SERIES OVERVIEW
Each week, Pastor G writes a short devotional blog on the church website that is based on a different Hawaiian Word each week. Then he writes a longer message devotional to deliver on Wednesday nights.
MESSAGE NOTES
Today’s ‘Olelo Hawai’i word is the name for our Judeo Christian God, Akua.
Akua, in the Hawaiian language, can, of course, refer to any number of gods. Likewise, our English word “god” can refer to many different understandings or belief system. But here in Hawaiʻi, when we Christians capitalize it here like this, Akua, it is understood that we are referring to the one, true God. The Bible is full of many different names for God.
FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR AKUA
1) OUR AKUA IS OMNIBENEFICENT – ALL GOOD/ALL LOVING
Aloha ke Akua means “with the love of God” or “God’s love” or “in God’s love” or even “God is love.”
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ~ 1 John 4:8
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~ Matthew 5:43-48
2) OUR AKUA IS OMNIPOTENT – ALL POWERFUL
O Sovereign LORD! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You! ~ Jeremiah 32:17
By His mighty power at work within us [He] is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream ~ Ephesians 3:20
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11
3) OUR AKUA IS OMNIPRESENT – ALWAYS WITH US
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. ~ Psalms 139:7-12
… He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist… ~ Acts 17:27b-28a
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16
[Jesus said,] I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ~ Matthew 28:20
4) OUR AKUA IS OMNISCIENT – ALL KNOWING
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it. ~ Psalm 139:1-6
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. ~ Hebrews 4:13
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
… we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ~ Romans 5:3-5
Comments 2
Greg, you message about Akua was life giving. I work as admin at a church in British Columbia, Canada. A friend pointed me to your newsletter as I am always on the lookout for how other churches are reaching into the community at this time. He newsletter spoke of community, and outreach. It spoke of truly being grounded in Jesus, and led me to check out your resources online. I love the word blogs and the Wednesday worship. It was a worship of words in devotion to our God. Just what I needed today. I look forward to following your newsletters and being inspired by scriptures you highlight and the message God gives through you. Maybe some day I will get there in person.
Author
Mahalo for your kind and uplifting words Pearl. I’m so glad this message resonated with you today. We would love to welcome you in the future. Stay well in BC. Aloha ke Kristo. Pastor Greg