How Great is God’s Love

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Wonderful, merciful Savior,Precious Redeemer and

Friend;Who would have tho’t that a Lamb

could rescue the souls of men?O, You rescue the souls of men.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper,Spirit we long to embrace;

You offer hope when our hearts have

hopelessly lost the way.O, we hopelessly lost the way.

You are the One that we praise.

You are the One we adore!

You give the healing and grace our

hearts always hunger for,

O, our hearts always hunger for.

Almighty, infinite Father,

Faithfully loving Your own,

Here in our weakness You find us

falling before Your throne.

O, we’re falling before Your throne.

You are the One that we praise,

You are the One we adore!

You give the healing and grace our

hearts always hunger for,

O, our hearts always hunger for.

***

How Deep the Father’s Love

How deep the Father’s love for us;

How vast beyond all measure,

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain

of searing loss;

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar

the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory.

Behold, the Man upon a cross,

My sin upon His shoulders.

Ashamed, I hear

my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished.

His dying breath has

brought me life;

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything;

No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ,

His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain

from His reward?

I cannot give an answer;

But this I know with all my heart,

His wounds have paid my ransom.

***

Psalm 23

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.He makes me lie in pastures green.He leads me by the still, still waters,

His goodness restores my soul.

Chorus

And I will trust in You aloneAnd I will trust in You alone,

For Your endless mercy follows me,Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,And He anoints my head with oil,And my cup, it overflows with joy,

I feast on His pure delights.

Chorus

And I will trust in You aloneAnd I will trust in You alone,

For Your endless mercy follows me,Your goodness will lead me home.

And though I walk the darkest path,I will not fear the evil one,

For You are with me, and Your rod and staff

Are the comfort I need to know.

Chorus

And I will trust in You aloneAnd I will trust in You alone,

For Your endless mercy follows me,Your goodness will lead me home.

***

A 2 Part Return

One of these years, God’s kingdom will come

In the meantime: He will build His church

He’s patiently waiting

Christ could return for His church imminently

His return involves 2 phases 1st Take His Bride before the Tribulation

2nd Rescue Israel at the end of the Tribulation

Not Everyone Agrees

A-Millennialism (300’s) Spiritual rather than literal kingdom

Christ returns at some point and eternity begins

Post-Millennialism (1800’s) Thanks to the church, the world grows

progressively better

The church presents the kingdom to Jesus when He arrives

Post-Tribulationalism Church raptured after the Tribulation

Pre-wrath Rapture

Mid-Tribulationalism Church raptured in the middle of the Tribulation

Partial Rapture

Differences between the Rapture and Second Coming

1) At the rapture, believers meet the Lord in the air. At the second coming, believers return with the Lord to the earth.

2) The rapture occurs before the tribulation. The second coming occurs after the tribulation.

3) The rapture is the removal of believers from the earth as an act of deliverance . The second coming includes the removal of unbelievers as an act of judgment .

Differences between the Rapture and Second Coming

4) The rapture will be secret and instant. The second coming will be visible to all.

5) The rapture is imminent; it could take place at any moment. The second coming of Christ will not occur until after certain other end-times events take place.

6) In describing the tribulation period, nowhere mentions the church. During the tribulation—also called “the time of trouble for Jacob” —God will again turn His primary attention to Israel

Why the Gap?

What is the purpose of the 7 year tribulation?Display, punish, chasten, prepare

Why 7 years?The 70th week - Daniel 9

indisputable truths

God is faithful Ps 89.1-4, 30-37

God is sovereign Ps 89.5-10

God is merciful Ps 89.11-15

God’s revelation is accurate and understandable