Faith under fire

There's a profound truth every follower of Jesus must eventually face: when you commit yourself to being a witness for Christ, your faith will come under fire. It's not a question of "if" but "when." And when that moment arrives, the real question becomes: how will you respond?

The Beginning of Discipleship
We often think of discipleship as the process of helping believers grow deeper in their faith. While that's certainly true, discipleship actually begins much earlier—with the sharing of the gospel itself. The Great Commission calls us to go into all the world and make disciples, and that starts with being a witness to who Jesus is and what He has done.

Being a witness for Christ requires balance. Some believers fall into the trap of thinking witnessing is only about words—if you're not verbally proclaiming the gospel, you're not witnessing. Others swing to the opposite extreme, believing their life alone should do all the talking without ever speaking about Jesus. The truth lies in the middle: we are called to be witnesses both through our words and through our transformed lives.

When Miracles Meet Opposition
The early church discovered this reality quickly. In Acts chapter 4, we find Peter and John facing opposition—not for doing something wrong, but for doing something undeniably right. The multitude had just witnessed a man who had never walked a day in his life instantly healed through the power of Jesus Christ. This man, over forty years old, was now running and jumping through the temple courts, praising God.

You'd think everyone would celebrate such a miraculous event. But instead, the religious leaders—the Sadducees, priests, and temple officials—were "greatly annoyed." Why? Because Peter and John were teaching about Jesus and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead.

The Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection. Their theology stated that when you die, you simply cease to exist. So when thousands of people began responding to the message that Jesus had risen from the dead and that they too could have eternal life through faith in Him, these leaders felt threatened. Their religious authority, political power, and theological credibility were all at stake.

Peter and John were arrested and thrown in jail overnight. Yet even in the face of opposition, the gospel continued to spread—about 2,000 more men came to faith, bringing the total number of men who believed to around 5,000.

The Real Enemy Behind the Opposition
It's crucial to understand that the ultimate enemy wasn't the Sadducees or the religious establishment. The real adversary was—and still is—Satan himself. Before we come to faith, Satan does everything possible to keep us out of the kingdom of God. But once we're saved, he doesn't give up. Instead, he shifts tactics, working to make us ineffective as witnesses for Christ.

Today, believers around the world still face imprisonment and death for their faith. While many of us may not face such extreme persecution, that doesn't mean our faith isn't under attack. Satan works subtly through broken relationships, damaged marriages, church conflicts, and personal struggles. He pushes our buttons, exploits our weaknesses, and seeks to divide what God has joined together.

When we allow these attacks to succeed, we essentially hand Satan ammunition to use against us. We become ineffective witnesses because our response to difficulties looks no different from how the world responds.

The Power of Being Spirit-Filled
When Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin—essentially the religious Supreme Court—they faced men who had the power to make their lives miserable or even end them. In such a situation, most people would be terrified, carefully choosing words to avoid further trouble.

But notice what Scripture tells us: Peter was "filled with the Holy Spirit." He didn't cower or apologize. Instead, he boldly proclaimed, "Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well."

The religious leaders were astonished. These were uneducated, ordinary men with no formal religious training. Yet they spoke with such boldness and authority that the leaders "recognized that they had been with Jesus." Something of Jesus was evident in them—His boldness, His power, His unwavering commitment to truth.

How did Peter know what to say? Jesus had promised His disciples that when they faced opposition, the Holy Spirit would give them the words they needed in that moment. This promise still holds true for us today.

Responding When Faith Comes Under Fire
When the religious leaders commanded Peter and John to stop speaking about Jesus, their response was remarkable: "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."

They couldn't stop talking about Jesus. The transformation they had experienced, the truth they had witnessed—it was too powerful to keep silent.

When Peter and John returned to the other believers and shared what had happened, the response wasn't fear or discouragement. Instead, the believers gathered together and prayed—not for safety or protection, but for continued boldness to speak God's word. And as they prayed, the place was shaken, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Standing Firm in Your Witness
So what does this mean for us today? When your faith comes under fire—whether through workplace restrictions, family opposition, health challenges, or relational conflicts—remember these principles:

Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When you're Spirit-filled, you'll know how to respond and what to say.

Pray for boldness. Don't shrink back from your witness. Ask God for courage to continue speaking and living for Him regardless of the cost.

Let your life bear witness to your words. There may be times when you can't speak Jesus' name aloud, but your response to difficulties can still be a powerful testimony.

Let your response encourage other believers. How you handle trials impacts those watching. Your joy in suffering, your peace in chaos, your hope in darkness—these become examples that strengthen the faith of others.

The truth is simple but profound: though we are saved, we still sin. We still fail. But Jesus' sacrifice covered all our sins—past, present, and future. When Satan whispers that you've blown it too badly to be effective for God, remember that Jesus says, "I've got that. I died for that. Get back up and keep pressing on."

Your faith will be tested. The question is: will you stand firm?