Astonished

Let us pray, believe, and be Astonished.

Matt 8:5-10, Mark 6:1-6

"Stay astonished at Jesus and he will do astonishing things in your midst."

Last year at our 55th Anniversary, Pastor Jason Elsmore, (Director of QB), challenged us with a message on being Astonished. As we come to our AGM this Sunday, I want to draw us back to this challenge. Throughout the gospels, people were astonished about the things Jesus did and said. But Jason drew us to two separate occasions where Jesus was astonished by our response to him.

Firstly, a Roman Centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant, (Matt 8:5-10). Jesus offered to go to the soldier’s home to heal the servant, but the faith of the centurion was so great, he believed in the authority of Jesus to speak a command there and then and his servant would be healed. Jesus was ASTONISHED on the centurion’s faith. “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith .”(v10b) “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” (v13b).

Secondly, Jesus was astonished at his own hometown’s peoples’ lack of faith, (Mark 6:1-6). They took offence in the words Jesus spoke and because of that, Jesus’ ministry was affected. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few people who were ill and heal them. He was astonished (amazed) at their lack of faith (Mark 6:5-6).

Let us be like the centurion, faith-filled in the person and power of Jesus and His promises. As He calls us at SHBC to follow Him, may we be a family who embody loving God, loving others and making disciples who multiple. Jason’s word for us was: Stay astonished at Jesus and he will do astonishing things in your midst. Our faith in Jesus impacts the lives of people in Brisbane and beyond.

To come before Christ in humility, to be bold in our prayers and to believe God will do astonishing things in bringing the prodigals back, restoring families, reaching our neighbours, for a season of spring and growth in courage, witness and others joining and multiplying our mission. Let us pray, believe, and be Astonished.

God Bless

Pastor Stephen