Good News Hawaii Church

04/07/2026

[Daily Devotion]

Spiritual Life Like the Syro-Phoenician Woman

"Lord," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs." (Mark 7:28)

1. The Invisible Forces of the Heart
In Mark 7:24-30, the daughter possessed by an unclean spirit represents a profound spiritual reality: a life driven by forces beyond one's own control. Many people strive to live a "good life" through their own efforts, yet they find themselves failing to master their own hearts.

This is the universal struggle described in Romans 7:19: "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." We often find ourselves deceived, believing we can manage our lives independently, but as the story of the daughter shows, we are led by a nature that we cannot master through our own willpower.

2. Not "One of Many," But "The Only Way"
The Syro-Phoenician woman’s breakthrough began with an accurate recognition of her own inability. She didn't approach Jesus as just "one of many" potential solutions. She saw Him as the Only Way. When Jesus spoke of the "children's bread," she did not take offense. By identifying herself with the "dogs" under the table, she acknowledged the absolute truth: she had no merit of her own and no other place to turn. Her persistent faith was rooted in the certainty that Jesus was her only lifeline.

3. Letting Jesus Lead the Heart
True spiritual life does not come from trying harder to be a "good person." It begins when we reach the end of our own strength and recognize our total inability. Like the woman in the story, when we stop relying on ourselves and see Jesus as our sole path and guide, He begins to lead our lives and our hearts.

🙏 Prayer of the Day
Lord, help us to see the true state of our hearts and recognize that we cannot live a good life through our own efforts. Grant us the heart of the Syro-Phoenician woman to see Jesus not as an option, but as our Only Way. We ask You to be our guide and lead our hearts today. Amen.

04/07/2026

We celebrated Easter yesterday with an outdoor service at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. It was a truly amazing and joyful time, remembering Jesus’ resurrection—the one who made us righteous—surrounded by the breathtaking nature God created.

10/18/2025

09/23/2025

✨ Taste of Korea – Honolulu! ✨
Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of Korea right here in Hawai‘i 🇰🇷🌺

📅 Saturday, November 8
🕙 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Palama Settlement
810 N Vineyard Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817

🎉 Free Admission!
Enjoy authentic Korean food, cultural activities, music, games, and more—fun for the whole family!

🔗 Free Tickets link: www.eventbrite.com/e/1709218531639
📞 Questions? 808-751-7020

09/20/2025

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.” -2 Kings 23:25–26 (KJV)

There was no king before or after Josiah who served the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength as he did. Yet even with such devotion, Josiah could not turn away God’s wrath against Judah, and in the end, Josiah himself was killed by the king of Egypt.

Our works cannot earn us eternal life. They are like counterfeit money—worthless to purchase God’s love, grace, eternal life, or any of His treasures. Even our very best deeds cannot give us everlasting life.

The only true “currency” that can purchase God’s love, grace, and eternal life is the work of Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, Jesus washed away all our sins. And when we come before God with faith in that finished work, He freely gives us His abundant love, His grace, and the eternal life of heaven.

May we lay aside both our good deeds and our bad, and stand before God only with the work of Jesus Christ.

09/16/2025

“And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.” - 1 Kings 19:3 (KJV)

Elijah was a mighty servant of God. He stood against the wicked King Ahab, witnessed the miracle of the widow’s flour bin and jar of oil never running out, and even raised a dead child back to life. He also defeated 450 prophets of Baal in a single day. Yet in 1 Kings 19, we see this powerful man of God overcome with fear and hiding.

When Elijah followed the word of God, no one could stand against him. But when he looked at his circumstances and was trapped in his own thoughts, he became weak and hid in fear of Jezebel.

Our own thoughts keep us from doing the work of the gospel. But when we deny our thoughts and step forward in the word of God—that He helps us, that in Christ we can do all things, and that He has commanded us to preach the gospel to all nations—we too become God’s precious workers whom no one can hinder.

It is our desire to share this gospel—that we have been made holy through the blood of Jesus—with everyone in Hawaii.

09/03/2025

“And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.” -2 Samuel 24:25 (KJV)

Because the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel, He allowed David to take a census of the people. As a result, God’s wrath came upon Israel, and seventy thousand men perished. David was at a loss, with nothing he could do except plead with God for forgiveness. Yet even as David cried out for mercy, God’s wrath did not cease. Then the prophet Gad came to David and told him to build an altar to the Lord. When David built the altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings upon it, the wrath of God was turned away.

Many people say that to be at peace with God, we must ask for forgiveness each time we sin. They claim that although Jesus has already forgiven our sins, we must still ask for forgiveness to maintain a good relationship with God. But peace with God does not come that way. To be reconciled with God, a peace offering must be made—and that peace offering is Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10).

Jesus was not only the sin offering who bore our sins, but also the peace offering who reconciled us to God. Our reconciliation with God is not based on our deeds or prayers, but on the death of Jesus Christ. When people wonder, “Am I truly at peace with God?” they often look to their own works. But the answer does not depend on us—it depends on whether the peace offering has been made. And Jesus has already been offered as our peace offering. Because of this, we are now fully reconciled to God.

09/02/2025

“These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.”
—2 Samuel 21:22 (KJV)

When Saul was king of Israel, the entire nation trembled in fear before a single giant—Goliath. Because Saul himself lacked faith in his heart, he could not lead the people of Israel to trust in God. But when David became king, the Israelites courageously fought against the giants and overcame them all, because the faith in David’s heart was passed on to them as well.

The Bible clearly declares that Jesus Christ has washed away all our sins. From Adam’s sin to the sin of the last person on earth, every sin was taken away by Jesus on the cross. Yet many still say they remain sinners. But if Jesus bore all the sins of the world on the cross, and we still claim to have sin, would that not mean Jesus died in vain?

Jesus did not cleanse only our past sins—two thousand years ago on the cross, He washed away our present and future sins as well. Though we stumble and commit sins in life, those sins too have already been forgiven at the cross. By this, He has made us forever righteous and holy. Just as David passed his faith on to the people, I also long to pass on the faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to all the people of Hawaii.

08/30/2025

“And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.” —2 Samuel 15:1 (KJV)

Absalom killed his brother Amnon, King David’s firstborn son. Even so, David forgave him. But instead of being grateful, Absalom became resentful and eventually rebelled against his father, King David.

Why was Absalom unable to be thankful to David? Because, though he had committed a grave sin, he never realized how great a sinner he truly was. If he had truly understood the weight of his guilt—that he deserved death for his sin—he would have been overwhelmed with gratitude for David’s forgiveness.

If everyone lived with hearts full of thankfulness toward Jesus, who forgave all our sins, the world would surely be a far more beautiful place. Yet many hearts are not filled with gratitude, but with desire, anger, and hatred. Why can’t we live with thankfulness? Because, like Absalom, we too fail to grasp how deeply sinful we are.

When we truly realize that we are the chief of sinners, destined for hell, we cannot help but be endlessly thankful for Jesus Christ, who washed away all our sins and made us righteous and blameless.

07/25/2025

From Monday to Thursday this week, we held a Kids Camp in Tacoma, WA. Many children had a wonderful time, and above all, we’re grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel with them.

Next week, we’ll be hosting a three-day camp in Montana for Native American children. We continue to move forward with the hope that every child in this world can fall asleep in happiness and wake up with hope.

07/19/2025

"That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year."
—Judges 11:40 (NKJV)

Jephthah made a vow to offer as a burnt offering whoever came out of his house to greet him, if he returned home safely. Why did he make such a vow? It was because he did not have full faith that God would surely deliver him from the Ammonites.

At first glance, his vow may seem passionate and humble before God—but in reality, it stemmed from a lack of trust in God. And in the end, this vow became a tragedy for everyone involved.

Likewise, someone who fervently asks God for forgiveness or desperately pleads to be made holy may appear spiritual on the outside—but often, such pleas come from unbelief in the power of the blood of Jesus Christ, who has already forgiven all our sins and made us holy.

On the day God delivered Israel from the Ammonites—a day that should have been filled with joy—Jephthah could not rejoice, but was instead filled with sorrow.
In the same way, could it be that even though Jesus has saved us from our sins, we are still unable to fully rejoice and continue to live in sadness?