Sovereign Grace Community Church, Abuja

Providence, O Providence - Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 42:6 Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.

The global Famine is here and even Israel would have to go down to Egypt. Through Joseph, well beyond his dreams, God displayed his common and special Grace to the world. As his brothers begin their trek, a simple supply run morphs into a complicated encounter. A providential repercussion long time coming has come.

His Hand Upon Me- Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 41:45 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah.

The past-finding-out ways of God encores. Two dreams are upsetting the king and their interpretation wouldn't be found in the halls of the wise or corridors of magic. He'll have to stoop and lend an ear to Prisoner Joseph, the stone that the brothers rejected. As we continue our consideration of how his life reveals The Son, we are reminded of our true Zaphnath-Paaneah to whom we also must stoop and lend an ear, lest the famine expunges us.

My Glory, The Lifter of My Head - Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 40:14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.

Remember me!, as simple as a plea can be from Joseph to Pharaoh's Cup-Bearer. He is back to the pits, this time with fellow dreamers who seek interpretation to their own dreams. Bleak for the baker and bright for the bearer he foretells. For Joseph, the sun, moon, stars, and sheaves are yet to take a bow. If God's might hasn't fulfilled it, maybe a man might.

Some Type of Man - Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 39:7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”

Joseph has found a new home in Egypt. Finally, some Potiphar-sized love and favor, faraway from envious, conniving, well-dumping & brother-disposing siblings. Absolutely no evil here, just prosperity and rest. Well, Madam wants more from her Butler, offering very easy odds; savor or slander, us two or #metoo. Today we look back at that narrative and learn, considering his choice, it's ramification and God's providential care for Joe the Dreamer turned Joe the Prisoner.

An Unlikely Twist - Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 38:25 As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please identify whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.”

Sexual deviancy & other cringe-worthy acts feature in the narrative of Genesis 38 making it an almost R-rated read. Erring Er, Ominous Onan, Simple Shelah & Judge Judah are caught up in a marital conundrum with not-so-tame Tamar. In a largely misogynistic society, guess who is slated for man's swift arm of justice? But Instead of judgment, Tamar finds mercy with both God & man, while Er & Onan died for their wickedness. But why?

Here Comes Joe Dreamer - Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 37:18-19 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.

Joseph saw his destination but not the route.  Sent to seek and bring succor to his brothers, he found their rage; a bitter taste of man’s decadence.  In this sermon, we consider how he typifies Christ in bewildering ways, even though his coat of many colors now has one – red. But as they say, even in the well, say to the righteous, it is well.

Turncoat- Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 37:5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.

"I have a dream, that one day my sheaf will rise above the bows of yours, to live out the true meaning of its creed. I have a dream, that one day...". Dreamer Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob's favorite wife is shaking an already wobbly table with his coat of many colors. But neither brotherly hatred nor fatherly counsel would quiten the words of his voice. As he shares his dreams proudly, a nightmare awaits his awake.

Lost Ones - Pastor Chris Okogwu

Genesis 36:1 These are the generations of Esau (that is, Edom)

GENEALOGY; A tedious list of family ancestry and pedigree, made up of long & difficult to pronounce names from historic far far away lands. But knowing every jot and tittle in the Bible are inspired, even the posterity of hated Esau becomes significant. In this sermon, we transverse the past and future lineage of Esau(Edom) finding these conquerors, prosperous but lost ones.

Assurance II - Adeola Ogundele

Ephesians 1:19 ...and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might...

At present, being ‘woke’ is the new black. Woke to our rights as citizens, injustice in society, oppressive patriarchy, racial discrimination, deep conspiracies, etc. For us Christians, a repeated refrain in scripture is the call to learn and be more aware of our God. An experiential knowledge of His mercy, grace and an awareness of the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. Come awake believer, that’s the only ‘woke’ of real eternal value.

Assurance - Adeola Ogundele

Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

The serpent’s age-old query “did God really say…” is a vile rattler. Attack the certitude of God’s love for His children and their susceptible hearts would slip into doubt and despair, rendering them ineffective saints. Apostle Paul prays for a deeper revelation of God and our blessed assurances in Him.