Harambee Church: Sermons and Notes

Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 118

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on January 4th, 2009

We can give God thanks no matter what our circumstances are, because he is our treasure. Jesus is our Passover, as He truly entered into Jerusalem to become a sacrifice for us, and through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, we have victory over our sin and death. Let us rejoice and give Him thanks in 2009!!
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The Birth of a King! A Study in Psalms, Psalm 2

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on December 21st, 2008

In our Psalm (written by King David), though understood at the time through the eyes of their own story, where kings are the raging gentile nations and the Israelites are the “Chosen Ones,” we see the Spirit led truth of the future-coming Messiah. Acts 4:25-26 reinterprets this Psalm, showing us that at the core of His plan, it was not intended as an “us against them” mentality, but that in reality all of collective humanity has rejected Christ and placed Him on the cross, God sent His King/Messiah the first time to be rejected, beaten and killed in our place, so that we could be His broken, humble body to a dying world, and that one day, He would return, and we would rule with Him in eternity. That’s what Christmas is about, the Birth of a KING!
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 73

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on December 7th, 2008

The world is telling a story about success and fame, and what will make you happy. Christ came to earth to tell a different story, and to remind us that God is good, that judgment awaits the wicked, and that those who come to Him will be saved. This message isn’t popular with those who want to control their own lives through religion or anti-religion, but it is a message of life and wholeness to those who respond, and bow down to Him!
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 51

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on November 30th, 2008

Repentance Begins With Acknowledgment of Our Condition: The lack of desire to admit you are wrong is in direct proportion to your pride. It’s hard to be sorry if you don’t feel you are wrong.
Repentance Ends With A Restored Heart: Restoration comes as a result of a heart that is free from pride, and that humbly comes before the Lord in repentance.
In order to live a mentally healthy life, we need to live aware of our sin and of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. It is only the morally self-righteous that ignore this through denial or false humility.
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 46

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on November 23rd, 2008

From a biblical point of view, as believers we should never live in a hopeless state. It is possible to be grieved and hurting, but never fearful and hopeless. Fear and hopelessness come when we move away from the truth that God is with us, and He is our fortress!
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Psalm 139: The Glory of God vs. the Glory of Man

Preached by David Kent on November 16th, 2008

We want to be like God. Humans throughout the world, and especially in America, hold on to the belief that we can improve our lives, make ourselves happy, and even achieve perfection. In Psalm 139 David sings the praises of God, magnifying his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, then closes with a plea for God to know his heart and show how he can better know and follow Him. We cannot be God.
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 38

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on November 9th, 2008

Today we are going to look at Psalm 38 and how 4 prayers and three complaints can be worked together to form a proper human response to pain and to God. There are too many people who either want to blame God and be bitter, or gloss over the elephant in the room (Human Pain) and try to put on a “Religious Front,” neither which helps us with our pain, or moves us toward God.
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 25

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on November 2nd, 2008

Trust is a hard thing for sinful humanity! But it is the thing that we are called to do, and the thing that will renew our souls. This Psalm (like much of the wisdom literature in the bible) contrasts those who are wicked with those who are righteous. The contrast has little to do with the individual’s character and much to do with whom the individual puts his/hers trust. As one commentator writes, “The essence of the road to righteousness is this; it is a road too difficult to walk without the companionship and friendship of God.”
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalms 23

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on October 26th, 2008

Are you willing to submit to God as your shepherd, or are you still treating God as your “Co-Pilot?” That’s not a place that He intends to occupy. I've never seen sheep helping to guide the flock. I pray that Psalm 23 gets into your brain, and into your heart! Really, the way we think about God is important. If we do not believe that God is Good, Gracious, Glorious, Great, we will fear for our lives, not believing that God is sovereignly in control of this world. Psalm 23 shows us all of these things about God.
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms 19

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on October 19th, 2008

What is interesting, in regard to God revealing Himself through nature, is that it is impersonal. Verse one uses the term “Elohim” for God, which is the impersonal, generic term for God; whereas verses 7-10 uses the personal name of God (Yahweh). God’s “general” revelation is wide in scope, but limited in nature. Romans tells us that “general” revelation is enough in regards to the knowledge of God, so that no human has an excuse. However, that knowledge often ends in a pantheistic, creation-worship idolatry. As believers in Christ we should be able to enjoy the creation and see its beauty, but worship its creator! We should be able to see the artist behind the work of art.
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 8

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on October 12th, 2008

This Psalm brings us back to our purpose (Ruling) and our refuge (Praise to God). We aren’t doing well unless we are doing this in balance. Most often, in our sin, we want to rule/control, but we aren’t doing so with the balance of worship, which is what we are created for. In God’s creation story He declares that what He created was “Good”, and after He created humanity and sat back and looked at all He created He said it was “Very Good”. Amazing, as it may seem, God has created man as His co-regent here on earth. Man is the only animal made in His image, and He clearly gave humanity rule over nature (Genesis 1:26-27).
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Praying With The Psalmists: A Study in the Psalms, Psalm 1

Preached by Pastor Mike Gunn on October 5th, 2008

Happiness and joy is often elusive. Life dominates our thinking, and we simply do not have enough time for God, but this Psalm reminds us that our happiness is not a result of neglecting God, but is found in God as our prize. What are the idols in your life that keep you from meditation on God and His ways?
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Notes: PDF, Blog

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