"Drawing A Line In The Sand" Series

(2) God wants us to pass this message along to future generations. Life is bigger than just you and me. Verses 6-7. In two places in this chapter there is a reminder to parents of their responsibility of passing on our faith to our children. As parents, as grandparents, are you passing along your faith to the next generation?

Verses 6-7. In the future when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean? (7) Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Verses 24. “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

The purpose of the memorial stone is to initiate questions from future generations. Listen, Christianity is never more than one generation from extinction. Our world is growing darker. More sinful and if we don’t pass it along to our children they may completely miss it. Think about it.

1962. Prayer in schools became illegal.

1963. Bible reading out loud stopped.

1980. We can no longer post the 10 Commandments in schools.

2000. No more prayers over the PA system at ballgames.

Now, Coaches are no longer allowed to pray with their team before game.

God’s warning to Israel was simple-do not let society dictate your values. And that’s exactly what we have done.

There is an amazing story in the book of Acts involving the apostles. The apostles were healing people in the name of Jesus. Crowds of people were bringing the sick and laying them on mats in the streets in hopes that Peter might heal them. The Bible says all of them were healed. So the leaders of the church became jealous of what was happening and had them arrested. That night an Angel came and freed them and told them to go stand in The Temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life. So as soon as daylight came they began to preach.

That morning the priests sent some officers for the apostles to be brought out of jail--to stand before him. But when the officers got there, they didn’t find them. This is what they said in verse 23. They were puzzled. Verse 25. So they brought them all before the Sanhedrin to be questioned. They said we gave you strict orders not to teach in Jesus name. Then Peter and the other apostles replied: we must obey God rather than men. We must obey God rather than men. We no longer have believers/leaders who are willing to say that. Instead we have become too concerned with what is politically correct. God’s people must begin to stand up for what is right. Joshua instructed the children of Israel to take up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the 12 tribes and carry them to the place where they would lodge that night. So they carried them to the shore of Canaan, Joshua build an altar right there in the middle of the river-then he commanded the priests to finish crossing the river with the Ark of the covenant. Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying 16-18. The moment that the feet of the priest touched the other side, the wall of water that had piled up for miles came crashing back into place.