What is happening in Ulster?

"Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff," Joshua 7:11.

(Preached in Ahoghill Orange Hall)

I think I should commence by saying something about what HAS happened in Ulster in the recent past. Starting in the mid-60s, Ulster enjoyed a wonderful time of blessing which lasted for about a quarter of a century. It is difficult to be precise about such a matter but many, looking back, will now discern a decline in the spirituality within our land which became noticeable about the beginning of the 1990s.

It was not an immediate shutting off of heaven's blessing any more than a sunset is marked by immediate darkness. What may be known is that the wonderful fruitfulness of the 60s and 70s were not to be found in nearly the same abundance in the 90s and onward. The period of blessing of which we are speaking was marked by a spirit of earnest, zealous witnessing for Christ and a bold contending against His enemies. It was a time of soul winning and church planting. It was a time of triumph for the gospel and notable retreating by the enemy.

However, that day of blessing has been drawing to a close. I believe that it is evident to many that we are well into the gloom of an approaching night. WHY IS THIS SO??

...I am sure that question has been asked by most of us here and asked on many, many an occasion. "What do you think is happening?" And we have asked one another and perhaps after we have discussed it together we have gone away as puzzled as ever.

There is only one source of information where we can hope to get a satisfactory answer to a question like "What is happening in Ulster?" and that is the Word of God. God is on the throne you know. No matter what changes we may have seen in our land over the last five years, and no matter how, as we would see it, earth-shattering those changes appear to have been, God is still upon the throne. He hasn't lost control of things. And we can seek of Him an answer to our needs....