Proving That Jesus is Risen and Alive

Thank you very much. Let's turn to Acts of the Apostles in Chapter 1. Here we read that before the day of Pentecost, the apostles were meeting together. And one of the twelve had fallen away, so they wanted to select one more. See, in Acts 1 verse 22, they didn't say, we want to select a man to be an apostle. They said, we want to select one more person, verse 22, who will be a witness with us of his resurrection. So, when those eleven people got together, they were not thinking, oh, we are apostles. Today, many people like to be known as apostles or Christian leaders. They advertise themselves as apostles so-and-so, prophets so-and-so, or evangelists so-and-so, or sadhus so-and-so. But Jesus said, you are all brothers. He gave us only two titles. You must remember that. He said in Matthew 23, you are all brothers. And he said, Christ is your leader and you are all servants. So, we are brothers and we are servants. If you can take that lowly place, then you are obeying the Lord Jesus Christ. And however great your gift may be and responsibility may be, you are still a brother. The apostle John, when he was writing the book of Revelation, he says in Revelation chapter 1, I, John, your brother. He was 95 years old. But he was a brother. There are places where the apostle Paul calls himself apostle. That's because he wanted those blind believers to recognize his authority to set things right in their church. The more secure we are in God, we don't want any titles. We don't look down on younger people saying, oh, you are junior to me. We are all equal before God. God may have given different gifts to me than to you, but I'm equal with you. Gift is only for a ministry. But in the family of God, we are all brothers and sisters. But there is something more important that we must be. Towards each other, we are brothers and sisters. We are brothers and we are servants. I am your brother. I am your servant. But to the world, what am I? What are you? I'm not their brother. Because they have not accepted my father as their father. So here is a title we have. That is the title we must have when we face the world. Verse 22, a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Please remember this. When you go to your office or college or factory or mill or among your relatives who are not converted. What are you? What should you be? You should be a witness to the fact that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. That's what they said here. We want one more person to join us who will be a witness of his resurrection. And that is the word they used often in the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts chapter 2, Peter says in verse 32. Acts chapter 2 verse 32. This Jesus I'm talking about, God has raised him from the dead. And we are all witnesses to that fact. You see Acts chapter 3 verse 15. You people put to death the prince of life, but God raised him from the dead and we are witnesses. So all the time they were emphasizing that fact. We are witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And even though we did not physically see Jesus raised from the dead. We are still called to be witnesses of his resurrection. One of the most important things that Christians need to be a witness to is that Jesus is alive. Unfortunately we are only testifying that Jesus died for the sins of the world. That is only half the truth. Because let me tell you this. Let me read a verse to you in 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Verse 17. Please listen to this. If Christ is not raised from the dead, your faith is useless and you are still in your sins. And if Christ is not raised from the dead. And verse 19. If we hope in Christ only in this life, then we are the most miserable people in the whole world. That is the reason why so many Christians look like the most miserable people in the world. Haven't you seen some Christians like that? Long face. Always very sad. Grumbling. Complaining. Criticizing. Backbiting. Oh this thing is wrong, that thing is wrong. I am having this problem, that problem, the other problem. They are the most miserable people in the world. Are you like that? Verse 19. 1 Corinthians 15. 19 tells you why you are the most miserable people in the world. 1 Corinthians 15. 19 tells you why you are the most miserable people in the world. You don't know that Jesus conquered death and the devil. So we need to understand the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. How do we know that Jesus has risen from the dead? Did any of you see him risen from the dead? No. I can ask you another question. How do you know that Jesus died for your sins? Did you see him die on the cross? There are many things we don't see. But we know it is true. Supposing one boy says, I am very much in love with this girl. I say, can you show me that? Where is it? He says, I can't show but I know definitely I am terribly in love with this girl. And it's true. You look at the way he behaves and you know this fellow is really in love with that girl. But you can't see this thing called love. But you can see in his behavior. He always wants to go and meet her. He is speaking on the telephone for five hours with her. So, if Jesus is alive, in the same way, your behavior will be different. And it is because you are not sure whether Jesus is alive, that your behavior is so miserable. How do we know whether Jesus Christ is alive? In the same way that we know Christ died for our sins. Now, if I were to ask you, how do you know that Christ died for your sins? Even if you know that he hung on the cross. How do you know that was for your sins? How do you know it was not that thief who died for your sins? Supposing another fellow says, my religion is that thief died for my sins. He also died. Another fellow starts a third religion and says, the other thief, he is the one who died for my sins. How can you prove the one in the middle died for your sins? You see, no, it says in this book here somewhere, in the Bible. He says, that book is written by some man. He says, I can also write a book, one thief died for my sins. It's much more than that. Do you know how we know that Jesus is risen from the dead? You know, the apostles had seen Jesus risen from the dead. But they were still afraid. Even after seeing Jesus physically, they locked the doors because they were afraid. See Acts John chapter 20. Verse 19. On the day that Jesus rose from the dead. The disciples were sitting inside with the doors shut because of fear. One of the greatest weapons of Satan is fear. It is fear that prevents us from doing many things. And it is fear that makes us do certain things also. They locked the doors because of fear. And you and I also have fear. Then Jesus came into the midst and said, peace be to you. And they saw him. They saw the nail prints in his hands. They saw, this is Jesus. Then he went away. After another eight days. Now you would have thought, these disciples of fear is gone because they saw Jesus. See for example, you may think if only I could see Jesus physically, all my fear will go. But these people were still afraid. See John chapter 20 verse 26. After eight days. Again. The disciples were with the doors shut. With the fear of the Jews. Same fear was there. And Jesus came a second time. And they still continued to live inside with fear, with the doors shut. They saw Jesus many times. In a period of 40 days. But after seeing him. They went to their room and shut the door. They were afraid. You know when they opened the door? They opened the door when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. After that they never shut the door. All fear went from their life. Not after seeing Jesus ten times. Even if you see Jesus ten times. The fear will not go from your heart. But even if you don't see Jesus and you are filled with the Holy Spirit. It will go. That is what drove the fear out of the apostles heart. Because we read in Acts chapter 2 when the Holy Spirit filled them. They suddenly opened the door and stood before people and began to speak. One of the great marks of being filled with the Holy Spirit is that you have no more fear. Fear is there because you are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Then the apostle Peter tells us what the coming of the Holy Spirit proves. See he says here. In Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. Acts 2.32 And we are his witnesses. And not only he is raised from the dead. Verse 33. He is ascended now to the right hand of God the Father. And from there he has sent the Holy Spirit. So the coming of the Holy Spirit is the proof that Jesus has risen and is ascended to the right hand of the Father. It is like if somebody travels on a long journey to Delhi. And he sends a telegram. In the olden days telephone was very expensive. People used to send telegrams. So they send a telegram. I have reached Delhi. And I get the telegram. Oh he has reached Delhi. So like that when the Holy Spirit came. It was like a proof. Jesus has reached the right hand of the Father. So when the Holy Spirit fills our hearts. He is telling us. Jesus has risen from the dead. Jesus is alive. He has got all authority in heaven and earth. We don't have to be afraid anymore. The hairs on your head are numbered. You are of more value than many sparrows. A sparrow may fall and die and your Father knows about it. And you are more value than them. The hair cannot fall from your head without God knowing about it. Nobody can touch you without God's permission. See Zachariah chapter 2 and verse 8. This is a wonderful verse that has helped me many times. It's good to know these promises in the Bible. And if it helps you, you must remember this verse. Zachariah chapter 2 and verse 8. Do you know where Zachariah is? What page is it? It's good to know where the pages are. Please look at that verse. Chapter 2, verse 8. The last part of that verse. He who touches you touches the apple of God's eye. Have you ever tried touching the center part of your eye? Don't do it. Sometimes accidentally we may touch. Oh, it's so painful. You know that is the most sensitive part of your body. You touch any other part of your body, you don't pain. But you touch the apple of your eye, so painful. And the Lord says, If anybody touches you, He is touching the apple of my eye. That is so wonderful. What am I? I am the apple of God's eye. And you also. If you believe it, If you don't believe it, Then you live in fear. I believe this. That anyone who touches me, Touches the apple of God's eye. And if somebody tries to harm me, What should I do? Think about that. If somebody touches the apple of your eye, What does the apple of your eye do? What does the apple of your eye do? Nothing. I am not asking you what your eyelid will do. Eyelid may close or open. That is different. What does the apple of your eye do? Nothing. Why? Because it is so helpless. But if you touch the apple of my eye, My hand will come. Say, get away from there. So that is how it is. You touch me, I am the apple of God's eye. I will do nothing because I am a helpless man. God's hand will come. And say, get away from there. Don't touch my child. Get away from there. His hand will come. Do you believe that? No. Then it won't happen to you. Do you believe that? Good. You say, Lord, I believe that. I am the apple of your eye. Because your word says that. And so we don't have to live in fear. So the Holy Spirit has come from heaven To tell me some wonderful things. Don't be afraid. You are the apple of God's eye. And Jesus is risen from the dead. So what is the meaning of Jesus risen from the dead and ascended into heaven? So what is the meaning of Jesus risen from the dead and ascended into heaven? When Jesus was on this earth, He lived just like you and me. But when he rose from the dead, He told his disciples, Matthew 28, verse 18. He said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Who has got all authority in heaven and earth today? It's not the devil. It's Jesus Christ. He never said that before he died. It is after his death and resurrection He said that. So the resurrection of Jesus proves something. First of all, You see in Romans chapter 1, In verse 4, Romans 1 verse 4 says, He was declared to be the Son of God with power By the resurrection from the dead. How do you know that he is the Son of God? Because he rose from the dead. You know people say, All religions are the same. There are many roads that come to the city. You come by one road, I come by another road. Your religion, my religion is different, But it's all the same God. You call him by one name, And I call him by another name. I've heard many people say that. And I think, How can I prove to these people How can I prove to these people That your God is not my God? It's not by argument. It's not by saying, No, no, no, your God is not the true God. You see there is one big difference. My Jesus rose up from the dead. All the founders of every religion Are all lying in the grave. They are in the grave. They have become dust. Only one person conquered death and came out. If you ask me, What is the most important truth In the Christian message? It is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. More than that he died. Because if he died, And he did not rise from the dead, Then he is like all the other religious leaders. He may have lived a good life, And they killed him. Poor man, they killed him. We feel sorry for him. Then he is just like any other good man Who was finally killed. I think Mahatma Gandhi was a good man And they killed him. Was Jesus like that? Jesus rose from the dead. That's what makes him different From every other person Who ever lived on this earth. And you know, The devil does not want us To tell other people That Jesus rose from the dead. He himself, The devil himself does not like to hear it. Because the devil does not like to hear That he was defeated By Jesus Christ on the cross. He was ruling the world for so long, And then he was defeated on the cross. And the proof of that was Jesus rose from the dead. And the devil does not like to hear it. And you must tell the devil, Satan you were defeated on the cross. Whenever I ask a new believer To accept Jesus into their heart, I say pray like this, Lord Jesus I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins. I want to turn from all my sins. I believe you died for my sins on the cross. And you rose up from the dead. You are living today. Come into my heart. Forgive my sins. Blot out my past. And make me a child of God today. Thank you Lord for hearing me. Amen. Then I say, Now you talk to Jesus. Now you talk to the devil, Your old master. You know like when you leave one company, You have to give a notice, I am leaving your company now, I am going to another company. When you leave one company And go to another company, In that old company, You have to give a notice, Otherwise they will think You have gone on leave. Have you gone on leave from the devil Or you have signed and said, I have finished with your serving you. You please give a resignation letter To the devil and say, I have finished, I have left your job. I have left your company. I have left you completely. So, I always tell new believers, Now you have joined this new company, Jesus is your Lord. Please tell your old master That you have left permanently. You are not going on leave or anything. So I say, Tell the devil, Satan, Satan, do you know that Satan can listen to you just like Jesus can listen to you? He can listen. He is roaming around the world with his demons, he can listen very well. And he has got very good ears, you don't have to shout, you can speak softly, he'll hear. Satan, I don't belong to you anymore. Jesus Christ is my Lord. I resist you in Jesus' name. I renounce every contact I had with you in my past life. You must say that, because many of you may have had some contact with the devil through idol worship, or going to some temple, or mosque, or some place, and something you have done, or you contacted some witchcraft, and did some witchcraft, and got your palm read, or studied the stars, and so many ways you got in touch with the devil, that's all the devil. And you have to say, I renounce it, Satan, I renounce every contact I had with you, knowingly or unknowingly. I renounce all contact. And you were defeated on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you said that to him? I say that to the devil many times. Because many years ago, once I was saying, telling one young lady to say this, who came to my home, and when she came to this one sentence, she stopped. I said, tell the devil, you were defeated on the cross. She turned to me and said, I was not defeated on the cross. Oho, this is a demon here. I never thought that. From inside that woman, this demon was telling me, I was not defeated on the cross. So I looked at her, and I spoke not to her, but to the demon. You are a liar, you demon. You were defeated by Jesus. Get out of her in Jesus' name. And she left, and the demon left. And then I told her, tell the devil, you were defeated on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ. She said it immediately. And I decided that day, I am going to tell the devil very often in my life, you were defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. And the more I said that to the devil, the more I became bold. You must say that to the devil. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. And to show you that when Jesus rose from the dead, that was the proof that the devil was defeated. That my connection with the devil is gone now. He cannot bring any fear into me. He can tempt me, because God allows that. He tempted Jesus Christ. He even killed Jesus Christ. He even killed the apostles. Okay, he may be permitted to kill my body, when God permits him. You know like Jesus said, when my hour has come, then only I can be killed. Many people tried to kill Paul many, many times. They couldn't kill him. But when the time came, God said, your time on earth is over. The emperor Nero cut off Paul's head. Okay, the devil can do that. Maybe he can cut off your head and my head also. When God's time comes, but he cannot conquer my spirit, impossible. That's impossible, impossible. We are overcomers, no matter what happens, all the time. Remember that. And because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, he is alive. And we can tell the world, you have problems, I have problems. You have many problems, I may have bigger problems than you. Why? Because the devil doesn't attack you as much as he attacks me. And if I'm serving the Lord, the devil will attack me more than he attacks even you believers. And he will attack my family. You remember how Satan attacked Job's family? But only after God gave him permission. So remember this, that Satan can touch us only if he gets permission from God. Otherwise, he cannot touch us. And why does God allow him to attack us? So that God can prove to the world that we are conquerors over Satan. How can I prove that I can overcome Satan if Satan never attacks me? There are so many ways in which God allows the devil to attack me. And every time I overcome him, in the name of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, what does that prove? That we are stronger than him. Supposing India is playing hockey with some other country. And one time India wins, another time they win. Then you can't say which is the better team. Like when India plays Australia in cricket. Or South Africa or Pakistan. Sometimes India is winning, sometimes the other team is winning. And you don't know who is the better team. So when the devil attacks me, sometimes I win, sometimes he wins. And you cannot say who is the better team. But if every time I win, then you know definitely. So now the question is, is Jesus Christ in you stronger than the devil or not? Definitely he is stronger. He has conquered Satan on the cross. It's no use just saying it with your lips. That's good. Tell the devil your testimony. Satan, you were defeated on the cross by my Lord Jesus Christ. What you say with your lips, now you must prove by your life. Because the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power. And so for that we need the Holy Spirit. That every single attack of Satan, I can overcome. And Satan attacks in many ways. The Bible says he comes like a lion. And he comes like a snake. He comes like a lion putting fear into me. Oh what will happen to you? You don't have enough money for the future. What will happen to your children? I say I am not going to be afraid. I have a father in heaven who cares for me. See I overcame fear. And the devil has been defeated. And he will come back after sometime. You know what Jesus told us? Be like little children. You know how wonderful it is to be like a little child? Supposing in a house, the landlord has told them to vacate tomorrow morning. Because you have not paid the rent for six months. And there is no money in the bank. There is no food in the house. And the father and mother are all in a panic. But in that house is a little two year old child. That two year old child is sleeping peacefully. How it is sleeping so peacefully when there are so many problems in the house? Supposing you wake up that child. Hey don't you know there is no food in the house? Don't you know there is no money in the bank? You know that you have to vacate this house tomorrow morning. He will say, go and tell my daddy I don't have time let me sleep. He is not bothered. He says that is my father's response. So when the devil comes to you with all these fears. What will happen to you? What will happen to your children? What will happen if you lose your job? What will happen if your husband dies? He says, please don't disturb me, go and tell my father I am going to sleep. It's wonderful, be like a little child. It's really wonderful to be like a little child. To cast all our burdens on our father. Some of you young girls are worried, who will I get married to? I have heard some husbands beat their wives, will I get one husband like that? Lot of fears. Lot of young people have fears. Be like a little child. You have a father in heaven who cares for you. You trust him, he will do miracles for you. If you don't trust him, he cannot do anything for you. You know that? You know that many times God wants to do something for you, but he cannot do it because you don't trust him. I remember the days when we used to have a milkman coming with milk, a can of milk to the house. So I used to take the vessel to collect the milk. But I used to think like this. And then he will pour the milk into that vessel. Supposing I keep a lid on that vessel, I say, please pour the milk. He will say, how can I pour the milk? No, pour it, pour it. No, I can't pour it. And I have a fight with him. I told you, pour the milk. No, I can't pour the milk. Because there is a lid on it. I have to remove the lid. That lid is like your unbelief. Say, oh God, please give me this. Please give me. And there is a lid on top. God says, how can I give you? Remove that lid. Oh Lord, please give me. That is why so many believers get nothing from the Lord. They are asking. And God has got plenty. And there is no charge for it also. But we have got this lid called unbelief on top of the vessel. And we get nothing. And many believers are living with empty vessels all the time. I know, it was like that in my life for many years. Unbelief. Oh, will God help me? Will he solve this problem? Do you know what the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves? The Bible says that man's greatest problem is death. Because that is the one thing man has not been able to conquer. The highest mountain is Mount Everest. Man has conquered that. And I think even to the deepest depth of the Pacific Ocean, man has gone. The moon, man has gone there also. And so many diseases man has conquered. But death, nobody has been able to conquer it. Everybody finally dies. So what does that prove? That proves death is the biggest problem that man has. And if man cannot conquer death, He can solve all the other problems. Jesus conquered death. Proving what? If he can solve man's biggest problem, that proves he can solve all the other smaller problems. So the resurrection of Jesus Christ is very significant. It proves that God can solve every problem of mine. So when I stand and I am witness to Jesus' resurrection, I am telling the world, Jesus can solve every problem of yours. Now don't misunderstand me. I am not preaching what a lot of other people are preaching today. That Jesus can give you a bigger house or a bigger car. That is not a solution to your problem. If you get a bigger house, you may have bigger problems. So that is not solving the problem. But Jesus can solve every problem. That's what we are saying. That's what we preach. He can solve every problem. I don't want to lay hands on somebody and make him fall down here. What problem does that solve for him? He may get a headache after falling down there. I am not here to do that type of thing. I am here to solve his problem. Have you noticed how Jesus never pushed people down? He always lifted people up. He would see some lame man lying like that in Bethesda. He would say, come on, get up. He would go to some other place. Somebody is sitting like that. He would say, come on, get up. And Peter saw one man sitting like that for 40 years. He said, come on, get up. But today, it's the other way around. A man is standing up for 40 years. This servant of God pushes him down. What is this? Is this the gospel of Jesus Christ? But so many thousands of believers go to these meetings. And their mouth is open and say, oh, it's the power of God. Don't be deceived. Jesus never did it. Apostles never did it. I'll tell you what Jesus did. He solved people's problems. Let me give you an example. I had a problem with anger. Jesus solved it. I had a problem with discouragement. Jesus solved it. Do you have a problem? Jesus can solve it. And it's not going to be by just pushing you down for one minute on the platform. If that man is still defeated by his anger, his problem is not solved. If he is still defeated by his lusts, his problem is not solved. My witness is that Jesus rose from the dead. Death is man's biggest problem. Death is the ultimate result of sin. See James chapter 1. See the steps towards death. Please read carefully. James 1.15 The steps towards spiritual death. First of all, verse 14. We are tempted by our lusts. That is step number one. And then, step number two. When I unite and respond to the devil. I am the mother and the devil is the father. And a child is born. That child is called, verse 15, sin. One child is born. And that sin, when it grows up. It brings death. Do you see how death is the final step? Temptation. Sin. Death. Jesus conquered death. That means he can solve the problem of your sin. That is the witness we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Death is the ultimate end of sin. And Jesus conquered it. God told Adam, in the day you sin, you eat that tree, you disobey me, you will die. You disobey me, you will die. All through the years, millions and millions and millions of people have disobeyed God and they have died. You may get a better car, better house. Twenty five times. But you will die. Because your problem is not your car or your house or all these things. Your problem is sin. Sin, when it is finished, brings death itself. And Jesus conquered death. And we are a witness to the fact that Jesus has risen from the dead. He can solve your problem. Whatever bad habit you have inherited from your father or grandfather, Jesus can solve it. And the Lord is interested in your physical problems too. If you are a person living on the streets. You are so poor. God will solve that problem. You will not live on that street. I have seen people who lived in the slums. Who accepted Christ. And came to the church. Within a few months, they stopped living in the slums. Not because we gave them money. I don't give money like that to people. God blessed them. Jesus can solve every problem. He can solve sicknesses. He can solve the sin problem. We must go to him and say, Lord, I believe. You have conquered death. You are risen. We are so timid. The Holy Spirit must come and show us that Jesus has risen from the dead. You don't have to be afraid of the devil anymore. That is the meaning of being a son of light. There is a tremendous power in light. To me, light speaks of resurrection. Light is equal to resurrection. Because darkness is equal to death. Anything that drives away death is resurrection. To be a son of light is to be a son of resurrection. That is your calling. You can hear a message like this and get all excited. And for a few days, you are all excited. But if you want this permanently, You must ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. That's the only way. I never knew these things till God filled me with the Holy Spirit. I never knew how to fight demons till I was filled with the Holy Spirit. I never knew how to fight spirits till I was filled with the Holy Spirit. The reality that Jesus is alive, He can solve every problem. It's not because I heard some powerful message. God filled me with the Holy Spirit. You must pray. I feel that many people in our churches are not crying out to God to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Young people, Even if you were filled with the Holy Spirit some years ago, You are not filled with the Holy Spirit today. Pray to God again. I say, Lord, I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day. Will you pray that prayer? That is the thing that should distinguish us as a church. A fire. A fire that is always burning. There is a lovely verse in Leviticus 6.13 Which says, The fire must always be burning on the altar. It must never go out. Lord, here I am. My will, my own desires, all burn. Fire of God burning, burning, burning all the time. I want the fire to be burning always in my life. Dear brothers and sisters, If someone were to ask me, Brother Zach, What is the secret of your life? What is the secret of your ministry? I will say, God filled me with the Holy Spirit. And He continues to fill me with the Holy Spirit. You can have a wonderful life. You can fulfill the ministry God has for you. If you ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, Continuously, Lord, I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I want to be an overcomer everyday. Do you think God will answer you? If you remove the lid, Lord, I believe, You can receive. The Bible says in Psalm 84, Open your mouth wide, I will fill it. Remove the lid, I will fill it. What is God waiting for? Believe. Lord, I believe you are going to do this for me. I am precious to you. You will forgive my past sins. Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Let's pray. While our heads are bowed in prayer, God has spoken to your heart. I don't care what your problem is. I can tell you in Jesus' name that Jesus can solve that problem. I have experienced that for 45 years. He can solve your problem.