Oulton Broad Free Presbyterian Church

05/09/2026

Hymn for today - 'Under His Wings'.

Ruth 1:12: "The LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust."

What Majesty! "The wings of the LORD God of Israel."

What Mercy! Welcoming all. Remember, Ruth was not an Israelite, but a Moabite. The Gospel is for Gentile as well as Jew.

What Security! To be "under his wings" is to be hidden from the storm, it is to be assured and content.

Kyle Paisley.

Saturday 5th September 2026.

A tender old hymn from the late 1800's telling of God's peace and p...

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

Isaiah 38:1-22.

Godly men get sick. Hezekiah had walked before God in truth, but was "sick unto death." (V.1, 3).

The first thing godly men do when they are sick is pray. V.2: "Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord."

Their prayers are answered. V.4-8: "I will add into thy days fifteen years." God doesn't always heal, but He promises grace to all (2 Cor.12:9). "And I will deliver thee, and this city, out of the hand of the king of Assyria." Victory.

God encouraged Hezekiah by giving him a sign (V.7, 8). God doesn't always confirm His promises by miracles, but He always keeps His Word.

God provided means for Hezekiah's recovery (V.21). He was not to neglect the means, or argue that because he had faith he didn't need to use the means. This isn't faith, it is disobedience.

Sometimes it is clear that means are not going to work, even though they have been tried. God expects us to try. But He also wants us to know that if means don't work, He can heal without means, or that perhaps it is not His will to heal. He is always able, but His ability does not oblige Him to heal in every case.

Whether in sickness or in health, the Christian knows God's love is still the same, and His presence is with His people all the way. He will be with them in the valley of the shadow of death, and they shall exit the valley together. Ps.23:6: "And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

When God answers prayer, the believer should be grateful (V.20). Hezekiah encouraged others by his thanksgiving - "Therefore we will sing my songs...all the days of our life in the house of the Lord."

Kyle Paisley.

Friday 4th September 2026.

04/09/2026

Hymn for Today

'Face to Face with Christ My Saviour'.

https://youtu.be/l8acQlu8zxM?is=BiIbwzIh33QQtzUk

This is the Christian's great hope - to see Christ face to face. This is Christ's hope - to see those He has loved and saved, face to face. He said, "I will receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also."

Have you ever stopped to think what it must be like to meet Jesus Christ in person for the first time? You have looked to Him, by faith, for your salvation. You have talked to Him in your prayers, and raised your songs of thanksgiving to Him. But what must it be like to actually see Him?

What will Christians see in the face of Jesus when they look upon Him for the first time? They will see the marks of the thorn-crown He wore on the cross for them; they will see grace in His eyes; and a broad smile, no doubt, as He says to them, "Enter into the joy of thy Lord."

Kyle Paisley.

Friday 4th September 2026.

Here's a beautiful hymn by Carrie Breck and Grant Tullar describing...

02/09/2026

Genesis 6:8: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

This is the first direct reference to the eyes of the Lord, although prior to this there are several references to His sight. For example, in the creation week it is said a number of times, “God saw that it was good”. Earlier in chapter six it is said, “God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth.” (V.5). God’s eye is good. It is also holy. V.8 shows that it is kind.

The text also contains the first mention in our English Bible of “grace”. Note that is used of God, not man. The word in the Hebrew Old Testament is חֵן (ḥēn). It’s root is חָנַן (ḥānan), which means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior”. Clearly, grace is a condescension on God’s part.

Noah could not have known that God was gracious unless the Lord had drawn close to him. He could not have seen His “gracious eyes” from a distance.

There was grace in the eyes of the Lord to begin with, even before Noah found it. Apart from this, his looking to the Lord would have ended in bitter disappointment.

He found grace, not by chance, but because he sought it. He must have felt his need of it, otherwise he would not have sought it.

Given the state of mankind in his day, Noah had every reason to seek the grace of God. V.5: “The wickedness of man was great...every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Why would this be a reason for Noah to seek God’s grace? Only grace could keep him in such a world. But first and foremost, Noah needed the grace of God for the pardon of his sin. So do we all.

We must seek the Lord first of all for His saving grace, before we ask Him for His keeping grace. Had Noah been sinless, he would not have needed the grace of God at all.

His finding grace is stated as a matter of fact. He didn’t just think he found it. He actually found it. Salvation is a conscious experience of the grace of God, not wishful thinking.

The grace that Noah found in the eyes of the Lord was justifying grace. V.9: “Noah was a just man”. See Ps.32:2; Rom.3:24, 5:1.

The grace Noah found in the eyes of the Lord was also sanctifying grace. His life was practically transformed by it. He did not just take God’s salvation and go off and do his own thing. After he found grace in the eyes of the Lord, he “walked with God” (V.9). Compare ch.5:22.

God’s grace was also distinguishing grace. V.9: “Noah was...perfect in his generations.” “Perfect” does not mean “sinless”. The Hebrew word תָּמִים (tâmîym) means “integrity, soundness, without blemish, undefiled”. Noah was not like the untoward generation around him. He stood out as a man who could be trusted, a man of sincerity, a man whose testimony was a rebuke to the world (Heb.11:7).

The grace Noah found in the eyes of the Lord was sovereign grace. “NOAH found grace” when others didn’t. Those who didn’t had only themselves to blame, seeing as they never sensed their need, didn’t care to sense it, and never sought grace because they were too happy in their sin.

But that Noah found grace is ultimately down to the fact that God intended that he should find it. He made him aware of His grace, and opened the door of salvation to him. The Lord looked kindly on Noah before Noah looked to Him. On sovereign grace, see Jn.6:44: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” Also, Eph.2:8, 9.

Sovereign grace is to be sought (Isa.55:6, 7), and the Lord invites (Matt.11:28), yea, commands us all to seek Him (Acts 17:30). None who seek Him will we rejected (Jn.6:37). But in the end, all who find grace in the eyes of the Lord acknowledge that it is His free, unmerited favour. They deserved nothing of it. See 1 Jn.4:10, 19.

Sovereign grace is a wonder of wonders. As the God of grace Himself has said, “I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy.” (Rom.9:15).

What was there in me that could merit esteem,
Or give the Creator delight?
“Twas even so, Father,” I ever must sing,
“For so it seemed good in thy sight!”

Lyrics: R. Keen

Kyle Paisley.

Monday 7th August 2023.

02/09/2026

The King in His Beauty.

Isaiah 33:17: "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty."

Not "a king", but "the king" - a King like no other. He is the only King. All others bow the knee to Him. Their hearts are in His hand, and He turns them as He pleases, whether or not they like it (Pr.21:1).

He has always been King. When He came into the world He was called "the King of the Jews", and He was called the same thing when He was dying. He proved He was the King when He rose from the dead. He had power to lay down His life and to take it again.

Not only is He the King because of His eternity, in His incarnation, in His passion, and in His resurrection, He is the King by His exaltation. He has been given a name above every name - Jesus. And the Scripture says, "He must reign."

He is the King in His coming again. Revelation 19:11–16 depicts Him with this holy title - "King of kings, and Lord of lords." One day He shall stand on the very spot from which He ascended to Heaven, and He will take the throne and be "King over all the earth." (Zech.14:4-9). He is "the blessed and only Potentate." (1 Tim.6:14-15).

His beauty commands our attention - "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty."

We see the beauty of the King in the cradle. This holy child was God in baby form, who had laid aside His outward glory, taken upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. There is great beauty in His humility, seeing as it was for us. He had come to die for sinners.

We see the beauty of the King on the cross. Though His "visage was married more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men" yet He was still beautiful. He raised His prayer for His killers, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He fixed His languid eye on the penitent thief, and said, "Today shalt thou beautiful with me in paradise."

The King in the cradle - the beauty of His humility.

The King on the cross, crowned with thorns - the beauty of His mercy.

The King in His coming again, crowned with authority - the beauty of His government. As the prophet said, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end."

His character is beautiful. His work is beautiful. His words are beautiful. The manner in which He acts is beautiful - "He FRANKLY forgave them." His Person is beautiful. The glory of God is in the face of Christ. The grace of God is in His eye, and is poured into His lips. He is the altogether lovely One!

To see Him, to hear Him, to be with Him, is Heaven indeed! You dare not look upon Him in the world to come, or in His second advent, if the eyes of your understanding have not been first opened by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Gospel. If they have been, then to look upon Him will be your greatest joy. If they haven't been, then to look upon Him will be your greatest terror (Rev.6:16, 17: "And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.").

"Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty."

When, by the gift of His infinite grace,
I am accorded in heaven a place,
Just to be there and to look on His face,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

Friends will be there I have loved long ago;
Joy like a river around me will flow,
Yet, just a smile from my Saviour, I know,
Will through the ages be glory for me.

O that will be glory for me,
Glory for me, Glory for me,
When by His grace
I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me.

Lyrics: Charles H. Gabriel

Kyle Paisley.

Wednesday 2nd September 2026.

01/09/2026

It is not long until this special meeting - all are most welcome.

31/08/2026

𝗡𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
News reports from Nepal are heartbreaking, with over 700 dead, 3,000 missing and 10,000 families with no homes. There are now over 20,000 security forces in the border region, working to try to find and rescue any survivors. The damage to roads and bridges, together with the difficult terrain make these efforts very difficult. There are fears of further flooding and this makes the recovery work more challenging.

We have received reports from our partners in FPC Nepal and other friends who work there. While there are no FPC Churches in the border region, there are several churches further down the river towards Chitwan. Sadly it is now reported that several people from those churches, who were working in the affected area, are now reported missing.

Sadly many of the other churches in the area have been devastated – in both the Rashuwa and Nuwakot areas, it has been reported that over 100 believers are dead or missing from 15-20 churches, and many of the church buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

At this stage it is not possible to travel to the affected areas so our partners are preparing for aid distribution as soon as possible and their desire is to distribute relief to those who have been directly impacted by this disaster.

Please pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who are waiting to hear from family members who are missing and those who have been displaced by this disaster. Pray for the rescue workers and pray for the country as a whole at this very difficult time.