MESSAGE NOTES
Tonight’s ‘Olelo Hawaii word is Akahai. It refers to someone who is modest; gentle; not proud; unassuming. Most often it can be understood as kindness that is expressed with tenderness.
Do you prefer being thin-skinned or thick-skinned?
Is there any evidence in the Bible that God wants Christians to be akahai people, people who show kindness that is expressed with tenderness?
1 Then David said, “Is there yet anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ~ 2 Samuel 9:1
חֵסֵד ~ checed ~ (kheh’-sed) which means goodness or kindness or “lovingkindness.”
David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan, and will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul; and you shall eat at my table regularly.” ~ 2 Samuel 9:7
Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man. ~ Proverbs 3:3-4
With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ~ Micah 6:6-7
He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:8
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ~ Galatians 5:19-21
BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22-23
χρηστότης ~ chréstotés
goodness or kindness or gentleness.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. ~ Ephesians 4:29-32
σαπρός ~ sapros
rotten or useless or worthless or corrupt and sometimes as depraved.
PRIMARY use is rotten – related to food that is of poor quality and unfit for human consumption.
Grace is a word that refers to blessing. Only speak words that will bless others. This is what is EXPECTED of Christians. To speak words that build others up, NOT tear others down.
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. ~ Colossians 3:8
Doing that, of course, would literally render some people permanently speechless right?
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ~ Colossians 3:12-14