphat learned. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD,” 2 Chronicles 20:17-8.
Seeing God’s mercy and power let us claim the victory today.

Kilskeery FPC Communion Service message, Lord’s Day, 14th January 2018, at 3.00 pm
Preacher : Rev Ivan Foster (Rtr)

“But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom,” Matthew 26:29.
“Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God,” Mark 14:25.
“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come,” Luke 22:18.

Stream or download The Saviour’s abstinence in His absence

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The Kingdom of God amongst men began with the salvation of Adam. All the OT saints were in it. “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven,” Matthew 8:11.

Entrance into the kingdom has ever been by way of the new birth. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” John 3:5.

Whenever the gospel is preached the kingdom is brought near. “And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God,” Mark 12:34.

There have been different dispensations of the kingdom. The Patriarchs, the Mosaic Law and today’s administration, the age of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. “And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power,” Mark 9:1.

There is a future manifestation of the kingdom. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand,” Luke 21:23-31.

It is to the coming of that era that the Saviour is referring in our texts.

I. Here is an aspect of the communion remembrance feast that is often overlooked or ignored.

“I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” This clearly states something which does not fit into the eschatology of many who deny that there is a Millennial Kingdom so these words are largely ignored.

II. It refers to a most happy reunion.

“I drink it new with you.” It surely speaks of celebration, a gathering again of the lord with His people of which the last supper was a foreshadowing.
“And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed (happy) are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God,” Revelation 19:8-9.

III. There are three different terms used of the kingdom in the three accounts of the last supper.

“Drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” A Family Gathering.

“Drink it new in the kingdom of God.” The world’s day is over. “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth,” Revelation 11:15-18.

“I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” There is a reference to a future manifestation of God’s kingdom, “shall come.”

The kingdom of God is amongst us today but there is a manifestation of it that lies in the future. As the kingdom of God in the days of Abraham differed in its administration from how it appeared in the Mosaic age and again from how it appears today so there is a future period in which it will differed yet again – the Millennial Age when the Saviour will directly govern the affairs of this world and His people will reign with Him.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years,” Revelation 20:4.

The Communion Table and its divinely appointed emblems speak to us today of that coming kingdom.