The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity and the Christian faith. The risen Christ is the reality of our faith and is a living hope. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). Jesus proved that He wasn’t a liar or a lunatic but showed that He is the Son of God by rising from the dead (John 2:19; Mark 9:31; Romans 1:4). Each member of the Godhead or Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in unity was involved in raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24; Galatians 1:1; John 2:18-19; John 10:18; Romans 8:11; 1 Peter 3:18).
Jesus proved who He said He was by His resurrection, confirming His Identity as the Son of God and His atoning work on the cross. His resurrection was a literal, physical raising of the body of Jesus from the dead! A glorified body bearing the marks of the crucifixion that was flesh and bone yet could go through walls, appear and disappear, as well as eat (Luke 24:36-43)!
His resurrection validates His death and finished work on the cross, certifying that the righteousness He came to work out was completed (2 Corinthians 5:21). It ratifies and establishes God’s new covenant with Jesus. In his sermon on April 21, 1889, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Charles Spurgeon explains what Apostle Paul is talking about in our Scripture verse (Philippians 3:10) is not so much of the power displayed in the resurrection as the power which comes out of it. He explains the four things that he sees as the power of the Lord’s resurrection: 1) an evidencing power (Romans 1:4; Acts 13:33), 2) a justifying power (Romans 5:1; 10:4), 3) a life-giving power (John 11:25-26; 14:19; Romans 6:5, 9-11), and 4) a consoling power ( 1 Corinthians 6:14; 15:12-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Christ fulfilled the Feast of Firstfruits by being the resurrection’s firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20 – 23; Leviticus 23:9-14). We are the harvest that was to come!
Let’s look at what it means to experience this life-giving power of His resurrection in our everyday lives. The resurrection power of God is His dunamis or explosive power. Resurrection life brings the life of God to us when we receive Jesus as our Savior (1 John 5:12). The Holy Spirit comes in when we are born again. We are changed, and we have the same life in us as He has, the Zoe life of God (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
The word life in Greek is Zoe. It is the God kind of life. His life continually keeps making life in our bodies and adds years to our life on earth (Romans 8:11; Psalm 91:16). We have the eternal life of God in us (1 John 5:11-13; John 3:16).
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:4 – 6
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:10-11
And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold; I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Revelation 1:18
The life of God permeates heaven. We can have it here on earth because His resurrection life and power is a force. Whatever is dead or buried, resurrection life is working in us, i.e., in our bodies, finances, relationships, etc. Resurrection life is continually energizing our spirit, soul, and body. Resurrection life drives out the curse (Galatians 3:13-14)!
We have the fullness of God Himself inside of us (Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 2:9-10). Therefore we can overcome whatever the enemy throws against us. All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Jesus (Matthew 28:18). He gives us His authority and dunamis power over the enemy and sends us with it (Luke 10:19). Authority and power are connected, but we must have a revelation of it. Our revelation is connected to our dimension of power, and the level of power in our lives is connected to the position of authority given to us. We have the power to influence (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). The church must be on the offensive and shouldn’t just respond to what the enemy is doing but command and shift the atmosphere (1 John 3:8)!
We receive and activate resurrection life by faith in the name of Jesus (Galatians 2:20). We must believe, speak and act on what God has said and done to access all the benefits of the abundant life and to receive the full use of resurrection power in our life. The anointing destroys every yoke so that every part of the Blessing is released. We live healed through resurrection power (Romans 8:11). We live free through resurrection power (John 8:36). Resurrection power sets us free from the sin and shame of the past. It will also set us free from fear, worry, and anxiety. Fear will keep us from operating in the supernatural realm.
As believers, we have the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead residing in us! Don’t allow sin, disobedience, and living a selfish, worldly life to keep that resurrection life from flowing out of you. Decide daily to walk in the newness of life in Christ and the Zoe life of God through the power of His resurrection (Galatians 5:16-18).
Because of Resurrection Sunday, we can declare that Jesus is alive! We need not just tell people Jesus is alive but show them. We don’t just share the gospel, but the power of God through signs and wonders confirming the Word to show them Jesus is alive. The Spirit’s gifts reveal Jesus is alive and God’s love for people (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). We need to get out from the church’s four walls into the world around us and demonstrate that Jesus is alive and show them the gospel with power (1 Corinthians 4:20).
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Mark 16:20
In the ministry of Jesus, He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead, declaring that God’s kingdom was arriving (Luke 11:20; Acts 10:38). He also sent out His disciples to do the same (Luke 9:1-2; 10:9). The kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God. It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). He has given us His Holy Spirit that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God through Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:12). Jesus paid the price so, all we have to do is receive what has been freely given by God’s grace. The kingdom of God and the resurrection are connected! We are to bring the kingdom of God and the power of His resurrection wherever we go (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-18). We do this through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).
If you have not received the life of God through His Son Jesus Christ, you can do that right now. You can experience God’s love, peace, reconciliation by the blood of Jesus, the power of His resurrection, and have a personal relationship with Him. Pray this suggested prayer out loud right now. You can also pray in your own words. Remember, it is not words or prayer alone that will save you. Prayer is a way to reach out to the Lord and must be done in faith (completely trusting in Him to save you). Christ will save you if you pray these or similar words in faith.
Heavenly Father,
Your Word says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. I ask You to forgive me for my sins. I repent and want to turn from them and turn to You. I am calling on You and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead, and He is alive today. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me the Holy Spirit to live inside of me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and Your healing power in my life. I now belong to You. Help me to live for You and obey You all the days of my life.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
If you prayed the prayer for salvation in faith, you are now a child of God and are in His family (John 1:12). Go to my website and check out some steps on how to grow in your relationship with Him! https://alexiscarucci.com/welcome-to-gods-family/
Declaration for all believers: I receive resurrection life by faith in the name of Jesus. Resurrection life is working in me and through me right now!
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25 – 26
That is the same question Jesus is asking us today as well. How would you answer that? Take some time in prayer with the Holy Spirit, asking Him to show you areas where you are not walking in the power of the Lord’s resurrection in your life. And ask Him to help you have a more profound revelation of it and how to walk in it every day!
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4 – 6
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56 – 57
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Living the Abundant Life 