Zambia Hunt

Actss 4:1-4

During China’s Boxer Rebellion of 1900, insurgents captured a mission station and presented students with a terrible choice: trample a cross underfoot and live, or refuse and face the firing squad. The first seven students chose life by stepping on the cross. But the eighth, a young girl, knelt in prayer beside the cross, carefully walked around it, and faced the firing squad. Strengthened by her courage, all ninety-two remaining students followed her example, choosing faith over safety.

This story illustrates a timeless truth: standing firm in your faith often comes at a cost. Jesus himself warned, “The time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 16:2). History bears witness to this reality. Consider the fates of the original disciples:

• Peter was crucified upside down during Nero’s persecution
• James was thrown from the Temple’s pinnacle and beaten to death
• Thomas was run through with a lance in the East Indies
• Philip was hanged against a pillar at Heropolis
• And others met similarly violent ends for their unwavering faith

Understanding Opposition

Opposition to genuine faith is certain, but understanding its nature helps us face it with courage. Often, the fiercest opposition comes from unexpected sources – frequently from religious institutions themselves. In the early church, the strongest resistance came from religious leaders who should have recognized the truth (Acts 4:1-6).

Why do people oppose truth? Often, their motives include:

• Fear of losing influence or position
• Concern about disrupting the status quo
• Worry about personal consequences of accepting truth
• Fear of having to acknowledge past mistakes

As John 11:47-48 reveals, even religious leaders sometimes oppose truth because they fear losing their position or authority. Today, many still hesitate to support God’s work because they’re afraid of losing acceptance, esteem, recognition, or material benefits.

The Power of Truth Prevails

Yet here’s an encouraging reality: opposition cannot stop truth. In Acts 4, despite persecution and arrests, “the word of God was effective” and thousands believed. As Isaiah 55:11 promises, God’s word “shall not return void, but it shall accomplish what I please.” Or as Paul wrote from prison, “I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained” (2 Timothy 2:8-9).

How to Respond to Opposition

When facing opposition, we must respond with both wisdom and courage. Here’s how:

1. Stay Spirit-Led: The early believers relied on the Holy Spirit’s power when confronting authorities. Jesus promised this help: “You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake… but when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak” (Matthew 10:18-20).
2. Speak Truth Without Compromise: When Peter and John faced the Sanhedrin, they didn’t water down their message. They boldly proclaimed Christ as the cornerstone that the builders rejected (Acts 4:11). As Ephesians 2:19-20 declares, Jesus Christ remains “the chief cornerstone” of our faith.
3. Stand Firm in Essential Truth: Some truths cannot be compromised. As Peter declared, there is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Or as Paul wrote, “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

Finding Opportunity in Opposition

Opposition often creates unique opportunities to demonstrate the power of unwavering faith. When faced with resistance, remember:

• Truth may advance slowly, but it advances inevitably
• Opposition often opens doors for powerful testimony
• Standing firm inspires others to do the same

Like Isaiah 37:19 points out, man-made alternatives to truth will ultimately fail because “they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands.” Our role is to stand firm in truth, even when doing so comes at a cost.

The Choice Before Us

Today, we face the same choice as those students in China: will we compromise our faith for comfort and safety, or stand firm regardless of the cost? While most of us won’t face a firing squad, we all face pressure to water down our convictions or stay silent about our faith.

The young girl who inspired ninety-two others to stand firm reminds us that one person’s courage can have far-reaching effects. In what areas of your life is God calling you to stand firm today? Remember, while opposition is certain, so is God’s faithfulness to those who stand for truth.