Grace for Living

By Adedayo Ekundayo

Saved by Grace, I am grateful for the ability to write this book. My prayer is that every one that will read the book will know the Saving Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am all that Iam by the sustaining and Transforming grace of God. I am grateful to be a partaker of grace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781465342492

Adedayo Ekundayo

AUTHOR BIO COMING SOON

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Copyright © 2013 by Adedayo Ekundayo.

Library of Congress Control Number:    2011913146

ISBN:                   Hardcover                     978-1-4653-4248-5

                       Softcover                        978-1-4653-4247-8

                       Ebook                             978-1-4653-4249-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Rev. date: 09/04/2014

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgement Grace For Living

Grace For Living About The Cover

Preface Grace For Living

Praise A Prelude To Grace For Living Prologue

Grace So Amazing Introduction

Understanding Grace

Chapter 1

Chapter 2 The Life Of Grace

Chapter 3 The Saving Grace

Chapter 4 The Sustaining Grace

Chapter 5 Growing Grace

Chapter 6 Abounding Grace

Chapter 7 Dominion Grace

Chapter 8 All Sufficient Grace

Chapter 9 The Throne Room Of Grace

Chapter 10 It Is All About Grace

Personal Grace

The Epilogue Love So Amazing

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the Triune God, the God of all grace.

To the only wise God our Savior, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever more. Amen Jude 25.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Grace For Living

I am extremely grateful to the God of grace who made it possible for this book to be ready. I thank God for grace that keeps my Spirit man alive in spite of my weakness and shortcomings. The Holy Spirit kept me going the many times I wanted to give up for what ever reason. I learnt to rely on the Power of the Holy Spirit to continue. Many moments of discouragement, misunderstanding and confusion became very productive because the Holy Spirit infuses hope and grace. I learned and I am still learning to make the Holy Spirit the core of my being. He is my helper, my comforter, strength, my joy, my confidence, and my guide. I could not have completed the book without the gentle Spirit of the most High God. He is very real in all perspective and I genuinely thank Him.

In 2005, I was laid off on my job. Upset but not bitter, I learnt more about the grace of God. I had time, I rested, and this book was birthed. I lacked nothing. The break between my lay off and beginning a new job became the greatest time in my work life. I began to write this book. Glory to God in the highest. I am grateful for those who helped me along the way. Pastor Nike Wilhelm for her love, and example. I can follow her as she follows Christ.

I am grateful to those who typed and prepared the manuscript, Lana, Bona and Mide. May grace abound to them for all good works in Jesus’ name, Amen.

I thank the publishing company that worked with me to actually publish the book. To the many readers that will read, meditate and apply the message of grace to their lives, I say thank you. May the God of all grace reveal Himself to you in Jesus Name. Amen.

GRACE FOR LIVING

About The Cover

The Green Color:

Represents the fruitfulness and abundance of grace. Green is productive. The dollar bill is green, a sign of wealth.

The Overrunning Spring:

The overrunning stream symbolizes ongoing supply of peace, restoration, satisfaction, joy and joy that grace brings. Even though it seemingly was flowing from a height, it signifies availability for all. Whoso ever will may drink.

Ezekiel 47:1-5

Afterwards, he brought me again unto the door of the house, and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house east ward.—towards the south side of the Altar.—

With Ezekiel, as he trusted and relied upon the the Holy Spirit, he moved from the ankle to the knee, to the loins(hip). In verse 5, Ezekiel could no lo in and out of the river, he had to swim with the current of the river. This is where we need to be. When we are fully reliant on the Holy Spirit, we will have grace for living.

Rev 22:1

And He showed me a pure River of water, of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

There is a commonality between the Ezekiel account and the Revelation account. The Rivers flow from the Altar. We must be nailed to the source of the River and be perpetually clothed in grace. The more of the River one is immersed in, the more grace one has to live. The more grace you have to live by, the fuller and richer in the spirit one’s life is. The books of Ezekiel and Revelation speak of the fruitfulness of the trees by these rivers.

We bear fruits when we are fully immersed continually and be led by the Holy Spirit. The journey is one of eternal peace and contentment. Fruits were produced continually. Grace causes us to be productive.

THE DOVE:

The Dove represents another dimension of the Holy Spirit.

Matt3:16

Mark1:10

Lk 3:22

John1:32

The dove is an emblem of purity and innocence.

From the book of Genesis, the dove was sent out from the Noah’s Ark and it came back with an olive branch which in Israel is a symbol of Peace. The Dove at Jesus’ baptism is a symbol of the pure and gentle Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit always seeks to reveal Jesus. The Dove on the cover of the book represent the Holy Spirit, the God of all grace. The Dove is gentle yet powerful. As a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the dove represents the purity of the finished work of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to the sinner, who receives grace and faith to accept Jesus as Lord. I pray that every one reading this book will come to know Jesus as Lord and if they already know Him, will receive more grace for a deeper knowledge and relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit gently directs us to Jesus. To know Him is to understand how to live a life of grace. To have a personal relationship with Jesus is to begin a life of grace.

THE LIVING WATER.

John 7:37-39

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried and said, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink

He that believed on me as the scripture had said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

But He spoke of the Spirit which they that believe on Him shall receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because JESUS was not yet glorified.

The one who is filled with the Holy Spirit has the living water. This living water washes, purifies, refreshes, sustains, anchors. We need the Holy Spirit to grace our lives with ease.

Isaiah 44:3

Joel 2:28-29

Ezekiel 47

These scriptures speak of this living water. Study them and see how much more scriptures the Holy Spirit can add to your repertoire.

THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST:

The Life giving Cross of Jesus Christ exemplifies utmost humility. How can the King of kings, the creator of the universe, allow His creation to hang Him on a cross they made? Jesus Christ has all powers. Why did He not do something to those who mocked Him, scourged Him, and ridiculed Him for a sin He did not commit? I only have one answer. He loves you and I enough to die for us. He is the only sinless Lamb that could pay the propitiation for our sins. He died the worst death ever on the cross that we can live by grace. We have to embrace the sacrifice of the cross. With Jesus resurrected, the cross became a symbol of life and not of death. Every tree has a fruit. The fruit at the cross is eternal life if one embraces the message of the cross. From the cross, Jesus defeated the devil, when He rose, He conquered the grave. He freed the human race from the tyranny of death. Like a wounded soldier, He bled from His hand, His feet, side, heart, head. These are where the problems of humankind originates from. Jesus Christ is our Champion of Grace.

The cross of Jesus Christ is important because the devil deceived Adam and Eve with the tree of life and death. We have the cross of Jesus that now brings us life. This is the transformation that grace brings. In the death of Christ, we reaped life. I join Apostle Paul to proclaim.:

Far be it that I glory safe in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ. All grace come from the sacrifice of the cross. Supreme wisdom, the pursuit of the knowledge of good and the ability to do good. Embracing the cross of Jesus Christ destroys all forms of wickedness. The first Adam fell by the tree. Life was restored by the last Adam through the cross (hewned from the tree).

By the fruit of the cross, we put on Christ, we are sanctified, and glorified. The cross removes our shame when we accept the sacrifice of the cross. We have the hope of glory and the gift of grace to live a holy life. Jesus loved us so much that though sinless, He suffered and received the punishment that we should have. For this sacrifice we should boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, that Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ is coming again. We must believe in our hearts, confess by our mouth and accept the fullness of the sacrifice of the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We need grace to live right.

The cross of Jesus Christ is the source and cause of all grace. When we receive Jesus’ finished work by grace, we receive all grace to live, we receive sustaining grace to continue. We continually grow in grace and we boldly go to the throne of grace to receive mercy. We glory in Christ only by the finished work of grace.

God’s compassion for us is shown by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the wicked and the sinner. He was crucified with both. The sinner accepted Him. The wicked was rebellious and blasphemous. The sting of death could not touch His divine nature.

We can say that the grace given at the cross is the source of all blessings. Weakness is exchanged for strength, the hopeless receives hope, the sick regains health, dishonor becomes honor, shame becomes fame, all at the cross. His death at the cross confronted both physical and spiritual death. His cross turned death into life for all who accepts Him. By His grace we receive life more abundantly. We are saved from eternal condemnation.

There is a song that says what happens at the foot of the cross. There grace and mercy meet. We have forgiveness at the cross. We wear forgiveness for a crown. We receive mercy. We lay our burdens down.

We trade beauty for ashes. Jesus took our judgment at the cross and a lot more. The only reasonable response to such love is to give our heart fully to Him. The song says, Now you’ve won my heart. That is the only reasonable response. Please let Him win your heart. You will be doing yourself a favor. You can only fall more in love with Him when you know Him.

Have you ever wondered why God gives so much grace? You were created for a purpose and God packaged you with grace to fulfill your purpose. You have to ask for grace to fulfill it. The grace is already given. The asking starts from the cross.

The cross is loaded with everlasting love, life, miracles, kindness and compassion, gift of choice and so much more We are created in the image of God. That gives us choice. He did not make us robots. You can choose Him. You must choose Him, shows you how to live a worry free life. The cross is selfless therefore provides a cure for selfishness. Grace never gives up. You are accepted in the beloved.

Grace defines you and you are who God says you are. The Cross is a plus sign. It always adds to you. Never diminishes you. It connects us to Jesus Christ and God vertically, and to one another horizontally. You cannot loose if you just embrace the Cross and the precious Lamb that was slain on it for the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Receive Him and you will be saved.

From what, from sin, guilt, shame, reproach and anything negative. When you choose the grace of God, you receive God like ability to choose good. Will you ever sin again? Yes, but different from life before grace, you will not relish in it. Grace does not keep a record of wrong doings. Grace sets you on the path of life. Grace is a process. As you grow in grace, you develop better stamina to do good. Choose grace.

The other choice is not worth your while. The wages of sin is death. When you do not choose life, you obviously choose death. Not choosing anything is a choice. One day the kind, merciful Jesus will come as a judge. Please do not meet Him as a judge. He is also the LION of the Tribe of Judah. He is a very fierce judge. I chose Him as my Lord and Savior. I invite you to choose Him if you have not already chosen Him. For over 30 years I have known Him. Every time I turn around there is more of Him to know. The knowledge of Him is inexhaustible. Oh taste and see the Lord is good. His mercy endures for ever. Mercy and forgiveness meet where the trees that make the cross meet. I invite you to this life of grace. Receive Him into your life as Lord and Savior. One day I will love to read of your experience of Grace. God bless you.

PREFACE

Grace For Living

These chapters came to life over a period of six years. Every time I see the hand of God, I saw grace. Looking back God had caused me to accomplish what I know I was not prepared for, I was not trained to be nor ready for. When I remembered something extraordinary that God did for me I cannot but embrace grace. Little notes here and there became related categories that formed chapters,

I learnt about the triumph of grace. Life became easier and easier. There were still struggles but I understand that was not God’s plan for me. His plan is for me to live in grace. In grace we triumph. We have an identity in grace. Living in Christ I see the radical truth of salvation. My sin nature needs to die daily until I look more like my Savior. I have a new nature in Christ. So does every one that believes He was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died with sinners, was dead and buried.

Halleluiah He rose to live for evermore. My only response is one of obedience, submission, love, loyalty, and devotion to Him who gave me life and hope. I am hopeful that you will know Him for who He is. Knowing Jesus Christ gives the ability to live the life of dominion. The believer may sin but he/she does not cover it up. Sin is confessed and she/he repents, forgiven and rises above that sin by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Jesus paid the price for our sins in full. This causes one to sigh relief. You do not live a life of fear. With this weight lifted, we can live by grace.

In Christ old things are passed away. Behold all things are new. I t may be hard to believe the simplicity of grace. Living by grace is trusting the Holy Spirit to help us, step by step. Praise God.

We are forgiven in Christ and our certificate of death cancelled (Colossians 2:13-14). They were nailed to the cross at Calvary. We no longer have a sin-debt. We do not have to pay the price for our sins. That is why the apostle Peter wrote, He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness—1 Peter 2:24.

The only way to forgiveness is through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and brings us to the point of confession and repentance and we are forgiven. It is God’s personal gift of grace. It makes all the difference in the world. A gift is not a gift until it is received. For God so love the world and gave His only begotten Son, that who so ever believe will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) It does not get better than that.

Eternity is sure. We do not have the opportunity to choose when we are born, where we are born into or who our parents will be. We also do not have the opportunity to choose when we will die. We have the greatest opportunity to choose where we will spend eternity. Romans 10:9-10 spells it out. You must believe in your heart and you must profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Millions in the world believed and had professed Jesus as Lord and savior. What do you have to loose? Choose grace and live.

The only choice to make is to choose Jesus Christ while you are yet alive. Choose Jesus. He is the only way to eternal life. Praise Him. The chapters of this book all speak of His grace. I don’t fully grasp it, but I receive it. He still inhabits the praise of His people. I can only respond in worship. Praise puts you perpetually in His presence and there you have fullness of joy and life for ever more. Christ delivered us from the penalty of sin (separation from God) Ultimately, we will be delivered from the very presence of sin and we will be delivered into the everlasting presence of God. Praise Him.

PRAISE A PRELUDE

TO GRACE FOR LIVING

Prologue

To live by grace is to live the life of PRAISE. How will one not praise the God who daily loads us with His benefits?. Praise is an act of one’s will to exalt God. It does not depend on where you are. Private praise makes collective and public praise glorious. We owe to the God who has done much for us praise. We owe Him praise.

Praise gives the Holy Spirit the freedom to come. God inhabits the praises of His people. A mighty and indescribable God deserves a very big praise. The Holy Spirit draws us closer to God with the right attitude of submission and adoration to His name. Praise is a prelude to worship. In worship, we go to were God is. In Praise God comes to us. You want to live a