Faith Under Pressure - Luke 22

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Faith When Pressures Rise

Today, we’re going to be talking about “Faith Under Pressure.” All of us face pressures of many kinds in our lives, and those pressures come in different forms and intensities. You may face pressure in your job or pressure about the future, and we all face the pressure of temptation to think, say, or do things that are wrong.

How can we have faith under pressure? The Bible speaks directly to this struggle and gives us instruction for how to live faithfully when the pressure is strong. Our response to pressure reveals what is shaping our thinking and where our confidence truly lies.

Romans 12:2a (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world …

God’s Word instructs us in this verse to not let the world pressure you into becoming like it. The world in this verse does not refer to planet earth, but to the pressure of ungodly people and systems. The pressure of the world is often referred to as peer pressure, which we are all susceptible to.

We must learn how to resist the pressure to be like or be conformed to the world. Several years ago in Singapore, the customers of a local bank began withdrawing their money in a frenzy. The bank had to close its doors in order to prevent a bank crash.

No one knew why the run on the bank happened. Later it was discovered that on the morning of the bank run, there had been a bus strike. The strike caused a large crowd to form at the bus stop in front of the bank.

When passersby saw the crowd, they assumed the bank was failing. So, they followed the crowd and also got in line to withdraw their money. The crowd was wrong, as it often is.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Jesus taught that the crowd is always wrong regarding their spiritual direction. Most people are on the road leading to destruction, the way of the world. Few are true believers in Jesus on the path leading to life.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind …

Rather than following the crowd and being conformed to the world, we are to be transformed by renewing our minds. Our minds must be transformed to stop following the crowd and choose to follow Jesus on a less traveled path. We do this by filling our minds with God’s Word and sharing life together with believers in the church.

This morning we’re going to look at two people under intense pressure, Peter and Jesus. We’re going to see two outcomes, a failure by Peter and a victory by Jesus. From these examples, my prayer is that we will all increase our faith under pressure.

Confronting Our Denials

Luke 22:54-55 (ESV) Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

Jesus had been arrested by the Jewish leaders and was being brought for trial. Peter, it seems, was the only disciple with courage to follow Jesus. Jesus was taken into the house and Peter was warming himself in the courtyard.

Luke 22:56-57 (ESV) Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

A servant girl noticed Peter and exclaimed that Peter was also with Jesus. At some time in the past, this girl had seen Peter with Jesus. Peter immediately denied that he had been with Jesus and said he didn’t even know him.

This was the same Peter who had told Jesus he would go with him to prison or even death. What was going through Peter’s mind? I think the main thing was fear.

Peter knew that Jesus’ life was on the line. He feared that he also may be arrested and put on trial. Under pressure, fear often distorts our courage and silences our faith.

Luke 22:58-60a (ESV) And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.”

Peter remained at the fire, staying as close as possible to Jesus, who was inside. Two more people warming themselves at the fire accused Peter of being with Jesus. Both times, Peter emphatically denied that he was with Jesus or knew anything about him.

When Peter’s faith was under pressure, he lied and denied knowing Jesus, just as Jesus had predicted. The pressure exposed a weakness that Peter did not believe he had. His confidence in himself collapsed when fear took over.

Speaking Faithfully When Silence Is Easier

We are not currently in an environment where being a follower of Jesus may lead to imprisonment or death. Yet, others in the world are in similar situations as Peter was. Even so, we face pressure that tempts us to deny Jesus in subtle ways.

Oftentimes, we are tempted to deny Jesus simply by agreeing with others or keeping silent. When someone says something that is contrary to the truth of God’s Word, the easiest response is silence, which is often seen as agreement. Ask God for courage to stand for Jesus and the truth of God’s Word.

It may cost you a friend or the disdain of a workmate. Yet, Jesus calls us to speak the truth and acknowledge Him before others. To deny Jesus is to deny the truth about Him and about ourselves.

Embracing Repentance

Luke 22:60b-61 (ESV) And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

After Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times, the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had prophesied. It seems the house Jesus was in opened up to the courtyard. As the rooster crowed, Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter.

Immediately, Peter remembered his boastful words about never denying or leaving Jesus. He remembered that Jesus had told him he would deny Him, but he didn’t believe it. He also remembered that he had not obeyed Jesus’ instruction to pray that he would not enter into temptation.

Luke 22:62 (ESV) And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter understood what he had done and began to weep as he repented of his sin of denial. After Jesus rose from the dead, we read how Jesus forgave and restored Peter. Peter became one of the leading apostles and was ultimately martyred for his faith.

Judas, on the other hand, who had betrayed Jesus, gave back the price for the betrayal and hanged himself. If we deny the truth of Jesus in our lives, we must repent and receive Jesus’ forgiveness. Repentance determines whether failure leads to restoration or destruction.

Living a Lifestyle of Repentance

Repentance is essential. Without repentance, a person cannot be saved, and without ongoing repentance, a person cannot live in forgiveness. A lifestyle of repentance is at the heart of the Christian life.

The good news is that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. No matter how far you are from God or what you’ve done, repentance is the key to forgiveness and restored relationship with Him. Repentance is not condemnation; it is invitation.

To repent means to change one’s mind. It is acknowledging that what you have done is sin and turning away from it. Repentance is not simply saying sorry while continuing in sin, but a change of heart that leads to a change of life with God’s help.

Standing Firm in Truth

Luke 22:63-65 (ESV) Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.

As Peter’s faith was under pressure, so was Jesus’ faith under pressure. The Jewish leaders were filled with demonic hostility and mocked, beat, and blasphemed against Jesus. Jesus did not respond to their abuse.

Luke 22:66-68 (ESV) When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.

Jesus did not directly answer their question but exposed their hardness of heart. He was the Messiah, and He knew it, and His followers knew it. Yet, He was not the Messiah the crowds wanted.

They wanted a Messiah who would lead them in battle against the Romans. That was not Jesus’ mission. Now He would tell them who He was and what would soon take place.

Luke 22:69-71 (ESV) But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”

Jesus declared that He would be seated at the right hand of the power of God. He was pointing forward to His resurrection and ascension. The one seated at God’s right hand could only be the Son of God.

Jesus knew His life was on the line, but this was the reason He had come. He stood firm in the truth of who He was and what He had come to do. He would die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.

Choosing Truth Over Escape

Jesus is our ultimate example of standing firm under pressure. He did not want to endure the crucifixion, yet He laid down His life for you and me. Jesus spoke only what He heard from the Father.

God calls us to stand firm in the truth. Jesus said that He is the Truth, and those who follow Him must stand firm in God’s truth. The devil is a liar, and those who follow him believe and speak lies.

Whenever we are under pressure, we are tempted to escape by denying or suppressing the truth. God calls us to stand firm, reject the lies of our time, and speak His truth boldly. Stand firm in your faith, no matter what happens.

Conclusion: Faith That Endures Pressure

God desires for our faith to grow stronger under pressure rather than fail. The pressure of the world seeks to cause us to conform to it. Instead, our minds must be transformed by God’s truth.

At times we give in to the lies of the enemy and deny Jesus and His truth. When that happens, we must confront our denials and embrace repentance. Repentance strengthens us and prepares us to stand firm.

Jesus is our example of faith under pressure. May we all grow to become more like Him, standing firm in truth and living faithfully no matter the cost.

📘 Continue the Journey

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