GREAT GRACE THAT CHANGES STATUS

The word “status” is defined by the dictionary as: A person’s condition, position or standing relative to that of others. It is also a situation or state of affairs. It is the present state of a man or things. It takes great grace to change the status of mankind.

1Sa 2:1-10 KJV 1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. 2 There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them. 9 He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

In this season of great grace, may great grace work for you, change your status, do you well and change your stories in Jesus name.

This chapter two of the book 1Sam is a record of testimony of Hannah after she had received Samuel from the Lord. very soon, you will have a testimony. You will share your own publicly in Jesus name.

In chapter one she brought her testimony to Eli and she said:

1Sa 1:27 KJV For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

She showed and introduced Samuel to Eli. I pray for you, may you have tangible testimony to show in Jesus name.

Her testimony is full of how God changes people’s status from one state to another glorious state.

Hannah herself was an epitome of testimony. Who was Hannah before now? Hannah was a sad, bitter woman, she was depressed and the bible says that her adversary made her life bitter.

1Sa 1:6 KJV And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

Peninah would do everything to make her sad but one day the story changed and a sad, sorrowful and sore woman sang her song. May God change your story. May God wipe away your tears in Jesus name.

Hannah extols the virtues of the Lord and how God changes the people’s status and life.

1Sa 2:7-8 KJV 7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.

The Bible is full of many accounts of people who were nobody before but God turned their lives around. I would like to share some with you and I believe this will encourage you to believe that what Hannah said is actually true.

Case studies:

MEPHIBOSHETH

2Sa 9:3-7 KJV 3 And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet. 4 And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar. 5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar. 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant! 7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

Mephibosheth was a prince but a lame man. How he became lame was stated in 2Sam 4:4

2Sa 4:4 KJV And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

He has been like that for many years, even though he was born into the royal family yet he was lame and could not help himself. but one day God that lifts the poor out of dunghill remembered him and David asked, “is there anyone from jonathan’s house that i will show kindness to?”

Can i pray for you, very soon somebody will remember you. Your name shall be mentioned in high places in Jesus’ name. 

They made mention of Mephibosheth and he was brought before David and David told him from today you will be eating from my table in the palace. The Lord changed Mephibosheth status overnight. May God change your story now in Jesus name. He that had nothing going for him was now in the palace eating at the king’s table. You will become great in Jesus name.

People might have forgotten you like everybody has forgotten about Mephibosheth, but when the time to favour him came, God used David to lift him up.

Mordecai

He was a gate man at the palace even though his nephew was the queen. There are many of us that have our relatives an town’s people at the coridor of power or in high places but yet they can’t help us. This was the state of Mordecai until one day when the good he did many years was to be rewarded, Becauseof him the king could not sleep.

Est 6:1 KJV On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

After checking the record it was discovered that Mordecai had not been rewarded and that was it. A gate man few hours ago became the celebrity of the town. God is changing your status and you are coming into limelight inJesus name.

Est 6:11 KJV Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

DAVID’S MIGHTY MEN

2Sa 23:8 KJV These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.

1Ch 11:11 KJV And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.

We talk about David’s mighty men. They were men of war that performed mighty feats. When you read their accounts, some fought with lions, giants, won battles and they were all strong men. 

But the question is who were these people before now? Where did they come from? What was their occupation before or were they born mighty men?

When you read the story of David, he was driven out from the city by Saul the king and he ran away for his life. Saul wanted to kill David. Whoever is after your life shall perish by fire in Jesus name. However David ran away but the Bible says something that many people came around David and gathered themselves unto him.

1Sa 22:2 KJV And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

They were men that were in distress, in debt they could not pay back, they were dissatisfied and discontent with the happening in towns. They were frustrated and discouraged. It is these set of men that associated with David and later became mighty men and were now referred to as David mighty men.

I may not know your present status, maybe you are also in debt today with no way to pay, dissatisfied and discouraged. God that changed these men who were outcasts, rejected by society and now they have become mighty and strong men will change your story in Jesus name.

These men were not useful to themselves and to the society at large but when they associated with the anointed man and a man carrying grace, their lives were transformed. Because you are in the Dominion chapel where grace is preached and taught, God will also transform your life in Jesus’ name. 

Whom you associate with matters in life. You will become like them. If you associate with failures and mediocres you will also become what they are. But when you move with great people their anointing, grace and blessings will come into your life.

The Bible says that he that walketh with the wise shall be wise but a companion of the fool will not go unpunished. Mind whom you spent the best of your time with.

AMOS

Amos was a man that was trying to make ends meet. he was a gatherer of sycamore fruit and at the same time a herdsman. He was combining two jobs in order to feed his family. He was poor and a nobody but God that changed people’s status changed his story and now we read about him in the Bible. This is his own testimony when they asked him not to prophesy again.

Amo 7:14-15 KJV 14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: 15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

He said God took him from following the flocks and made him a prophet. I don’t know what you are engaged in presently that is not making money and probably you are not doing well at all, God that took Amos from following herds will relocate you in Jesus name.

ELIZABETH

She was called the barren. She was faithfully serving the LOrd with her priest husband Zechariah. The Bible gave them a very wonderful testimony and yet they were without children of their own. Zechariah had dedicated many children but he had none.

There are many children of God faithfully serving the Lord day and night and they can relate to this account of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Many have no house of their own, they don’t have children of their own and have nothing to relay saying this is God’s blessing in my life. But i want you to listen, God changed the story of Elizabeth one day and even an angel testified to it:

Luk 1:36 KJV And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

Here is what the angel was saying to Mary that your cousin whom everyone calls “barren” has now conceived. People were calling her barren. But after the encounter that her husband had with an angel in the temple one faithful day, her story and name changed permanently. Can I pray for you right now that your status is changing right at this moment in Jesus’ name. It doesn’t matter the name anyone has called you, God has reversed it in Jesus name. Here is Elizabeth’s testimony:

Luk 1:25 KJV Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Every reproach of the people you call neighbours, friends, enemies and other people  is wiped away today in Jesus name. Rejoice.

STEPHEN

Stephen was among the seven deacons that were chosen as a result of the problem that arose between the Greek speaking jews and Hebrew speaking Jews because the former widows were neglected in daily distribution of meals and necessities.

Act 6:1 KJV And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

The apostles asked people to choose seven people that will oversee the affairs of distribution but they themselves will focus on prayers and preaching. Stephen was among them, He was ordained to serve tables and distribute foods. But there was something about stephen. 

Act 6:8 KJV And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

How come he was working miracles and wonders when he was supposed to be serving widows and other poor people?. God changed his status. Only the apostles were working miracles before as at the time because they were the disciples of Jesus and were ordained for that. But the anointing is now on Stephen and he that was supposed to be attending to tables became a preacher and an icon suddenly. He was full of faith and grace. May that grace come upon you today in Jesus name.

I may not know your present role in the church or in your organization. Maybe you are among the people that are doing the errand job, low profile job, please don’t complain and murmur. Don’t say why should the Pastor give me this kind of job to do in the church, I am supposed to be teaching or preaching. Nope, don’t complain, just do it as unto the Lord. They gave a mere job to Stephen but God had a better one for him. He was faithful in what he was called to do and God elevated and promoted him. That grace is coming over you too as you faithfully discharge your duty in the church, home and in your business premises.

PAUL THE APOSTLE

Paul wrote two third of the New Testament of the Bible but before then Paul who was formerly known as Saul described his former life in this epistle he wrote:

1Ti 1:13 KJV Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

These were the things he was doing before he encountered Jesus on the way to Damascus Act 9 and from then, his life changed. What he was fighting against was what he now began to champion. He became an apostle of Jesus and God used him mightily.

Maybe you are in the church today, a regular church goer but you have not really had any personal experience with Jesus, you need Him. When Paul had that encounter his life changed, his status changed also.

HOW CAN ONE’ STATUS CHANGE?

Looking at the story of Hannah, I would like to say there are about three things that one must do to encounter a change of status.

1. Hannah prayed: After everybody had left the temple Hannah presented her bitterness and her trouble unto the Lord. She prayed earnestly that the prophet Eli thought she was drunk. God heard her prayer after she vowed. Many of us will prefer to talk about our troubles to neighbours and friends who can only sympathise with us. We should bring them to Jesus. Answers are coming. It may have been delayed like that of Hannah bring it to Jesus one more time. 1Sa 1:10 KJV And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
2. She believed in the Man of God. When Eli told her that God has heeded her pleas, she believed the word of the prophet. Bible says in 2Chro 20:20 that believe in your God and you shall be established. Believe his prophets and you shall prosper. There are many of us who don’t take the message with seriousness. Over familiarity brings contempt. Believe the word of God in the mouth of the people of God and watch your changed. 1Sa 1:17 KJV Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
3. She acted on the word. The Bible says her countenance was no longer sad. She was sad before but now after listening to the man of God she became happy even though she is yet to carry her baby. She was acting on her faith. She could eat now. When you act your faith, heaven attends to you. Heb 11: 6 without faith it is impossible to please God. 1Sa 1:18 KJV And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

The end of her story was that she went back to Shilo with her testimony. As I pray for you that in the name of Jesus you too are coming back with your Samuel in Jesus name. Your Samuel could be your husband or wife for those believing in a marital partner, your Samuel could be a good job, a blessing or financial breakthrough. Whatever it is, you will come back with that tangible story in jesus name.