Standing On The Promises (2nd Corinthians 1:16-23)

 

Standing On The Promises (2^nd Corinthians 1:16-23)

 

A couple want to have children, but can't get pregnant...so they go to see their priest. The priest tells them they came just in time. His bishop is sending him to Rome for 10 years, and he's leaving tomorrow.

'As soon as I'll get there, I'll immediately light a candle for you,' he promises.

After 10 years, the priest returns his parish. The first thing he does is visit the couple's home. He can hear a crazy loud noise when he knocks on the door. The wife opens the door; three little children on her arms, a couple of them hiding under her skirt, and others behind her playing around. The priest counts as many as ten of them!

'Well this is quite a pleasant surprise,' exclaims the priest. 'It seems like God listened to my prayer. But where is your dear husband?'

'My husband traveled to Rome,' says the wife with a tired look on her face.

Rome? Why is he in Rome?'

'To blow out that stupid candle!'

 

Rev. Dr. Russell Kelso Carter

We’re talking about the beloved hymn Standing on the Promises by Russell Kelso Carter. The Guiness Book of World Records claims there are over 950,000 hymns. PopularHymns.com rates Standing on the Promises in the top 100 hymns among the near million hymns we know of. Standing on the Promises consistently reaches the top 20 or 30 in popularity among Christians. It has been published in at least 585 hymnals worldwide. 

 

The composer, Russell Kelso Carter, was born on November 18, 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Pennsylvania Military Academy (PMA). A member of its first ever graduating class in 1867, he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. Carter played on PMA’s first baseball team in 1866. The school claims Carter was “one of the cleverest pitchers at the school.” Carter was also probably their greatest gymnast in the history of P. M. C. athletics. He was an expert with apparatus (balance beam, parallel bars, rings, etc) and a positive marvel with Indian clubs.

 

After graduating, Carter remained at PMA teaching Natural Sciences and Chemistry until 1872. After a three-year respite, where he went California to raise sheep, he returned to PMA and taught Mathematics and Civil Engineering. In 1878, Carter developed a curriculum for a degree in Chemistry. He was appointed chair of the Civil Engineering Department in 1881 and held that position until his resignation in 1887.

 

Carter resigned to devote his life to religious and literary work. He became an ordained Methodist minister and then later a physician in Baltimore, Maryland. During his many career changes, Carter wrote prolifically on religion, mathematics and science.

 

Of the major works published by R. Kelso Carter, at least five books were about holiness and faith healing. In Hymns of the Christian Life published in 1891, Carter wrote the words and music for 52 hymns, the music for 44 hymns by other writers, and adapted music for another 25 hymns. His most beloved hymn, of course, is “Standing on the Promises,” from the 1885 hymnal, Songs of Perfect Love.

 

For many years, Russell Kelso Carter struggled with extreme fatigue because of heart problems. Doctors were unable to help him. So, Carter turned to faith and prayer. Once he began to hold steadfast to the written word of God, his strength returned and his heart was completely healed over the course of several months. When he returned to health, he credited his remarkable healing to God’s power. Throughout the rest of his life, Carter found strength by focusing on the Savior’s promises.

 

The words of Carter’s hymn draw our minds to the Savior and His promises. To “stand” on the promises of Christ can mean to be fixed upon, to stay true to, and to rely on those promises, no matter what challenges we face. God’s promises are the unshakable foundation of our lives. This hymn calls us to trust that Jesus Christ, as our Leader and Master, will guide us to safety as we stand with Him and follow His lead.

 

“Standing on the Promises” reveals Carter’s military academy background. The military marching cadence and energy of the music inspire feelings of strength, courage, and confidence.

 

Dr. Russell Kelso Carter died on August 23, 1928. He was the oldest living alumnus of PMA. Today, Widener University (formerly Pennsylvania Military Academy) continues to honor Carter by bestowing the R. Kelso Carter Award each year to a U.S. citizen (other than a graduate of PMC or Widener) who “in the opinion of the Alumni Association, has through acts and accomplishments brought honor to the college.”

 

Every saint is a redeemed sinner. Carter was not perfect. He had some bizarre ideas leaning toward racism. He believed white Europeans (Aryans) were desceneded from the lost tribes of Israel. He felt that Jews were a mixed race and not pure as White Europeans. He maintained that God had selected white men as His chosen race. Some of Carter’s writings gave inspiration to white supremacist groups.

 

Although this musical, athletic, mathematic, engineer who became a Methodist minister and physician, Carter drifted toward Pentecostalism and more charismatic expressions of faith that placed an emphasis on faith healing. This is certainly because of his own experience of healing from a heart condition, which no medical doctor could treat, by trusting in the promises of God.

 

 

No doubt Carter hung on Biblical promises like these:

 

 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. (John 14:14)

 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

 

Inspired by the many healing stories in the gospels, Carter believed that healing could happen for him. For example: a leper who approached Jesus in faith saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be made clean!” And the man was made whole!

 

The apostle Paul wrote to the very troubled congregation in Corinth, Greece at a time when sound doctrine was being corrupted. One incident in the congregation involved a man sleeping with his step-mother and boasting about it as a benefit of his freedom in Christ. Paul told the congregation to cast him out and hand him over to Satan.

 

But now, in this second letter, Paul’s tone is merciful. He seeks to heal his relationship with the Corinthians. He urges them to forgive the man. Healing comes through confession, repentance and forgiveness.

 

The main issue in 2^nd Corinthians is not about the man’s sexual sin. It’s about a strained relationship between Paul and the Corinthian congregation. Their loyalties are divided. Some heed the voice Peter or Apollos or some other so-called super-apostle, instead of the man who started their church, Paul. Paul is seeking a restored relationship with Corinth. And he is hoping for a contribution to help the hungry in Jerusalem, for there was a famine going on. The poor were suffering. Paul was taking up a collection to help them.

And so, Paul strongly defends his authority as an apostle of Christ, not by letters of recommendation from Jerusalem, but by the power of God at work in his ministry among them.

 

I chose this passage from 2^nd Corinthians because of one verse. Paul contends that his ministry among the Corinthians has been honest and forthright. He was not double-minded. He did what he said he would do. His word was not Yes and then No. His behavior, Paul contends, is consistent with that of Jesus. For in Christ all God’s promises are YES.

 

For in him every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For this reason it is through him that we say the “Amen,” to the glory of God. (2^nd Corinthians 1:20.

 

Just think of all the promises God has made! God promises to love you without condition, to forgive your sins, to transform your life in His love, to make you a new creation and raise you into new life in a new eternal body and to share in the joyful bliss of heaven. God promises to be with you and never forsake you. He is with you in every trail giving your strength to endure. He is with you in every joy blessing you with the abundance of His love and grace. And He will be with you as you face your own darkness and death.

 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me! (Psalm 23:4)

 

God promises health and wholeness when we come to Him fully and unafraid. God promises protection when we choose the righteous and holy path. God promises forgiveness, mercy and compassion when we fail.

 

Google says there are over 3,000 promises of God in scripture. Jesus is the fulfillment of every single promise of God. And to that we say, “AMEN!” Amen means Let it be so. May I be as The Lord promises!”

When you trust in Christ Jesus, every single one of God’s promises will be fulfilled; some now in part and completely in your eternal future. Knowing that we can fully rely on God’s many promises for an abundant and everlasting life, we can stand firm in faith upon God’s promises.

 

 

When the Jews returned to Jerusalem from the exile they laid the foundation for a new temple. They held a ceremony to celebrate. Some who remembered the old temple wept. The prophet Haggai spoke the word of the Lord.

 

Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? ⁴ Yet now take courage! Be strong!

 

I will shake the heavens and the earth… I will shake the nations, so that the treasure of all nations will come… The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts. The splendor of this house shall be greater than the former… in this place I will give prosperity!” (Haggai 2:3-4a, 6-9)

 

The temple complex built by Herod was an architectural marvel of the 1st century. God fulfilled His promise. What promises are trusting? Which do you find difficult to trust? In Christ every single one of God’s promises is YES.

 

Stand firm on the promises of God. Hope in the future, for God has planned for us peace and abundant joy in the Lord.