Pastor Joachim Oloye, General Overseer, Eagles Assembly, Ejigbo, Lagos, has declared the new year 2023 as a year that Nigerians would sing a new song. Therefore, he charged every Nigerian to begin the new year with hope, joy and excitement.
In his sermon at the 2022 cross over service of the church, Oloye assured Nigerians of God filling their mouths with a new song of restoration in various facets of life in 2023. He explained that the cross over service was neither a ritual nor was it to fulfill all righteousness. “It is to adequately prepare us for 2023,” he explained.
In his sermon on Keep Hope Alive from Habakkuk 3:17-19, the preacher advised people not to be discouraged over their failed expectations in 2022. “I’m mindful of the fact that you believed God for some things at the beginning of 2022. Some came to pass while some did not. There is tendency that you may be discouraged. But you should not cross over with a defeatist spirit or an attitude of a failure. You are not a failure. That a person failed does not mean he is a failure. Rather, he is gathering experience. You should keep having faith in God. There are some expectations that God deliberately did not allow to happen for a purpose,” the cleric remarked.
He continues: “There are many things we cannot explain. We know in part. We see in part. The way of man is not in himself. It is not in the hand of man to direct his path. Therefore, I charge you to keep hope alive in 2023. God is still on the throne. Habakkuk said, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive tree shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in God of my salvation,” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
The general overseer of Eagles Assembly further encouraged those whose requests were not granted by God in the just concluded year 2022 to be cheerful and hopeful that the Lord would grant their heart desires in 2023. “If God has not granted your requests this year (2022), the new year 2023 is for you. The Bible says to him that is joined to a living there is hope. That you are alive, there is hope for you. I want you to cheer up. Delay is not denial. God is still on the throne. You cannot say God has disappointed you when you are still alive. Whatever you experienced in 2022 contrary to your expectations, like Habakkuk, rejoice in the Lord,” he charged.
The amiable preacher, who recalled how the Lord settled several cases at Eagles Assembly in 2022 with awesome testimonies, says God sometimes allows delay in order to give the best and enduring miracles. He describes as photocopy whatever the enemy takes away from people. “There is something they took from you. But there is something they have not been able to take from you. In 2023 your original shall be restored. Your original destiny shall be restored. Your womb shall be restored. Your marriage and home shall be restored. Your job or career shall be restored. Your real you shall be restored. Whatever the enemy has taken from you is just a photocopy. The original shall be restored to you in 2023 in Jesus mighty name,” Oloye finally declared.