KILSKEERY FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Continuing on to our 50th year!

(18th August, 2024 — Annual Day of Prayer marking the beginning of the witness — August 17th 1974)

“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles,” Acts 26:22-23.

It is generally agreed that the apostle Paul was converted a short time after the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Father’s right hand.

I think that we would not be far wrong if we think of him being converted and delivered from his wicked persecution of the early Christians while travelling to Damascus in and around the year 36 AD.

This chapter we are looking at records events which took place some 25-26 years later in 62 AD. It is believed that Paul was martyred in 67 AD.

I take these dates from the renowned Biblical chronographer, Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656).

Today we meet to bless the Lord for His mercy to Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church over the last 50 years. Paul’s ministry may have been shorter but what a ministry it was and what he endured for the Lord as He carried the gospel from Israel right across to Europe!

He was inspired to write the following words regarding just what he encountered and bore with as he obeyed the Lord and went forth to preach.

“Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands,” 2 Corinthians 11:22-33.

What a life he lived and what a witness he maintained and what grace he displayed in all his labours. He was indeed the very embodiment of the faith testified of in Psalm 46. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah,” Psalm 46:1-3.

He modestly made little of himself and his labours. “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God,” 1 Corinthians 15:9. But I think we can contradict his self- effacing description of himself and say that he was the ‘chief of men’.

I wish to consider his words here before King Agrippa (verse 1). He here explains how it was he had continued and what it was he continued to do.

I. PAUL’S MINISTRY WAS ONE OF OBEDIENCE TO THE CALL OF GOD.

“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision,” verse 19.

1. Paul was called of God to this work. Remember the declaration made by the Saviour to Paul when He replied to his question and outlined His purpose for him.

“And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me,” verses 15-18.

Paul was not disobedient to that call but remained faithful to it throughout his days despite the many trials and afflictions he had to face in order to be faithful.

Please note.

A. The making of a minister. “I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness.” The word ‘make’ means ‘chosen’ , see 22:14.

B. The function of a minister. “A minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee. . . . to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” See 26:17-18.

C. The protection of the minister. “Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles,” verse 17.

2. The Lord was faithful to His faithful servant. As promised, Christ did deliver Paul from the fury and hatred of the people. Is it not a strange thing that a man with a message of salvation from damnation and eternal judgment and preaching the way to eternal peace and joy should need delivering from those to whom he came with this message of love and mercy! How depraved and blinded by sin is mankind.

3. Furthermore, a faithful man’s ministry will take him before people and leaders of nations. The Saviour told Ananias that Paul would bear His name “before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel,” Acts 9:15.

It was said by Henry Varley to his new friend DL Moody, “Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him.” The words so pierced Moody's heart that he couldn't get them out of his mind and said to himself, “I will be that man”.

Paul was certainly such a man and saw unequaled achievements in the cause of Christ.

II. PAUL CREDITS THE LORD’S HELP FOR HIS CONTINUING ON IN THE WORK OF GOD

“Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day.” Paul said to Timothy, his companion in labour:“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them,” 2 Timothy 3:13-14. In a day of deception it is the proof of a person’s true allegiance to Christ if they continue on in the THINGS THEY HAVE LEARNED from godly ministers!

The influence of “evil men and seducers” is to stop ‘a continuing on’ and to ‘unlearn’ what Christians have been taught by the Lord’s servants!

Even Timothy was threatened by this and had to be served notice of the danger!

At the beginning of the chapter 3 of 2 Timothy, Paul had spoken of the character of the ‘last days’, verses 1-5. These are the days in which we live, I believe. The believer is here warned of just what they will face at the end of this age. There will be men who are ‘false accusers’, ‘fierce, despisers of those that are good’, ‘traitors’, ‘having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof’. We are also told, ‘from such turn away.’ In other words ‘shun and avoid’!

I have encountered such in the last few days having set forth publicly the fraudulent and unscriptural behaviour of those in ‘Logos Ministries International’. I accused them of being in fellowship and in harness with ecumenical churches. That was not denied but I was called a liar and one who was ever engaged in pulling down Christians and churches. This attack was supported by at least three Free Presbyterian ministers who publicly mounted their names on the FaceBook page where this attack took place. In a follow-up article, I supplied evidence of LMI and its local representatives engaging with ecumenical churches and them being declared partners with most dubious organisations, amongst which was found those who promoted Roman Catholic false doctrine and teaching.

The leading local representative is Mr Danny Roberts, a Free Presbyterian Church member!!

After my supplying irrefutable evidence of the compromise and unscriptural behaviour of LMI and its supporters, Mr Roberts put it in writing that HE WOULD NOT BE RESPONDING TO THE DOCUMENTATION I MOUNTED in my third article. He could call me one who spread falsehood and hatred. Why could he not refute what I had written?

It is not hard to understand why. When your opponent and their supporters can only offer slanders and lies in response to your challenge, they are but acknowledging they HAVE NO ANSWER because they have strayed away from what the Bible teaches and are setting forth, by teachings and example, that which is contrary to God’s Word.

They are NOT like Paul, continuing on by he help of God!

1. If by continuing on we have achieved something in this day of backsliding and departure, all honour belongs to the Lord. It was by His ‘help’ he had continued! We must humbly and gratefully acknowledge the work of God amongst us in that we have been kept for 50 years.

2. God’s help was obtained by prayer. Paul was immediately in prayer after his conversion. “And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,” Acts 9:11. See verse 9. “And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” He was praying immediately He met the Lord, verse 5.

3. Prayer is the path to victory ordained of God. “And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun,” Exodus 17:11-12. It is still as promised of God in Isaiah 40:31. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

4. God’s help is freely available to all who call. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:7-11.

III. WHAT IT WAS PAUL CONTINUED TO DO

“Witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles,” verses 22-23.

1. Paul made no social, or indeed, racial distinctions when preaching. 1. Paul made no social, or indeed, racial distinctions when preaching. He obey the Lord’s command to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15. Here in Kilskeery, the homes of our Protestant and Roman Catholic neighbours have received at the hands of those who have gone round the district.

2. Paul was limited to only that which the Holy Scriptures set forth. How wonderful to find oneself standing shoulder to shoulder with the prophets of old!

“ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matthew 3:1-2.

There is glorious continuity in the preaching of God’s servants throughout the ages!

“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Matthew 4:17.

3. Particularly he emphasised the person, passion and power of the Saviour. This is the whole and core of the Bible! “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins,” Acts 10:43.

He preached the suffering Christ. Note the words, “should suffer”. That was the pre-ordained plan of God and from it Christ never deviated, despite the foolish notions some have of Christ’s prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. There Christ was not seeking to avoid the cross but rather his death at the hands of the devil. Paul spoke of this in Hebrews 5:7. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” Christ did not die under the devil’s attack but rather upon the cross as was ordained of old.

“And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again,” Mark 8:31.

The witness and labours that are based upon such preaching will ‘continue’  and will bring much glory to the Lord and blessings to those who are privileged to sit under it.

May it continue on here in Kilskeery!