Giving their Kingdoms to the Beast - The Present and Future Course of European Nations

For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled, Revelation 17:17 

Leaving aside the particular details of what David Cameron has negotiated, or not, one overriding truth is very evident, namely, that there is a continuing desire among European nations for the centralising of power. Keeping also in mind that the reality of what has been negotiated will be somewhat different to the 'spin' that the Prime Minister and his spin doctors will present to the electorate over coming days, this desire to centralise power will not be given up easily or willingly.

Whatever the outcome of the upcoming Referendum in the United Kingdom, upon David Cameron's negotiations with these other Europeans nations, there is a general direction that European nations are travelling. It is ever onwards to centralised control, with less democracy and the rise of bureaucratic control. It is these features that will aid the rise of Antichrist in coming days!

Events in Europe, and also in the Middle East, ought ever to be of interest to the Bible believer. These two areas of the world are going to play a significant part in the events that lead up to the coming of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus, to this world a second time. 

Before that great event comes about, there will be the rise of Antichrist, the man of sin. A number of the nations of Europe will play an important role in his rise and development.

Evolution a 'Theory' - so says the Introduction to The Origin of Species

A Headteacher in Lancashire has been mocked and ridiculed on Twitter for claiming evolution is not a fact. She tweeted: Evolution is not a fact. That’s why it’s called a theory! There’s more evidence that the Bible is true. It was sent in response to another Headteacher who urged teachers to stick to science when teaching the origins of life. Richard Dawkins has even weighed into the argument.

See here - The Guardian - Headteacher mocked on Twitter for claiming evolution is not a fact.

In light of the furore that has arisen about this comment it is worth remembering what was once written by Dr Leonard Harrison Matthews [1901-1986] in the Introduction to an edition of Darwin's Origin of Species. Matthews was a British zoologist and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was especially known for his research and writings on marine mammals. He was certainly no believer in creationism!

Manasseh - the Old Testament Prodigal Son

Manasseh was an unique and privileged individual. He was born during the 15 years that were added to his father Hezekiah's life. He was a royal prince brought up in the palace of a king. He went on to succeed his father upon the throne of Judah. He was also the Old Testament's prodigal son!

We read of Manasseh in 2 Kings 21 v 1-18; 2 Chronicles 33 v 10-13.

I. Manasseh was a Privileged but Wayward King. 

For all his privileges in the royal house:

He lived in complete opposition to the ways of his father. Manasseh scorned that which his father worshipped; and worshipped that which his father scorned. Of Hezekiah it is said that: he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Of Manasseh it is said: he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

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Parenting Prodigal Children

A synopsis of a sermon preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church 

on Lord's day morning 1st September 2013 as part of a series on the Family

Genesis 26:34,35: And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Despite all the instruction imparted by Christian parents; despite all the efforts and desires of Christian parents to train their children in the ways of God and to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; despite all the prayers that they have offered up to God at the throne of grace; there are times when Christian parents are faced with the distressing situation that their children rebel against their parental authority; and worse still against the Lord and against the Gospel of saving grace.

It is that situation that I want to address this Lord's day. What are Christian parents to do? How do they bear this heavy cross? What relief is there to be found that might alleviate this burden just a little?

In considering children as part of the family we have been stressing the importance of teaching them and instructing them in the ways of God; of training them up in the way that they should go and not in the way they want to go.

Every parent, who truly professes Jesus Christ as Saviour, and who is walking in fellowship with Christ, will desire that their children come to know Christ and follow Christ. Their desire will be that of Abraham for Ishmael: O that Ishmael might live before thee! Genesis 17:18. Or like that of the beloved disciple, John: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth, 3 John 4.

Motto Text 2016

In Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church we have taken as our The Motto Text, for 2016, the words of Asaph in Psalm 74:22: Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

The words of this particular verse, and the contents of the whole of the Psalm, are very appropriate and applicable to our own times. We too live in a day when the foolish man reproaches God's cause daily!

The following messages were preached on this portion of Scripture:
1. The Features of this Attack upon the Cause of God
It was a day of: (i) Spiritual darkness and cruelty, (ii) Blasphemy, (iii) Reproach, (iv) Rising up against the Lord, and (v) Constant and increasing opposition to God's Cause.

2. The Focus of this Attack upon the Cause of God
This attack was focused on (i) The House of God & (ii) The People of God

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A new low in blasphemy!

A play which portrays our Lord Jesus Christ as a transsexual is being staged in Belfast, as part of a sodomite promoting Arts Festival.  The play is entitled: The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven.

What makes this more grievous is that this festival is being publicly-funded. 

For more details see these links: 

BBC news - Play featuring Jesus as transgender to be performed in Belfast

Christian Institute - ‘Transsexual Jesus’ play to be aired at Belfast festival

The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster released a statement outlining their opposition to this new low in blasphemy. Although it seems not to have been picked up by the local press. The statement reads:

Dear sir,
Your paper on Monday contained the details of a theatre production. This production is a blatant blasphemous attack on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and deeply offensive to the Christian community.

Blasphemy is defined as the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.

Prophetic Truth maintained from the Apostles until now

This is a synopsis of a message preached at Kilskeery Annual Conference. 

An audio recording of this message is available - click here.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, 

in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.           2 Timothy 1:13.

But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been 

assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.    2 Timothy 3:14.  

There were ‘things’ which Paul taught Timothy which he wanted this young man to ‘hold fast’ and to ‘continue…in’. These ‘things’, which Timothy had heard preached and taught by Paul, are described as ‘sound words’ in 2 Timothy 1:13.

By ‘sound words’ are meant doctrines, namely, the great doctrinal truths which make up the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is not referring to mere words, for the servants of the Lord are warned against striving about words, to no profit: Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers,” 2 Timothy 2:14. The Greek word translated ‘words’ in 2 Timothy 1:13, is translated as ‘doctrine’ in Hebrews 6:1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

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Mary - Mother of God or Sinner Needing Salvation?

This sermon was preached in Newtownabbey Free Presbyterian Church to mark Reformation Sunday.

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"Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats"

The article contained in this Blog post has often been attributed to C. H. Spurgeon. However, it does not appear within any of his voluminous works which are in print.

It has also been attributed to Rev Archibald Brown, who was a friend of Spurgeon’s and who briefly occupied the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle after Spurgeon’s death. There are those who say that it is actually from a sermon Rev Archibald Brown preached entitled, "The Devil's Mission of Amusement."

The usual title under which this article is found is: "Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats". It is a highly appropriate article and very applicable to the Church of Jesus Christ today. Much of what passes for feeding the sheep, in reality, amounts to nothing else but entertaining the goats.

An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most short-sighted can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years it has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them. From speaking out as the Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.

Church History Anniversaries - Mary Slessor

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.

This sermon marks 100th anniversary of the death of Mary Slessor who laboured in Calibar [Nigeria]

Church History Anniversaries - China Inland Mission

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.

This sermon marks 150th anniversary of the commencement of The China Inland Mission, by Hudson Taylor.

Church History Anniversaries - The Salvation Army

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.

This sermon marks 150th anniversary of the commencement of, what we now know as, The Salvation Army, by William 'General' Booth.

Church History Anniversaries - Justin Martyr

During the month of August a series of messages was preached marking Church History Anniversaries.
This sermon is marking 1850th anniversary of the death of the Christian Apologist Justin Martyr.

The Principle of Magna Carta applied in the Gospel

This sermon was preached at Carnmoney District's Widows & Ophans Memorial Fund, Orange Service held in Newtownabbey FPC on Lord's day evening 28th June 2015.

June 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta. This sermon takes the central principle of that document, namely all men are subject to the law, and applies it in the Gospel.

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The Apostasy of Irish Presbyterianism

Free Presbyterian ministers take a vow at ordination to withstand the apostasy of Irish Presbyterianism. This account explains to a considerable degree why that vow is taken. It is the account of the trial of Professor Davey given by Dr Ian Paisley which appeared in an old edition of The Revivalist -

THE TRIAL OF PROFESSOR J. E. DAVEY FOR HERESY, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Perhaps to be perfectly accurate we should say the trial of Professor Davey for heresy by the Belfast Presbytery, and the appeals to the Assembly on their verdict of 'Not guilty', and the rejecting of those appeals by the General Assembly, and the consequences which have flowed from those decisions.

The story of Presbyterians in Ulster is a story rich with the grace and the power of God. The founding fathers of Ulster's Presbyterianism were men of principle, men of power, and men of prayer. They were well educated. They came of good and great lineage. They were eloquent preachers of the Gospel, but above all they were totally committed to the Bible as the Infallible Word of God.

Church History Anniversaries 2015

1850th anniversary

June 165 AD - Justin Martyr, the Christian Apologist, was believed to have been martyred for his faith on this date. 

800th anniversary

November 1215 - The fourth Lateran Council was convoked. It promulgated the the doctrine of Transubstantiation which claims that the substance of the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. Thomas Aquinas later expanded upon this doctrine firmly establishing it as part of Romish teaching. 

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The Bible ahead of its Time on Sodomite Marriage!

The Word of God teaches that prior to the return of Jesus Christ, to this earth, there will be a re-appearance, and a convergence, of the characteristics of two periods of great wickedness, mentioned in Old Testament times. History will repeat itself. It has a strange habit of doing so!

The days of Noah, and the days of Lot, will reappear and converge at the end of this age. This is the teaching of Jesus Christ in Luke 17:26-30: And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Statement from Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster on the Ashers Bakery Court Case

Though today’s ruling in the Belfast County Court against the Ashers Baking Company is hugely disappointing, it is hardly surprising. Over the course of many years the Parliaments and courtrooms of our nation have increasingly legislated for sin and against righteousness.

However even allowing for this ruinous trend does not help us to understand how a judge in Belfast can reach a verdict that rules in favour of the promotion of an activity – same-sex marriage – that, by four successive votes in our legislative Assembly, remains illegal in Northern Ireland.

In legal terms, this is a significant judgment because it militates against freedom of conscience and freedom of speech and effectively opens the door to other opportunists to bring an endless stream of expensive “discrimination” cases against a wide variety of businesses, both Christian and non-Christian. 

Ashers Bakery lose their court case

District Judge Isobel Brownlie has ruled that the owners of the Ashers Baking Company have unlawfully discriminated, on the grounds of sexual orientation, when they refused to bake and ice a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan. The slogan on the cake was in support of Sodomite marriage, something which is illegal in Northern Ireland.

BBC News - 'Gay cake' row: Judge rules against Ashers bakery

Christian Institute - Ashers ‘deeply disappointed’ after losing case

The Bible has this to say about those who are persecuted for their Christian faith:
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you, Matthew 5:10-12.

Statement from Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster to follow

Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible omits any reference to children needing to be converted in the section entitled: "Raising children in the Lord"

In the 'Christian Living Section' of 'The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible', there is an article entitled: "Raising Children in the Lord".

This article outlines five "means" which Christian parents are to employ in raising children in the Lord. There is first a reference to praying for children. This is expanded to mean labouring to bring our children to Jesus so that He might bless them. Matthew 19:13-15* is included as a reference at this point. [*see below]

Subsequent "means" of raising children are outlined as: teaching the Bible to your children, disciplining them in love, offering wise counsel, and lastly, living as a godly example before them.

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News from Free Presbyterian Missionary in Nepal

Rev. Wesley Graham is a missionary who visits Nepal under the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster. He has worked there since 2006 seeing over 100 Churches commenced and the formation of the Free Presbyterian Church of Nepal.

Rev Graham gave an interview to the Free Presbyterian Church of North America Missionary News, recounting his experience during Saturday’s earthquake, and described conditions for himself, his wife, and the Nepalese church.

The God of Providence

There have been around 700 pageviews of the posts on this Blog mentioning the structure failure of the West Stand at Windsor Park, football stadium. Even the Nolan Show have been in touch about it!

These Blog posts highlighted the fact that God does indeed intervene in this world by His overruling providence. At times that overruling providence is designed to teach men the folly of their defiance of God. 

Louis Berkhof, in his Systematic Theology, outlines, with supporting Scripture references, eleven areas of life over which God's Providence extends. They are:

1. The universe at large: 
Psalm 103:19: The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Daniel 4:35: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Ephesians 1:11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

Who are the "dozens" of unnamed contributors to The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible?

Who are the: dozens of contributors* who have written other articles throughout this study Bible, both interspersed within the text and in the Christian living section? *See "Acknowledgements" section on page 2,217 of the Study Bible.

Which articles, within the text and in the Christian living section, did these unnamed contributors write? 

Tesco to announce £6.38 billion of losses - Another costly defiance of God

In November 2011 Tesco announced that after supporting the Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ charity, for more than a decade, it was now withdrawing its support. Shortly after making this announcement, the reason became clear. Tesco was now going to become a headline sponsor of Pride London, a sodomite festival, to the tune of £30,000 per year. Tesco said it would host Pride London’s family area, which would provide entertainment and activities for younger children.

Tesco is another example of the cost that defying God can bring. The troubles which have come upon this company, by all accounts, have read like a horror story. Tesco has lurched from one crisis to another, since that decision.

The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible's article on Regeneration contradicts the Perseverance of the Saints

Within The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible article on Regeneration, the following paragraph is found: The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper reflect this twofold meaning of regeneration. The one is a rite of initiation, administered only once, as a sign of the new birth that happens only once. The other is a rite of nurture, signifying the way in which our souls are nourished and refreshed by feeding on Christ as the true food and drink of eternal life. It must be administered frequently, because the new life within us is still created, dependent life that will wane and die if not refueled and sustained.

The last sentence of this paragraph makes reference to the Believer's 'new life' waning and dying and needing to be refueled and sustained by the Lord's Supper to avoid this happening. The sentences states: It [ie. The Lord's Supper] must be administered frequently, because the new life within us is still created, dependent life that will wane and die if not refueled and sustained. [Emphasis mine]

Justice Minister to press ahead with change to abortion law despite overwhelming opposition

David Ford MLA, Justice Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive government, has announced that he is pressing ahead with a change in the abortion law in Northern Ireland. This change will allow doctors to abort an unborn child which has been diagnosed with 'fatal foetal abnormality'.

Mr Ford has held back from seeking to legislate for abortion in cases of rape.

This announcement was made following a public consultation on proposed reforms to Northern Ireland's abortion law. It transpires that the overwhelming view expressed in the responses, received during the consultation period, were against any change in the law.