Go! And Live by the Spirit Who Raised Jesus from the Dead
Introduction: The Power That Raised Jesus Lives in You
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” — Romans 8:11 (NLT)
If there was ever a verse that captures the heartbeat of the Christian life, it is this one.
Paul is reminding believers that the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus Christ from the grave now lives in every believer.
That is not poetic language. That is not theological metaphor. That is reality — resurrection power resides in you.
Too many Christians live like spiritual paupers when, in truth, they are heirs of divine power.
We often walk in weakness when God has given us His strength.
We struggle with sin, fear, and discouragement, forgetting that the Spirit of the Living God dwells within us.
Let’s unpack this verse together and rediscover what it truly means to live by resurrection power.
Point 1: The Spirit Who Raised Jesus Is the Spirit Who Lives in You
Paul begins with a declaration: “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” (Romans 8:11a)
Romans 8 sits at the heart of Paul’s letter — a crescendo of assurance for those who are in Christ.
He has just described in Romans 7 the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit — the “I want to do right, but I can’t” battle of every believer.
Then, Romans 8 bursts forth with freedom:
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Paul reminds us that we are no longer slaves to sin because the Spirit of life has set us free.
And this Spirit is not merely an influence — He is a divine Person. The Greek word for “Spirit” here is p?e?µa (pneuma), meaning “breath” or “wind.” The same breath that breathed life into Adam now breathes life into you.
John 14:16–17 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth… you know Him because He lives with you now and later will be in you.”
Jesus promised that the Spirit who was with the disciples would one day live in them — and that day came at Pentecost.
The same Spirit who descended in power at Pentecost now abides in every believer. You are not merely improved by the Spirit — you are indwelt by Him.
Charles Stanley once said, “The Holy Spirit’s power is the key to victorious Christian living. Without Him, we are powerless; with Him, we are unstoppable.”
Stanley is right. Too many believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength — through willpower, not Spirit power. But victory comes only through surrender to the indwelling Spirit.
If you are in Christ, the Spirit is not a visitor — He is a resident.
He does not come and go; He dwells.
You are never alone, never abandoned, never powerless.
Point 2: The Spirit Who Raised Jesus Gives Life to You
Paul continues: “And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” (Romans 8:11b)
The phrase “give life” is from the Greek ???p???se? (zoopoiesei) — meaning “to make alive, to quicken.”
Paul isn’t speaking only of future resurrection, though that is part of it. He’s also talking about the Spirit’s present, life-giving power in our mortal bodies.
This is resurrection life now — not just one day.
1: Ephesians 2:4–6 “But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead... For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.”
We were spiritually dead, but God raised us — past tense — with Christ.
That means you are already living in resurrection power.
2 Corinthians 4:7–10 “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars... Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.”
The life of Jesus is visible when the Spirit of Jesus is active within you.
Even in weakness, His strength shines through.
The Lightbulb and the Power Source
A lightbulb without power is just a fragile glass shell. It was designed to shine, but it cannot shine without electricity.
In the same way, you and I were made to radiate the light of Christ — but apart from the Spirit’s power, we remain dark and lifeless.
When you are connected to the Spirit, you shine.
John Piper wrote, “The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in those who believe — not only to raise our bodies someday but to give us power for holiness today.”
Piper’s words remind us that resurrection power is not postponed — it’s present. The Spirit empowers you to overcome sin, to persevere in trials, and to live victoriously.
You may feel weary, broken, or spiritually dry, but the Spirit’s power is not limited by your feelings.
The Spirit of God is actively renewing you — empowering you to forgive, to endure, and to reflect Christ.
Point 3: The Spirit Who Raised Jesus Guarantees Your Resurrection
Paul not only declares present power but also future promise.
1 Corinthians 15:20–22 “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died... everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”
The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of ours.
In Greek, Paul calls Jesus “?pa??? (aparche)” — “the firstfruits” — meaning the first sample of a full harvest yet to come.
Because He rose, you too will rise.
The Empty Tomb
When the women went to the tomb, they expected to find a body but found a risen Saviour. The angel said, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!” (Matthew 28:6).
The empty tomb is not just proof of Christ’s power — it’s a promise of yours.
Just as the Spirit raised Jesus, that same Spirit will one day raise you to eternal life.
R.T. Kendall once wrote, “The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance — the guarantee that what God began, He will finish.”
The Spirit within you is the assurance that your salvation is secure. He is the pledge, the seal, the divine deposit guaranteeing your resurrection.
Death does not have the final word.
The same Spirit who turned the tomb into a triumph will turn your grave into glory.
That changes how we live — we live not in fear but in faith.
The Gospel: The Power That Raised Jesus Can Raise You
This Spirit power is not automatic.
It belongs only to those who are in Christ — those who have repented of sin and trusted in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
The Gospel Truth:
Jesus lived the sinless life you could never live.
He died the death your sin deserved.
He was buried, and on the third day, He rose again by the power of the Holy Spirit.
That same Spirit now brings life to all who believe.
To repent means to turn away from sin and turn to God. To believe means to place your full trust in Jesus — His death, His resurrection, and His power to save.
Without the Spirit, you remain spiritually dead. But when you trust in Christ, you are made alive — born again by the Spirit of God.
Call to Action: Go! And Live in Resurrection Power
So, believer — go and live in the power of the Spirit.
Do not settle for a weak, defeated, half-hearted faith.
You have resurrection life within you!
When you face temptation, remember: the Spirit of God lives in you.
When you feel powerless, remember: the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.
When you fear the future, remember: the Spirit who raised Christ will one day raise you too.
This week, walk in confidence, pray in power, and live in hope.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you have never placed your trust in Jesus Christ, today is the day.
The same Spirit who raised Jesus is here, calling you to life.
You can receive that life right now by repenting of your sin and trusting in Christ alone.
Pray from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I believe You died for my sin and rose again. Forgive me, change me, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I turn from my sin and trust You as my Saviour and Lord. Amen.”
Benediction / Exhortation:
May the God who raised Jesus from the dead fill you with His Spirit, empower you to live victoriously, and remind you daily that resurrection power resides in you.
Go, and live by the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead — and let your life testify to His glory.
