The Race - Running to win Pt6 | Chuka Edozie

In this session, we address important questions about death, why believers should never submit to death as a way of life. We also examine the crowning ceremony, the judgment seat of Christ, and the righteous Judge who will evaluate our lives and reward us without mistake. • Death Is an Enemy: 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 says Christ must reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. No believer should accept death as a friend or as a normal way of life. • Sin Came First, Death Came Last: Sin is the first enemy. It gave the devil power and gave death a foothold. Between sin and death, there are many enemies, but Christ has given us victory over all of them. • The Three Levels of Salvation: Sin affects man on three levels, spirit, soul, and body. When you give your life to Christ, resurrection happens in the spirit. As you grow, Christ takes control of your soul. The final stage is the redemption of the body, when we receive an immortal body that cannot die or get sick. • The Holy Spirit Is the Down Payment: The Holy Spirit is the first fruit, the earnest, the down payment, the seal that says you are sold and belong to Christ. You are marked and reserved for a greater redemption. • Jesus, Our Example: Jesus manifested God in character, in wisdom and knowledge, and in authority and power. He walked on earth as a man in right relationship with the Father. This is the pattern for us. • We Choose When We Go: Jesus said, "No one takes my life from me. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again." Paul said, "I desire to depart and be with Christ, but it is more necessary for you that I remain." We do not submit to death unless the Lord says so. Sickness, accidents, and death are anomalies. We do not fraternize with them. • We Need Each Other: We cannot run this race alone. Paul said, "Encourage one another daily." We need the encouragement of believers to keep going. We need the body of Christ, not just our own strength. • The Crowning Ceremony: You do not receive your crown the moment you finish the race. Just as medals are given at the end of a tournament, the crown is given at the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body." • The Judgment Seat Is Not for Condemnation: The judgment seat (bema) is the place where judges sit to evaluate the race and award the prize. It is not a criminal court where you are sentenced. It is the place of reward. Jesus said, "The Father judges no one. He has entrusted all judgment to the Son." • The Righteous Judge: The judges in Paul's day were human and could make mistakes. Our Judge is righteous. He knows all things. He knows your motives. He will not make a mistake. He will give you exactly what you qualify for. • The Anomaly of Failure: In Christ we have been delivered from sin. Sometimes we sin, but it is an anomaly. It is not supposed to be. The same is true of death. Sometimes believers die prematurely, but it is an anomaly. It is not the norm. We are gaining victory every day. Death is an enemy. Do not submit to it. Do not fraternize with sickness, accidents, or any work of darkness. God has given us victory over sin and death. Live every day in the consciousness of that victory. Encourage one another. Look forward to the day of His appearing with joy and confidence, knowing that the righteous Judge will reward you without mistake. #TheRace #VictoryOverDeath #TheJudgmentSeat