Joshua 1:5-9 - God Great Promises We Can Claim

Joshua was called by God to lead the people of Israel across the Jordan River, to lead them to victory over their enemies in the Promise Land, and then divide to each of the twelve tribes their inheritance in the land. The LORD also gave him promises to encourage him to fulfill these assignments. As we study through the Book of Joshua, we will see how God kept all His promises and Joshua was successful.   Years later, when Solomon was dedicating the Temple, he proclaimed to the people, "Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses” (1 Kings 8:56). Today I want to remind us of some of God’s great promises that we can claim!   The greatest promise that God made in the Bible is the promise of a Messiah who would save us from our sins! That promise was first made in Genesis 3:15. Then was more specific when God called Abraham and promised him that he would have a “Seed” that would bless the whole world (Genesis 12:1-3). The Apostle Paul recognized the fulfilment of this promise in Acts 13:23, “From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus”. Paul went on to say in Acts 13:32-33, “And we declare to you glad tidings--that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus”. Have you ever claimed this great promise?   Jesus Himself gave us the promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14 and 16. After His resurrection Jesus commanded His disciples in Acts 1:4, “… not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me”. And in verse eight that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Paul put these two promises of Jesus and the Holy Spirit together in Galatians 3:14, “That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Have you ever claimed the promise of the Holy Spirit for your own life?   In John 14:3, Jesus also promised that He would come again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” When Jesus was ascending to heaven the two angels reminded the disciples of this promise: “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:10-11). Are you looking forward to the fulfilment of this great promise!   We also have been given the promise of eternal life. John said in 1 John 2:25, “And this is the promise that He has promised us--eternal life.”  Have you claimed this wonderful promise as your own possession today?   Finally, Peter told us of another future great promise in 2 Peter 3:13, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”  Despite what the old world might look like today, we have great promises to live on as we by faith believe that God keeps all His promises!   God bless!