No Further Proof Required

Pray daily for pastors in the Slavic countries (as well as your own) that they will have wisdom and power from God to preach the Word effectually and to care for all of the saints. Pray that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will accompany the preaching of God’s Word throughout all lands. Ask God to stir up Christians to use their God-given freedom to the fullest advantage in making known everywhere the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

The resurrection of Jesus is the most dynamic fact of history. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! This remarkable truth rests on two things. One is the appearances of the risen Christ to His disciples and the conversations with Peter, Mary and others. These cannot be explained away as the product of wishful thinking.

The other fact is the immediate change that happened in the life and spirit of these disciples. The resurrection of Christ had rekindled their hope, as they looked into the future. Personal fellowship with the risen Lord made all the difference in the world then, even as it does today. The reality of His resurrected power in transformed lives becomes infallible proof of His being alive and continuing the very purpose for which He came into the world.

The enemies of Christ both believed and testified to His resurrection. Even the Roman soldiers reported His body gone. They believed that He had risen. The conduct of the Scribes and Pharisees clearly indicates that in their own hearts and minds they feared that Christ would rise again. They sought to overthrow the true statement of their own guards with falsehood.

The friends of Jesus bore witness to His resurrection. All this happened more than 2,000 years ago. Today, each of us must so live for God that others might see the resurrected life of Christ in us and require no further proof that He lives!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

Alex Leonovich
Herald 1989 (condensed)

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17

Through prayer, missionaries are sent out to the field (Matthew 9:37-38) and enabled to speak with boldness and power (Acts 4:29-31). Through prayer, doors are opened to preaching (Colossians 4:3); the Word of the Lord has free course (2 Thessalonians 3:1), and men hear the Gospel (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Through prayer, believers are strengthened (Ephesians 3:14-19; Colossians 1:9-12) and needs are supplied (Philippians 4:19). Through prayer, mighty works are accomplished (John 14:12-13). How important it is to pray!