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Arise, Oh Sleeper!

4/26/2020

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​     The sermon covers Jonah 1:6-12.  Everyone on the ship is terrified that the ship will wreck.  Except for Jonah, he's asleep.  The shipmaster wakens him and wants to know why he isn't crying out to his God.  They draw straws to see who has brought this calamity on them.  Jonah draws the short straw.  They want to know what Jonah has done and who he is.  He tells them he's a Hebrew and fears the God of heaven.  They already knew that he was fleeing from his Lord.  Now they know exactly which God he is running from and ask him what he was thinking and how will they get the sea calm.  Jonah tells them to throw him overboard.  That's a brief recap of the story that Pastor Josh built the sermon on.  It goes something like this:
     "Underline that phrase 'O sleeper'.  The Captain finds Jonah fast asleep and he wakes him up.  What are you doing?  What do you mean by sleeping in the middle of this storm?  Call on your God that we perish not."  Today, that is exactly what God has done for us.  He's fixed it so that if you'll arise from your sleep, oh sinner, and be made aware of what's going on around you, you'll see what's leading us into the eternal flames of hell.  Arise, call on God while you have the chance.  Don't wait until it's too late.
     In verse seven, the lot fell on Jonah.  The reason you're in the shape you're in, you got there all on your own.  Sin affects all of us just as it did on the ship.  Ask Adam how sin affects us.  In verse eight the world asks, "Who are you?"  The lost world sees what you're doing and questioning you, I promise you. they're watching.
    In verse nine the world wants to know, "If Jonah feared God, why didn't he do what God told him in the first place?"  Don't run from God.  God is in charge.  We've got to decide just like Jonah but don't make the decision he made.  We have to decide, do what God says or do what I want?
     What are we gonna do?  The rule of God is my only rule for faith and conduct.  It is the roadmap to heaven.  The old saying goes, “The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it.”  It should really be, “The Bible says it and that settles it.”  In verse ten the men asked, “Why did you do this?”  Think about that.  A ship full of heathens, they literally believe in all different kinds of gods.  They ask why he did it.  It begs another question:  Was it worth it?  Today, we would just be a whole lot better off to do what God said in the first place.
     As time goes on we’ll get back together.  For now use the means you have to serve God.  Phone people, pray for them, write.  Why am I in this?  I love you enough to tell you the truth.  Let me ask you:  Is it worth it to turn your back on God?  Don’t turn a deaf ear to the preaching of God.  Verse eleven asks, “What shall we do with you?”  And Jonah replies in verse twelve, “Throw me overboard.”  This morning, throw yourself on the mercy of Christ.  Throw self overboard and turn to Jesus.  Arise, O sleeper, Why have you done it?  Was it worth it?  It’s time to call on God.  Get rid of self and call on Him.  I can’t save you but I can tell you about one who can.”

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    Linda Johnson

    Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church.​ She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald. 

    Andrea Strong

    Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

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