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"What do you mean, sleeper?"

Text: Jonah 1:6

A CALL TO PRAYER

It is almost ironical that a prophet should be urged to pray to God by one who is not even from Israel! Jonah was sleeping in the lowest part of the ship when the captain woke him up from his deep sleep.

“So the captain came to him, and said to him,
‘What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God;
perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.'”
Jonah 1:6

1. The captain of the ship

a) He had command over the whole ship.

b) He was the man in charge of the entire ship and its enterprise.

i) The officers

ii) The crew

iii) The cargo

2. Going to Jonah at the lowest part of the ship

a) He may have been informed that Jonah was asleep.

b) Every man on board had been tasked to pray to the deity he worshiped.

c) Apparently there had been no success; but it was in danger of being wrecked by the storm.

3. His rousing words to Jonah

a) “What do you mean, sleeper?”

i) He was remonstrating with Jonah.

ii) How could Jonah be so irresponsible by not praying when there was a huge storm raging.

b) “Arise, call on your God”

i) The captain refused to allow Jonah to continue sleeping.

ii) He must responsibly do his part.

iii) He must seek God earnestly.

iv) In the hope that perhaps Jonah’s God would consider his prayer and spare the ship.

A PROPHETIC PRAYER MINISTRY

All prophets should know their roles as God’s special emissaries.

1. They must preach and proclaim God’s word.

2. They must be able to provide practical advice that would help people.

3. They must practice praying for others! Yet, Jonah was found sleeping!