Independence Day: Don’t lose faith in Nigeria, Cleric tells Nigerians

As Nigeria marks its 64th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday, Pastor Alex Ogundipe of the Cherubim & Seraphim (C&S) Movement Church Worldwide has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the nation but to be optimistic about a better future.

Ogundipe, the Leader-in-Charge of the Daki-Biyu District, Kubwa Branch, spoke during the 19th Harvest Anniversary of the church titled “Harvest of Good Tidings” in Abuja.

Fielding questions from newsmen as the occasion coincided with the country’s 64th Independence Day celebration, the clergyman called on Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the current situation in the country.

He noted that the economic challenges being faced in Nigeria would certainly be overcome, adding that no country gets everything it desires; therefore, it is important to know God.

Giving a biblical allusion, Ogundipe said, “In Numbers, chapters 13 and 14, the Lord asked Moses to appoint 12 people to go and inspect the Promised Land.”

He added that 12 of them went through the land and brought back a bad report, stating that the land was beautiful but occupied by giants that could consume them.

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“Meanwhile, they went through the land, and it didn’t consume a single person among them. Yet, 10 of them said the land was bad, that there were giants in the land and that we should not go in there.

“Only two people said, ‘Let’s go in, and the Lord will deliver the land unto us.’ Those 10 spies never entered the Promised Land, except for the two who brought good news: Joshua and Caleb, who said that although there were giants in the land, let’s go, for God has given it to us,” he stated.

Ogundipe asserted that God has given us Nigeria, a land flowing with milk and honey, adding, “If you speak positively about Nigeria and align with God, you will find the goodness of Nigeria.”

The cleric, who stated that he was neither on the government’s payroll nor working for the government, urged Nigerians to always say positive things about the country.

He emphasized that the essence of the celebration is to convey that it is only God who can deliver.

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“It is only God who can save, and only God can ameliorate your situation. That is the good news we should share with others.

“Many do not know where to turn; they don’t know the solution to their problems. Therefore, the essence of the harvest is to tell people that Jesus is the solution to all our problems.”

Pastor Ebenezer Bello, in his sermon, remarked that there are laws governing harvests. “If you don’t know the laws that govern harvests, you may miss the results of the harvest.

“It is not about the celebration that matters but what you take home. In Ecclesiastes 3:2, the Bible says there is a time and season.

“There is a time to plant and a time to harvest. If you don’t follow this law, you may not harvest.

“You may have good soil and everything else, but if your seed is not good, you can’t expect a good harvest,” he said.

According to him, your seed will determine the quality of your harvest. “Many of us today are where we are because of the seeds we have sown. We are products of the seeds we planted years ago.

“What seeds are you sowing in your life? If you sow good seeds, you will reap good; if you sow evil seeds, you will reap evil. And if anyone sows to the spirit, he will reap eternal life or everlasting life,” he said.