Faith Under Pressure

Faith Under Pressure Text: Mark 1:16-18

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

The question really becomes " Do you want to just fish or fish for men? Fishing is slow pace; trying to use the right bait. Fishing for men will take you on a jorney of a life-time! It’s hard and hot, but very rewarding!

We read these verses and have the tendency to think “Oh, that’s nice” and go right to the next verse and start reading, but think for just a moment Peter and Andrew have parents and now their family say’s “ Your doing what?” “We’ve been building this business for years so you can take it!” “How will you support yourself?” We learn latter that Peter was married. Can you imagine his wife’s reaction? Peter and Andrew leave the security of their family and their financial base, and follow a man that is threatened time and time again by the religious establishment of that day.

Matthew 10:37-39 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Think about these men who left everything to follow Him!

Does that sound like a risky and radical step? You better believe it does! Look at Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Nehemiah, Easter, Paul, and Stephen etc.

You will never know the opportunities missed if you never respond to faith under pressure!

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Real faith sometimes will not make any since. Think about this, this might have been Peter and Andrews only window of opportunity to follow Christ!

Many times the anxiety of the future tries to stop us from following faith under pressure; therefore, we need to remember the outcome that God promises. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (We know who wins at the end.)

There are new windows of opportunity that require new levels of faith for: your marriage, your career, your finances, a relationship, or anything else in life that involves faith!

Turn with me to I Samuel 17: 20-24, 45-51 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army. 22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 45-51 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.