Stats for April

Jehovah's Witnesses Belief About Death Erroneous

There is a great deal of interest and comment regarding the death of the musician known as Prince and his connection with the cult known as Jehovah's Witnesses.

One of their belief is that the body must be cremated within one week of his death.

There are many other unorthodox beliefs which this cult espouses. It is worth remembering that the doctrine of eternal punishment was one of two doctrines that Charles Taze Russell, the founder of Jehovah's Witness, refused to accept when he was among the Presbyterians and Congregationalists in his early years.

The teaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses on the subject of death and the after life is but perpetuating  Charles Taze Russell's prejudice against the Word of God. 

Letter Sent Regarding Blasphemous Play

Back in November 2015 a blasphemous production entitled 'The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven' was shown as part of the Queer Arts Festival in Belfast. This vile Arts festival was funded by a number of public bodies such as:

The Arts Council, which distributes funds from the National Lottery, 

Belfast City Council, 

The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, 

The Department of Social Development and 

The Public Health Agency.

Below is the letter of objection that sent on behalf of The Free Presbyterian Government and Morals Committee of Presbytery taking issue with the content and the funding of such wickedness directed at the person of Jesus Christ.

We write on behalf of the Government and Morals Committee of the Free Presbyterian Church to express our outrage that public money has been used to fund a blasphemy against our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Committee felt it needed to express protest at the blasphemy in the play, "The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven" performed on November 15 at the Outburst Queer Arts Festival in Belfast. In this play the Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed as a transsexual. The preview of the play on the Outburst festival website described how in the play there is a "revolutionary queer ritual in which bread is shared, wine is drunk and familiar stories are re-imagined by a transgender Jesus."

To read the rest of the letter click on this link- Letter objecting to Blasphemous Play

Fighting Against Blasphemy

The Government and Morals Committee of Presbytery have been engaged in on-going correspondence with government departments and other bodies on the moral issues of the day.

In November last year a play was staged as part of the Outburst Queer Arts festival in Belfast called, “The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven" The preview of the play on the Outburst festival website described how in the play there was a "revolutionary queer ritual in which bread is shared, wine is drunk and familiar stories are re-imagined by a transgender Jesus."

The Bible reveals the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s and the eternal Son of God. The title “Queen of Heaven” is only used in the Bible in the book of Jeremiah to describe a heathen goddess whom God condemned. Furthermore the Bible teaches that homosexuality and transgender is sin. The play was a blasphemy against the Saviour whom we love and serve.

The Government and Morals Committee contacted various government departments and bodies who were listed as having sponsored this play. Among those contacted were, the Arts Council, which distributes funds from the National Lottery, Belfast City Council, The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, The Department of Social Development and the Public Health Agency.........

To read the rest of the Blog article click on this link to Government and Morals Committee (Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster)

Quotable Quote

Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right. C. H. Spurgeon

C. H. Spurgeon on 'Compromise'

Charles Haddon Spurgeon contended much against compromise during his ministry. Here is an extract from one of his sermons entitled "No Compromise".

It was based upon the words of Genesis 24:5-8: And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou earnest? And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that aware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

This sermon was preached on Lord's day morning 7th October 1888. It is sermon number 2047 and appears in Volume 34 of Spurgeon's sermons. 

This is the suggestion of the present hour: if the world will not come to Jesus, shall Jesus tone down his teachings to the world? In other words, if the world will not rise to the church, shall not the church go down to the world? Instead of bidding men to be converted, and come out from among sinners, and be separate from them, let us join with the ungodly world, enter into union with it, and so pervade it with our influence by allowing it to influence us. Let us have a Christian world.

To this end let us revise our doctrines. Some are old-fashioned, grim, severe, unpopular; let us drop them out. Use the old phrases so as to please the obstinately orthodox, but give them new meanings so as to win philosophical infidels, who are prowling around. Pare off the edges of unpleasant truths, and moderate the dogmatic tone of infallible revelation: say that Abraham and Moses made mistakes, and that the books which have been so long had in reverence are full of errors. Undermine the old faith, and bring in the new doubt; for the times are altered, and the spirit of the age suggests the abandonment of everything that is too severely righteous, and too surely of God.

Joel Beeke's Compromise Continues Unabated

Over recent years a lengthy charge sheet has emerged detailing Joel Beeke's compromise. That compromise continues unabated and unchecked. 

In a recent article entitled: The Downward Spiral of Dr. Joel Beeke’s Ministries Continues, Ralph Ovadal, Pastor of Pilgrims Covenant Church, Monroe, Wisconsin details Joel's Beeke's ongoing associations with new evangelicals, Romanists, Orthodox 'Christians,' Seventh Day Adventists, apostate Protestants, feminists, evolutionists, and even 'gay Christians'. 

It is a documented fact that Joel Beeke has joined in preaching and teaching fellowship with all of them! [Click on the link above to read this sorry tale of departure]

There might be an impression of scholariness cultivated but there is certainly no spirit of discernment or obedience to Scripture present. It is not intellectualism and a generation of well educated and supposedly well read academics that the Church of Jesus Christ desperately needs today, but rather a race of preachers who preach and practice separation. Something Joel Beeke simply doesn't do!

Stats for March

Soul Winners' Convention Meetings

Special Meeting with Rev Reggie Cranston

Table Quiz

Stats for February

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.

Stats for January

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.

Stats for October

Mary - Mother of God or Sinner Needing Salvation?

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

Stats for September

"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.