The Spirit Who Raises the Dead to Life
Month 7: The Miracle Worker · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Romans 8:11 & John 11:43-44
11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. — Romans 8:11
43 After Jesus had said this, He called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them. — John 11:43-44
Memory Verse
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””— John 11:25-26 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 10-12
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Ecclesiastes ends with its great conclusion: "Fear God and keep His commandments.")The Heart of It
At the tomb, Jesus "cried with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come forth!'" And the dead man came out, still wrapped in his grave clothes. It's one of the most stunning moments in the Gospels. But there is a connection we don't always notice. The same mighty power that called Lazarus out of the grave is the power Paul describes in . He calls it "the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead." Resurrection power isn't just an old story. It is the very life of the Holy Spirit. And Paul says that Spirit "dwells in you." The God who reverses death has come to live inside everyone who belongs to Jesus.
Think about what that means for your family. The Holy Spirit who lives in a believer is not a small, weak presence. He is the resurrection strength of God Himself. That same Spirit is at work bringing dead things back to life right now. A hard heart is softened. A hopeless person is filled with joy. A tired believer is given fresh strength to obey. And there is a future promise woven in too. says God "will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit." One day, the Spirit who raised Jesus will raise us. To walk in the Spirit is to live every ordinary day connected to that extraordinary power. We don't strive in our own strength. We lean on the One who turns tombs into testimonies. Walking in the Spirit means trusting that the God of "Lazarus, come forth!" is the very same God living in us today.
Around the Table
Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And his dead friend walked right out, alive! That same strong, living power of God lives in people who love Jesus.
Let's do it: Cup your hands and shout gently, "Come forth!" Then cheer that God's power is bigger than death.
The Bible says the same power that raised Jesus lives inside believers by the Holy Spirit. What kinds of "dead" things do you think the Spirit can bring back to life?
Let's talk: Where do you need God's strength right now? Is there somewhere you feel weak or stuck?
links three resurrections together. There is Jesus' resurrection in the past. There is the Spirit's work in us now. And there is our resurrection still to come. The Holy Spirit isn't a vague feeling. He is resurrection power living in you.
Let's go deeper: If the Spirit who raised Jesus lives in you, where have you been relying on your own willpower instead of His power?
💬 Conversation Starter
What is something that looked totally dead or hopeless and then came back to life? Maybe a plant, or a friendship, or a team that was losing. God loves to bring life where there seemed to be none.
🛡️ Defending the Faith
If raising the dead seems impossible, remember one thing. The question isn't whether we can do it. The question is whether God can. The God who spoke a whole universe into being is hardly stopped by a grave (; ). And the resurrection of Jesus is the historical proof that He does it. Hundreds of eyewitnesses saw the risen Jesus ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Notice the careful balance strikes, one our own tradition needs to keep holding. The Spirit's resurrection power is genuinely present. He dwells in you now, doing real work. But the full redemption of our bodies is still future. The verse says He "will give life to your mortal bodies." This guards against two ditches. On one side is the hype that promises believers perfect health and trouble-free lives now, if they just have enough faith. Scripture never makes that promise, and it crushes sincere people when the healing doesn't come. On the other side is a cold, powerless religion that quietly assumes the Spirit doesn't really do anything anymore. The classic Pentecostal path runs between the two. We expect the Spirit to work powerfully today, in healing, in transformation, in strength to obey, while we wait honestly for the final resurrection still to come. Lead your home in that "already and not yet." Pray boldly for the Spirit's power. Trust patiently for the promises not yet fulfilled. And remember this: character formed by the Spirit matters more than any display of power.
Draws on: Gordon Fee, God's Empowering Presence.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. Fill our family with Your resurrection power. Bring life where things feel dead. Give us strength where we feel weak. And help us walk in step with Your Spirit every day. In Jesus' name, amen."
The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. His power is resurrection power.