Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church

Today is Palm Sunday, and I would like to think for a little while about the first Palm Sunday, when Jesus Christ came into Jerusalem to keep the feast of the Passover. We read of it in Matthew 21. He came riding upon a donkey, meek and lowly, yet truly the King. What a scene… Read more: The King is Coming; Palm Sunday Meditation

This article critiques Amillennialism by examining its interpretation of the binding of Satan, its handling of Israel in Romans 11, and its overall outlook on the future of the Church. It argues that these areas reveal tensions and limitations within the Amillennial framework, particularly when compared with the broader testimony of Scripture. In contrast, Postmillennialism is presented as offering a more coherent and hopeful vision of redemptive history, anticipating the progressive triumph of the gospel in the world.

1: Why Did Presbyterianism Divide? This year the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster marks 75 years of gospel witness since its founding on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 1951. We give thanks for the mercies of the Lord that sustained the witness. At the same time, we maintain that Christ ultimately regards His Church as… Read more: WHEN CONFESSION MATTERED; The 1927 Heresy Trial and the Continuity of Presbyterian Witness

The Corinthian Church had many issues that Paul had to grapple with in this first epistle. These included internal divisions and a flawed approach to worship. These included internal Church matters, however, which had little bearing on society at large. The world has little understanding, nor can they see the relevance, of our discussion around theological differences. When a moral scandal erupts, however, among those who profess the name of Christ this is a very different matter. Suddenly everyone is interested and fascinated. This is exactly what happened in the Church at Corinth. It was a Church scandal, which became a public outrage because it truly shocked society.

“Ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). True church growth is not merely about numbers, but about spiritual depth. Christ is the only foundation, and every believer is called to build upon Him with faith, perseverance, and obedience. As we endure trials, practise discipline, and labour together in fellowship, God strengthens His Church from the inside out. One day, the quality of our work will be revealed. May we build with gold, silver, and precious stones—lives shaped by prayer, holiness, and love—so that our faith endures and Christ is glorified in His Church.

In our previous study we noted that faithful believers differ on millennial interpretation. This article narrows the focus to one particular system: pre-tribulation dispensationalism. While many sincere Christians hold this view, it deserves careful biblical and pastoral scrutiny. Pre-tribulation teaching proposes a secret rapture, a sharp division between Israel and the Church, and distinct divine programmes unfolding in separate dispensations. At first glance these distinctions may appear harmless — even helpful. Yet when pressed to their logical conclusions, they risk fragmenting the unity of Scripture and obscuring the Bible’s grand covenantal storyline. Is Christ’s return secret or public? Does God have two peoples or one? Is there one gospel across all ages, or differing administrations of salvation? These are not speculative questions. They strike at the heart of redemptive history and carry serious pastoral consequences. This study argues that Scripture presents one unfolding covenant of grace, one people of God, and one gospel grounded in Christ alone. Far from diminishing hope, this covenantal vision strengthens it — pointing not to postponed promises, but to the progressive triumph of the gospel among the nations.

This study centres on Paul’s declaration, “But we preach Christ crucified,” showing the cross as the Church’s true point of unity. Writing to a divided Corinthian church, Paul directs believers away from personalities, pride, and shallow thinking, and back to Christ alone. The cross heals division, humbles human pride, and defines authentic Christianity as wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption found only in Christ. It is the heart of the gospel message and the glory of the Church. By glorying only in the cross, believers are united, transformed, and kept faithful to the truth in a distracted and superficial age.

Millennial Studies – Part 1: Personal Questions Eschatology has long been an area of deep conviction—and deep disagreement—within the Church. While my own denomination allows a range of views to be held with humility and charity, Scripture presses us to think carefully about the future course of God’s purposes in history. In my early ministry, I was shaped by a non-dispensational, post-tribulation premillennialism. Yet over time, serious questions began to emerge. How does a millennial age populated by unbelievers square with the New Testament’s presentation of Christ’s return as the final judgment? How can the finality of the cross be reconciled with the reintroduction of temple sacrifices? Why does a literal millennium rest almost entirely on one highly symbolic chapter of Scripture? More than these exegetical concerns, I became troubled by the pastoral implications. Does our eschatology nurture hope, prayer, and expectation of gospel advance—or does it quietly condition the Church to expect only decline until Christ returns? This first study traces the questions that led me to re-examine premillennialism and to reconsider the biblical teaching on the Kingdom of God, the reign of Christ, and the hope of revival in history. It is written not to provoke controversy, but to encourage thoughtful, charitable, and Scripture-driven reflection on matters that profoundly shape our faith, prayer, and mission.

SERIES INTRODUCTION Lessons from Corinth for the Church Today The First Epistle to the Corinthians is one of the most searching and pastoral letters in the New Testament. Written to a young and troubled congregation in one of the most morally complex cities of the ancient world, it reveals both the frailty of God’s people and the faithfulness of God’s grace. The church at Corinth was richly gifted, yet deeply divided; called to holiness, yet frequently entangled with the spirit of the age. Within its walls were problems of pride, immorality, disorder in worship, doctrinal confusion, and strained relationships between believers. Yet despite all this, Paul never denies their identity as the church of God, sanctified in Christ Jesus and sustained by divine grace. This series seeks to draw lessons from Corinth for the Church in our own generation. Though centuries removed, the challenges faced by the Corinthians are strikingly familiar. Questions of unity, moral purity, Christian liberty, worship, spiritual gifts, love, and perseverance remain pressing matters for Christ’s people today. Each study will consider how the gospel of Christ speaks into these areas—not merely to correct error, but to shape a church that is humble, loving, ordered, and steadfast. Above all, this series will remind us that the Church is not made perfect by human wisdom or discipline alone, but by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, who calls, keeps, and completes His people. May the Lord use these studies to deepen our love for Christ, strengthen our unity, and equip us to live faithfully in a Corinthian world.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟵 – John 1:1-14𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗛 ✨ Thank you to Luke for his reading from Knockmany and for the superb trumpet playing. Matthew and Luke, as they related the story of Jesus’ birth capture what Joseph and Mary, the shepherds and the wise men saw – the child born of a woman 👶.… Read more: 9: The Christmas Gospel

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟴 – Matthew 2:1-12𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ Thank you to Taliyah for this beautiful reading and to her dad Paul for the rendition on the flute 🪈. The mystery of the wise men, the magi, who travelled across the desert following the star to greet the new king, has never been… Read more: 8: The Christmas Star

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟳 – Luke 2:8-20 🐑 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗗’𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 ✨ The shepherds had a heart and a spirit that the more sophisticated town dwellers of Bethlehem did not have. Where those preoccupied with making money left Jesus out of their thinking, the shepherds hastily abandoned their midnight watch, fixing their priorities on something infinitely greater,… Read more: 7: The Shepherd’s Visit

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟲 – Luke 2:1-7𝗡𝗢 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗠 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗡 🚪✨ The nativity story has been relegated into the realm of romantic fairy tales, where the true meaning has been lost because of man’s inability to accept the truth 📖. There was nothing charming about a young woman forced to give birth in a stable. Being… Read more: 6: No Room in the Inn

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟱 – Luke 1:26-38Gabriel Visits Mary✨ 👦🏻👧🏼 So Judah and Kezia are the real stars today … what a beautiful setting and what beautiful voices. ⭐️🫏 Enter the stage of human history one of the most famous and remarkable women who ever lived, the Virgin Mary; the young woman chosen to give birth to… Read more: 5: Gabriel Visits Mary

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟰 – Isaiah 11:1-9 PEACE 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 ✨👦🏻👦🏻👧🏼 Today we have a special treat from three more very special little people. Enjoy the Dalton family read a poem written by their Aunty Jayne. 👧🏼👦🏻👦🏻. The Old Testament Scriptures identify the Messiah as to His humanity, His nationality and His family. He would be… Read more: 4: Peace for the World

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯 – Isaiah 9:2,6,7 ✨ 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗨𝗦 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗡 ✨ 👧🏼👦🏻 Thank you to the two very special little people at the end – what a performance! 👧🏼👦🏻 At Christmas we reflect upon a child who was born to bring hope to a world filled with hopelessness, to bring light to a… Read more: 3: Unto us a Child is Born

Psalm 81 – A Psalm for the Solemn Feast Day “Blow up the trumpet in the new moon… on our solemn feast day.” Psalm 81 calls God’s people to joyful, reverent worship, rooted in remembrance and obedience. It reminds us that public worship is no empty ritual, but a holy gathering where God speaks, hearts are searched, and souls are fed. As Israel gathered to remember redemption and receive God’s Word, so we come on the Lord’s Day to listen, repent, and be satisfied with the finest of His provision. “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me…” Will we listen—and be filled?

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮 – 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 22:15-18 ✨ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗛𝗔𝗠 ✨ This reading contains the revelation that the man who would save mankind, would be born of the family of Abraham; He would be a man who would bless all families of the earth regardless of ethnicity. Hope for all mankind 🌍! Many years… Read more: 2: The Saviour Promised to Abraham

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝟯 𝘃 𝟭𝟯 𝟭𝟵✨ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗜𝗢𝗨𝗥 ✨ 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 … 🎄 The Christmas story begins almost at the commencement of human and world history 🌍.Not quite the beginning, because our first parents were initially blessed with everlasting life in a disease free paradise 🌿.… Read more: 1: THE FIRST PROMISE OF A SAVIOUR

Christmas is a very special time in our church calendar ✨ While, over the years, it has become increasingly commercialised, our desire is always to bring it back to the true meaning of Christmas ✝️ Beginning tomorrow 📖, over the course of nine days, we invite you to join us for 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟… Read more: Nine Christmas Readings

The wild boar may ravage the vine, but it cannot destroy the root. For anyone longing for personal or national renewal, Psalm 80 offers hope.

“How Long, Lord?” — A Cry for Our Times (Psalm 79) Psalm 79 opens with a desperate question that echoes across centuries: “How long, Lord?” Born from the ashes of Jerusalem’s destruction, this psalm captures the grief of a man staring at ruins—ruins of a city, a temple, and a people once devoted to God. But its message is not ancient history. It speaks directly into our own age. As Israel mourned the defiling of the temple, we too must face the defiling of God’s house in our day—truth diluted, holiness minimized, and worldliness welcomed into the very place meant for worship. Psalm 79 confronts us with the reality that judgment begins at the house of God, yet it also shows us the path forward: humble repentance, earnest prayer, and a renewed passion for God’s glory. Amid the lament, a spark of hope rises. Even in the darkest moments, God preserves a remnant, strengthens what remains, and restores His people for the honour of His name. Psalm 79 is more than a cry of despair—it is the beginning of revival.

Psalm 78 calls us to remember the stories of God’s works—stories that instruct, warn, and inspire each new generation. By looking back at Israel’s history, we learn how easily hearts drift, how quickly grace is forgotten, and how faithfully God preserves His people.

Psalm 77: Asaph’s Tears in the Night Have you ever lain awake in the darkness, your heart heavy with worry, your pillow wet with tears? In Psalm 77, Asaph records just such a night of anguish — a time when faith faltered and questions flooded his soul. Yet in his honesty before God, he discovers a path from despair to renewed trust. Through tears and trembling, Asaph learns that even when God seems silent, He is still near, still faithful, still leading His people like a shepherd through the storm. This heartfelt meditation explores the Psalmist’s journey from doubt to devotion, reminding us that our darkest nights can become sacred ground where faith is refined. As we remember God’s past mercies and look to Christ, our souls find rest in the One who never forgets to be gracious. (A devotional reflection on Psalm 77 — “Asaph’s Tears in the Night.”)

After Darkness, Light: How a German Monk Changed the World Over five centuries ago, a miner’s son named Martin Luther lit a flame that changed the course of history. In an age when the Bible was locked away and salvation was sold for silver, Luther rediscovered the truth that “the just shall live by faith.” His bold stand against corruption — and his translation of Scripture into the language of the people — unleashed a movement that swept across Europe, reshaped nations, and reached as far as Ulster itself. From Wittenberg to Bangor, the Gospel light spread, bringing freedom, education, and faith to ordinary men and women. This post traces that story — from the darkness of medieval superstition to the radiant dawn of God’s Word rediscovered — and reminds us that the same light still shines today: Post Tenebras Lux — After Darkness, Light.

As we commemorate another Reformation anniversary it is worth asking the question – ‘What is Protestantism?’ To some, Protestantism represents a church; to others, a political ideology, a sectarian identity, or a cultural association. There is a measure of truth in each of these perceptions. Since the Reformation, many churches have borne the name Protestant.… Read more: WHAT IS PROTESTANTISM?

Contentment isn’t having everything we want — it’s being satisfied with all God gives.

The godly life is a daily walk ordered by the Lord, shaped by His Word, sustained by His grace, and upheld by His hand.

Moses’ last words remind us: God is above us, beneath us, before us, with us, within us, and lifting us. The God of Israel is our God, revealed fully in Christ alone — our refuge, our joy, our salvation.

Heaven is the Christian’s true destination — the place of no more: no more curse, no more tears, no more death, no more separation. At the centre is Christ, the Lamb who bore our curse, wiped away our sorrow, and conquered death in victory. Let this hope inspire believers to live faithfully — and invite seekers to come to the cross, where there is still room.

As explored in the previous study, “Tears Wiped Away by God’s Handkerchief,” the entrance into eternal joy is paradoxically marked by tears—tears that God Himself will wipe away. But who is this God that comforts so tenderly? He is a Father—not a distant deity, but a loving, present, personal God.

Why are there tears at the very threshold of eternal joy? This is the riddle that Revelation hints at, and one that invites deep reflection. This is a curious conundrum – a riddle which will never be solved in time. Eternity is dawning. Heaven is beginning for the ransomed souls. They are entering paradise where… Read more: TEARS WIPED AWAY BY GOD’S HANDKERCHIEF

This text teaches us that the sovereign God can seize control of human wrath. He can bring it under His control. Angry men with their wicked aspirations, unknown to themselves, carry out God’s purposes.

2024 IN REVIEW…Pastoral letter reviewing 2024 in the life of our congregation. This letter accompanied the published financial report for the year in question.

Lo! on a narrow neck of land,‘Twixt two unbounded seas, I stand,Secure, insensible;A point of time, a moment’s space,Removes me to that heavenly place,Or shuts me up in hell. Telford, John. 1900. The Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley. London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room.

In an age of war, moral collapse, and political uncertainty, Psalm 75 shines as a beacon of truth. It reminds us that behind all human affairs stands the sovereign hand of God. For promotion cometh neither from the east,nor from the west, nor from the south.But God is the judge:he putteth down one, and setteth… Read more: PSALM 75; God Presiding over World Affairs

This proposed legislation preys on the most vulnerable. Experience from other countries shows that such a law will quickly morph into full blown euthanasia given time. Once the sanctity of life is breached the flood-tide will quickly overwhelm. The experience of abortion indicates that that this is so. Does the fact that 90% of all Downs Syndrome babies are aborted not demonstrate that we as a society do not value disability. If God in His sovereignty permits this wicked, cruel and pernicious Bill to pass let it not be because we have not prayed enough!

IS GOD STILL GOOD WHEN MY CIRCUMSTANCES APPEAR TO BE BAD?….A CALL TO PERSONAL DEVOTION, FAITHFULNESS AND WORSHIP, ESPECIALLY IN HARDSHIP. ​

IN THE LORD; The Great Motivator for Christian Living…. So what motivates us? What gets us out of bed and sustains us to the end? Only this: we are in the Lord—forever bound to Christ in love, life, labor, and death.

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness,leaning upon her beloved? Song of Solomon 8:5 In the Song of Songs, Solomon uses the language of love. He celebrates the excellency of the intimacy between husband and wife. This is a song that has pictures and metaphors. This text holds what is perhaps the most… Read more: LEANING ON THE BELOVED

Philippians 4:19 is one of the favoured texts in Scripture, quoted often by believers. Paul, writing to a group of Christians with whom he was bound in a most treasured fellowship, brought his remarks to a close with a most precious guarantee. This guarantee, limitless and inexhaustible as it is, relates to the need of the modern church as much as it related to the Philippian Christians almost 2,000 years ago,

We need to understand that a Christian people we are rich. We are the possessors of a wealth which cannot be measured by normal calculations.

This movement, known popularly as “Mormonism,” has grown rapidly. It is one of the fastest growing religious movements within the past one hundred years. With 17,000,000 followers worldwide this is a mission field we dare not ignore. In learning about this movement we become equipped in reaching these deluded souls.

Colossians 2:3 defines for us the person of Christ from the inspired pen of Paul – “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. While defining Christ is very important this was not the sole reason why the Apostle developed this Christology (the doctrine of Christ). He was ultimately demonstrating that these… Read more: THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

Solomon despite all of his promise and success ended in failure snd bequeathed the nation a sad legacy of sorrow. The King in this Psalm does not disappoint because He is greater than Solomon.

We often hear it said though that it’s “no fun getting old”. There is no doubt that old age brings its own unique and peculiar challenges. Some of the greatest challenges in life are borne by the elderly. For many the way is tough, lonely and painful. This is a Psalm, however, which indicates that God is interested in and that he cares for the elderly.

While the story of Greyfriars Bobby is charming, surely the courage and sacrifice of our Covenanting forefathers deserve far greater recognition.

The 70th Psalm mirrors the 40th Psalm in a couple of respects. David employs the words “aha, aha” to describe the mocking jibes which his enemies directed at him. He also describes himself as poor and needy. The 40th Psalm concludes with a beautiful comfort, which while not included in the 70th are integrated within… Read more: PSALM 70; Poor and Needy

While this Psalm undoubtedly has some historic basis in the biography of David, it is most clear that like the 22nd Psalm (The Psalm of the Cross), the primary focus is Messianic with the sufferings of Christ particularly coming into view. This study will extract the key aspects of the Psalm which reveal the passion of the Lord, all of which corroborated by the testimony of the New Testament…”What a precious Psalm it is! It begins with the cry of the One who bore our sin in HIs body, who suffered for our sake. It ends with the glorified results of His atoning work” (A.C. Gaebelein)

‘Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,even the God of our salvation. Selah.’ (Psalm 68:19) The 19th verse of the 68th Psalm is an excellent base from which to build an exposition. God is no Ebenezer Scrooge when distributing his grace gifts to the Church. ‘So many, so weighty, are the gifts of God’s bounty to us that he may be truly said to load us with them; he pours out blessings till there is no room to receive them, Malachi 3:10. So constant are they, and so unwearied is he in doing us good, that he daily loads us with them, according as the necessity of every day requires.’ (Matthew Henry)

The title of this Psalm is not original. James Montgomery Boice employed this title for the 67th Psalm in his excellent treatment of this passage. realistically it can’t be bettered. God’s shining face is described in three Psalms; 31, 67, 80, 104, & 119. In the 67th the Psalmist cries out from the beginning: God… Read more: Psalm 67; The Shining Face of God

I have the utmost sympathy for people who are suffering, who facing terminal illness afraid of death and how that will feel for them. I do find it even more tragic, however, that that this proposed legislation presents these people with death as an option. For me, this is not kindness. There must be another answer; one that is more loving and kind and which offers true hope.

The 16th verse is a fitting text, which captures the essence of this Psalm of worship. The Psalmist is keen and enthusiastic in his wish to bear witness to what God has done for him. Hence the Psalm is testimony. The practice of testifying or confessing our faith publicly is biblical. As such it is a tool used by God in encouraging Christians and winning the hearts of the unconverted. Therefore, this Psalm ought to encourage us in the sharing of our faith with others.

In a hot eastern country prone to long spells of dry weather there is particular emphasis upon the provision of water. This supply comes from the “river of God which is full of water”. When the rivers were running dry and the fields appeared parched the river of God was full, ready to be released according to the timing of the Master.

One of the most painful afflictions is to be wrongly accused. Such allegations threaten our reputation, our character and our Christian testimony. Reputational damage is feared by all good people who spend a lifetime cultivating their integrity. David in this instance was undergoing a time of verbal assault. Let us make no mistake about this – words really do hurt. During this season he takes his recourse to the Lord as we all must do.

There is much that can edify our hearts from David’s wilderness experience. We too must pass through wildernesses as a result of disappointment, betrayal, bereavement, sickness or failure. Matthew Henry wrote however, “we have reason to thank God it is the wilderness of Judah we are in and not the wilderness of sin”.

Fivemiletown Mourning: Healing Through Prayer and Hope The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…(Isaiah 61) TRAGEDY Our local community in Fivemiletown has been shaken within the past week by the tragic deaths of two precious young people. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/heartbroken-beyond-words-co-tyrone-community-mourning-after-sudden-deaths-of-two-young-people/a623635623.html Our hearts go out to the families directly impacted by the deaths of Codey and Andrea, our hearts break for the youthful potential which has been lost and we feel for the young people who were friends; many of whom are questioning why such tragedies happen and how they could occur in our little rural community. Troubled times occur constantly – we learn of tragedies in other places, we observe devastation on the media but when the story comes home it’s more personal and poignant. THE POWER OF PRAYER What can we do in troubled times? Where do we turn? Is there hope, comfort and peace? Can there be healing from the pain? As a Church family in Clogher Valley Free Presbyterian Church we are praying for the families and friends of the young people we have lost – that they will know the grace and love of God in their sorrow. We are praying for our young people that their hearts and minds would be sheltered by what the Apostle Paul called the peace that passeth all understanding. There is power to bring love and healing through prayer because Jesus Christ lives! The power of the resurrection is an ever present reality. He lives as one who died through suffering. His life comforts and heals, bringing peace and love. One of our favourite hymns expresses this truth perfectly – “What a friend we have in Jesus”. THE LESSON FROM THE SPARROW Sometimes in life there are moments when we struggle to see a way ahead or our worth. I take great solace from Christ’s teaching that God knows the very number of hairs on our head. So when we think that no cares or we feel of little value, we should remember that the creator of the universe knows our name and says not a sparrow falls to the ground without me knowing and you are more valuable than many sparrows. HEALING BROKEN HEARTS The mysteries of life in a broken world are impossible to fathom. As we look at the devastation, at the charred remains of a broken world, broken dreams, broken lives and families – we are inclined to doubt that hope exists. But God can do what no mortal can achieve – He heals the broken in heart. THE POWER OF THE CROSS He does this through the power of the cross. The cross of Jesus stands before us as the greatest symbol of suffering and barbarity in the history of the world. Yet on that cross Jesus took our pain, our suffering, our sin. Through the cross He heals and He forgives. There can be life beyond the pain and through the pain – Only through Jesus and the power of His cross. We cannot bring back these precious young lives but we can learn from their pain and their loss. We can look upward to Christ and find rest for our weary souls in Him. Rev Peter McIntyre

This week marks eighty years since the tide of history was turned, as the allies set foot on France to begin the liberation of Europe from the scourge of Nazism. A ROYAL ADDRESS On June 6th 1944 King George 6th addressed the nation.  The challenge facing that great international army was summed up by none… Read more: D Day 80th Anniversary: The Significance of King George 6th’s Address and Divine Preservation

“The natural mind is ever prone to reason when we ought to believe; to be at work when we ought to be quiet; to go our own way, when we ought to steadily walk on in God’s ways…” George Muller

This prayer was a cry from the end of the earth. David’s situation was dire. He was stretched to his limits. He felt driven to uttermost edge of the world. Inwardly his heat was overwhelmed with the anxiety that his problem generated. He had run out of road, there were no human solutions. Therefore he sought the one who alone could help. In the wilderness of life he went seeking the Rock. He wasn’t so much seeking a solution for his problems as the person who had the answers. He needed the Lord to step into his life.

There are two sides to the 60th Psalm, clearly intimated by the contrasts between the first and the final verses: O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us,thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. Psalm 60:1 Through God we shall do valiantly:for he it is that shall tread down… Read more: Psalm 60; Victory in a Day of Defeat

It is widely thought that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes as an old man reviewing his life and coming to terms with his failures. His painful but truthful assessment of the years that God had given him was vanity; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity”. As he considered the knowledge and wisdom he acquired, the buildings he… Read more: ATTENDING PUBLIC WORSHIP

The sovereignty of God is a constant source of solace in a wicked world. Not only is He sovereign but He is Our King. He acts and intervenes in the affairs of this world on our behalf. All power is at his disposal. The enemy will never out manoeuvre Him. All intelligence is found in Him. He is never taken by surprise. His Kingdom is not dependent upon public support, His throne will never be vacated – He is the eternal God.

God has given us the precious gift of His Word. The gift, however, has been given that we might learn to use it properly and appropriately. In Hebrews 4:12 the Scriptures are compared to a double edged word. Such a weapon had to be handled carefully with skill and bravery for its potential to be unleashed. So it is with Scripture. The value of the book is immense but we must study as diligent workmen and women treating the Word thoughtfully and with care.

PSALM 58; Unjust Rulers…Was there ever a time when there was not a greater and a more singular lack of justice coupled by singular lack of a consciousness of righteousness among our lawmakers – than there is today?…there is a most abject lack of leadership across the western world especially. A lack of principle, conviction and morality pervades the corridors of power and eats like a cancer into the body politic…The 58th Psalm couldn’t be more relevant.​

CONTROVERSIAL Yesterday (1st April 2024) The Hate Crime and Public Scotland Act (2021) came into force amind a deluge of controversy. JK Rowling the world famous author of the Harry Potter series, who lives in Edinburgh went on the social platform X, challenging the police to arrest her because of her stance in the transgender… Read more: Scotland; Land of Freedom or Intolerance?

Sometimes we tend to think of the resurrection purely in terms of hope beyond death. We need to think bigger. The reason why death is defeated is because the resurrection supplies justification. It is the fact that we will stand before a righteous God without our guilt, which the real ground of our hope. This is the real outcome of the resurrection.

CLOGHER VALLEY FPC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023 Ballagh Road, Kiltermon, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone Charity Reference: 109429 MINISTER: Rev Peter McIntyre CLERK OF SESSION: Mr Neville McIwrath TREASURER: Mr Neville Robinson KIRK SESSION: Mr Jeffrey Condell, Mr John Irwin, Mr Ian McClung, Mr Jim McClung, Mr Neville McIlwrath, Mr Neville Robinson, Mr Wills Robinson. CHURCH COMMITTEE:… Read more: 2023 IN REVIEW

I imagine, however, that before his friends congregated and David was alone in the darkness and emptiness of the cave he had a special experience with God. As he was alone in his thoughts, having failed through casting himself upon the Philistines, having been brought to an end of all his own resources, having learned that God will never fail – the LORD met with his servant. At the cave David did more than physically hide. Like the hymn writer he found a place of refuge in the shadow of God’s hand.

This is Michtam – a golden Psalm…it is upon Jonathelemrechokim, which signifies the silent dove afar off. Matthew Henry In 1864 the phrase “In God we Trust” first appeared on United States coins. It did not, however, become the official motto of the nation until 1956 during the Presidency of Dwight Eisenhower. It seems that… Read more: Psalm 56; In God We Trust

A Present and Future Reality This particular study is focused upon learning lessons from the past for both the present and the future. This is the nub of history. It cannot be a mere fact learning exercise. If our history lessons are only a learning of facts we have missed the purpose. Revival is both… Read more: REVIVAL: LOOKING FORWARD BY LOOKING BACK

DEFINING THE SUBJECT Church History is the study of Christianity from the close of inspired history in the New Testament to the present. This includes the study of the people whose lives and ministries shaped the development of the Church and the growth of movements within the body Christ. Very often at the heart of… Read more: WHY IS CHURCH HISTORY IMPORTANT?

The 55th Psalm is one of my personal favourites. This is not because it is a particularly easy Psalm to read. When one meditates upon the words, the intensity of the suffering is most palpable. I am drawn to the 55th Psalm, however, because of the sheer earthiness of the language.  There is no-one who cannot comprehend to some degree the humanity of David’s feelings as he moves from fear through fury to faith. The ultimate blessing of this inspired poem is, that while it begins with a raging torrent of emotion it concludes with a great calm as the troubled mind is put at ease.

The 54th Psalm is dominated by two words that must be cried by the sinner’s lips and which are constantly pleaded from the mouth of God’s people. If the God does not save us then we are lost and forsaken. These two simple heart felt words unlock the the key to the hidden gems of this prayer… Read more: Psalm 54; Save Me

ON January 23rd The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists announced that the Doomsday Clock would remain at the closest to global catastrophe that humanity (in their opinion) has ever been. The Doomsday Clock is currently set at 90 seconds to midnight. The Doomsday Clock was initially set after the beginning of the atomic age when the… Read more: THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK

This week we have crossed the line which separates one year from the next. We often associate ‘new year’ with good wishes, plans and ambitions. In the spiritual realm also we often become motivated with new year. There is the beginning of a new bible reading scheme or the opening of a new daily devotional. The new year will bring new hopes, but also new trials, new challenges and new difficulties but there will also be new opportunities, new avenues of service. Sometimes in the mysterious economy of God’s providence the challenges bring the opportunities; they are the clouds which are big with mercy.

The description intimates that Moses dwelt IN THE PRESENCE OF JEHOVAH. He was a man of PRAYER who could touch God with his spirit. He was in a positive RELATIONSHIP with the Lord. Moses not only talked to God but he heard from Him and KNEW HIS WILL. Moses knew God and God knew Moses.

CHRISTmas is about a person.  His name is in the season yet He is the party host whom everyone ignores as if He doesn’t exist.  His name is JESUS.  Christmas is about JESUS.

5th November 1605 was intended to be as disastrous for England as St Bartholomew’s Day was for France. Slaughter and carnage would have been executed throughout the nation as the Roman Catholic population rose up, buoyed by the removal of the Protestant leadership in Church and State.  Pope Paul V had already, prior to the event, established 1605 as a Jubilee, in that it would witness “the rooting out of all the impious errors of the heretics”.[v] But God had other plans; that which was intended to destroy became an occasion of celebration and thanksgiving.

Above the incessant murmur of the sea and the crashing of waves against the wooden hull, the shouts of the sailors and the lashes of their whips could be heard, as the prisoners were driven on, rowing through pain and hunger.  The French sailors, knowing that some of their captives were Scottish Protestants, would  occasionally taunt and provoke.  Once, a little image of the Virgin Mary was thrust into the hands of one very stubborn Scot, for him to kiss.  Swiftly, the image was dispatched overboard; “Let our Lady save herself.  She is light enough. Let her learn to swim.”[2]  The stubborn Scot was set to become one of Europe’s most famous men and certainly Scotland’s finest son.  A man who could endure 19 months of pain and lashing, bent over the oars of a French galley, was one who would fear neither man nor devil.  The character of John Knox, man of granite, was duly formed.

In 1527 Patrick arrived home on Scottish soil.  His ministry was to be one flame burst of passion and light, which would leave a trace that lingered on until the days when Knox would add his torch to the embers.

One cannot help but sense the urgency, the desperate need felt by Isaiah as he penned these words. This is a cry, a prayerful cry born of a spirit that lived in challenging times. We have heard of revival, we have feasted on the marvellous histories of revival and we are the beneficiaries of revivals in the past but we have never experienced revival. 
 Can we be content to carry on to end of our days without ever experiencing revival, or at the very least without a real burden and desire for God to work? How many of our fellow countrymen and women are dying without Christ? How many of this world’s billions are going out to a lost eternity every day? 
 The church chooses to lie indolent and careless. We are so content with mediocrity. We just want to keep going. Taking the citadels of the devil by storm are not on the agenda. There are some who are simply worldly living for the moment, for material prosperity or sensual pleasure. There are others who believe the day of revival is past and we we must simply stutter on toward the end of time as a broken remnant. We have become like Samson. The Philistines have put our eyes, we grind in the prison house of God’s second best. And how is the trend to be reversed? – only by revival. Revival is the need of the hour! This is a work that must begin in the heart of the Church. 


This chapter which details the commissioning or the calling of Isaiah into service has so much to teach us about the preparation of heart, which we must have, if we are to enjoy revival blessedness.

This is a text full of exuberance and joy, which is absolutely indicative of the impact that revivals have upon the spirit of the Church. Every revival is essentially a revival of joyful praise among the people of God. Many of our hymns were written during periods of spiritual awakening. This was especially true of the Evangelical Awakening in 18th Century Britain. Charles Wesley’s hymns gave poetic expression to what God was doing among His people and throughout the nation. Virtually every book recording the histories of revival makes mention of the singing of the Lord’s people

This text, as well as being one of Isaiah’s most famous references, exemplifies why he is known as the evangelical prophet. Most famously, this text was that which converted a young Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who progressed to become one of the most popular preachers in Victorian England and whose ministry had a remarkable baptism of… Read more: THE PREACHING IN REVIVAL; Revival Lessons from Isaiah (4)

THE PROMISE OF REVIVAL; Revival Lessons from Isaiah (3).., What is it that we need today for the youth and the children, the men and women of tomorrow? What is that our nation needs in all of its darkness and corruption? What is it that our Church needs in ats prayerless and powerless condition. Revival is the need of hour! It is promised today. Let us hold the promise and pray forit, that the power will fall: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willow by the water courses.”

The power of of the the Spirit is both irrepressible and irresistible. There is a sovereignty in the Holy Ghost’s actions as He revives the Church, which takes all men and women by storm. This study will focus on three characteristics of the power of the Holy Ghost as he descends upon upon His people with revival blessing.

“There is no doubt that we have been living on the capital of the past – as you go round this country and look at the congregations, you will see that very quickly. You can carry for a certain length of time on tradition, and by custom and habit, but the point is bound to… Read more: THE PRAYER FOR REVIVAL; Revival Lessons from Isaiah (1)

“…the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.” Ezekiel 48:35 Ezekiel Ch. 40-48 contain promises that pertain to the restoration of Israel after their years of captivity.  There is a temple, a city and the reallocation of the land among the tribes of Israel. These promises, however, have more… Read more: JEHOVAH SHAMMAH; the LORD is there

The vision, preeminently, however, promises revival to the New Testament Church. Water is a common type of the person and work of the Holy Ghost. We have noticed this already in Ezekiel with the picture of “showers of blessing”. There revival is likened to rainfall; in this instance, however, it is a river, streams in the desert. This is no ordinary river, however, it is a supernatural deluge bringing life to the barren wilderness. Revival, therefore, is God moving, the Spirit descending, bringing new life to a Church and a community and in so doing causes entire nations have come under its power.

Hope when facing the surgeon or the coffin is not found in religion or philosophy. Peace when confronted with war and suffering cannot be contrived by human logic. The moral darkness, the decay of the soul remains – the plague of the heart which leaves us without God and without hope.

Among the Kings and Queens of Britain and Ireland William 3rd and Mary 2nd occupy a most unique position as the only jointly crowned heads of state in our illustrious history. Their story is one of family rivalries, of European conflicts and of dramatic revolution. All of this, however, would only have been possible because William and Mary loved another and were joined together in holy matrimony. Therefore this story is ultimately a love story; one which which transformed the history of our nation.

A Valley of Dry Bones…Ezekiel Chapter 37 contains one of the most dramatic and memorable of all the prophet’s visions. God transports his servant into a valley, a scene of carnage from days long ago when the mutilated remains of fallen soldiers had completely decomposed leaving a graveyard filled with dry bones. As far as the eye could see there were skulls, ribs, vertebrae, joints, long leg bones and narrow finger bones all lying hapless, bleached white by the relentless sun. It was a dismal scene of death and human failure.

The need for a new heart is often emphasised to the unbeliever in Gospel preaching. However, all of these promises were directed to God’s backslidden people. They point to recovery, reformation and restoration. This is what revival is; the Church recovers lost blessings, is reformed by the dynamic of the Spirit and is restored to her first love. This will occur only when we are granted the new heart. Revival is work which God does in the hearts of His people. This is the burden of this study.

God has a season for revival, just as there is a time for rainfall. The showers will fall in God’s time, according to His calendar. We must pray for revival but we cannot work it up by human effort. This work is a gift of His grace. The darkness of our generation isn’t a hindrance to God. When the showers fall no-one will prevent the deluge. Rain promises fruitfulness. The showers will bring life and nourishment. When God sends the showers upon the Church this will have an impact upon society. Souls will be saved, the Church will grow and society will experience many practical benefits that arise when people fear God.

This Psalm guides our response when we feel victimised and violated. When we are hurt by others, when we feel the injustice of our circumstances – how should ​we react?

While this is often applied to atheism, in reality in encompasses all false religion, which denies that the true God as God. Whether the system of belief is secular or religious is of no consequence – fools abound in every camp. Those who deny that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour are fools – regardless of their creed or ethics. This is to deny God’s definition of Himself as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.