Standing on the Promises - A Journey Through Joshua

As we have been journeying through Joshua on Sunday Mornings, one theme that stands firm through the book is God's faithfulness to His promises. As the Israelites enter the “Promised” land, they have to stand on the promises of God.  When you get towards the end of the book of Joshua, you read in 21:45 “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.”

We have to also stand firm on God’s promises. I hope that you have been able to get your free copy of the Bible Promise Book that was given out in our services during the month of October. If not, you can pick up your copy at the information table in the back lobby of our sanctuary. I want to encourage you to brouse through the book and to take in the many promises of God as you battle fear, sin, and the devil. 

If I had to pick a theme song for the Journey through Joshua, it would be the Hymn, “Standing on the Promises of God,” written by Russell Kelso Carter (1849-1928). Although Carter was a professed Christian most of his life, it wasn't until a crisis with his natural heart that he began to understand the reality and power of Bible promises. At age 30, his health was in critical condition and the physicians could do no more for him. Carter turned to God for help and healing.

Carter knelt and made a promise that healing or not, his life was finally and forever, fully consecrated to the service of the Lord. It was from that moment that the written Word of God became alive to Carter. He began to stand upon the promises of healing, determining to believe no matter what his physical condition, no matter how he felt. Over the course of the next several months his strength returned, and his heart was completely healed! Carter lived another healthy 49 years.

The hymn Carter had written several years before his healing miracle became more than words and music to him. Standing on the Promises became an integral part of his life:

Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring,

Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior;

Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see! Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;

Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall, Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call

Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.

May God bless us to stand on His Promises, and like Joshua may we see that his promises will never fail!

- Bro. Dave