The first missionaries had heard that King Kamehameha I was a very strong monarch and posed the greatest obstacle to the spreading of Christianity. But just as the missionaries were setting sail from Boston harbor, King Kamehameha I died. But how would the other monarchs of Hawaii respond, especially Queen Ka`ahumanu, Kamehameha’s favorite wife? Queens Kapiolani, Emma, and Liliuokalani. Let the women of God RISE!
Mar 28-29, 2020: The Queens Meet the King
Good Morning Church Family!
On behalf of all the staff I just want to say thank you for the encouragement and feedback we received regarding our online church experience!
We love doing online church as a team!
With recent events and the continued growing concerns regarding the Corona Virus, we felt it would be appropriate to continue in our series of God’s Kingdom in Hawaii. More now than ever do we need to contend for God’s kingdom here on earth, Amen!
Today we will be looking at the Queens of Hawaii who met Jesus, the King of all Kings, and how their faith had an incredible influence on the Islands of Hawaii.
In our studies, Pastor Mark found and incredibly timely historical commonality…
King Kalakaua had been gone but for a few weeks when small-pox broke out in the city. It was supposedly introduced from China. But The Queen Liliuokalani new that this could become fatal to her people and did everything she could to prevent its spread. And I quote from her personal memoirs,
I had all arrangements perfect to stay the progress of the epidemic. Communication between the different islands of the group was stopped. Vessels were absolutely prohibited from taking passengers. A strict quarantine of all persons infected or under suspicion was maintained; and so scrupulously and energetically were these regulations enforced, that when they were relaxed and quarantine raised, it was found that no case had been reported outside the place of its first appearance. But it was a serious thing to confine its ravages to the city of Honolulu, in which there were some eight hundred cases and about three hundred deaths.
Brothers and sisters may I encourage you once again this morning, our islands have seen pandemic before and overcame it and so shall we. Why? Because are God is the same yesterday, today and forever!
It is time for the church rise up! How you might be asking. Well looks look at how our King Jesus caused Hawaii’s beloved queens to rise:
Queen Ka`ahumanu
- Kaʻahumanu was king Kamehameha’s favorite wife
- Her son became king and she became kuhina nui making her co-regent or modern-day prime minister. Her power base grew and she ruled as Queen Regent
- Before she was saved she did not look favorably on the Kapu system forbidding women to eat certain foods, but she submitted to it
SO FIRST, THE PEOPLE OF GOD RISE THROUGH…
1. SUBMISSION
“For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority – whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed” (1 Peter 2:13 NLT).
When Peter told his readers to respect all human authority he was speaking of the Roman Empire under Nero, a notoriously cruel tyrant. Obviously he was not telling believers to compromise their consciences.
Acts 5:29 Peter told the high priest “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” Now this is where it gets interesting.
- In April 1824, Queen Kaʻahumanu submission to the ALII OF ALL NA ALII led to the salvation of her people. She publicly acknowledged her SALVATION and encouraged her PEOPLE to be baptized into the CHRISTIAN FAITH
- She now was under God’s kingdom reign. And she found that the new religion might mean more than freely eating bananas. She began to learn of a greater authority, a greater freedom for a greater kingdom purpose amen
- Later, powerful women such as Queen Kaʻahumanu were key in overthrowing the Kapu system
- SUBMISSION IS NOT A NEGATIVE THING IN GOD’S KINGDOM BUT RATHER A GATEWAY TO GREATER FREEDOM
In most aspects of daily life today, the apostle Peter is exhorting us that it is possible and desirable for Christians to live according to the law of their land.
We are to do this for the Lord’s sake (turn to your neighbor and say LISTEN FOR THE LORD’S SAKE – so that his Good news and his people will be respected.
So if the government says stay home as much as possible THEN WHAT? That’s right STAY HOME!
So THE PEOPLE OF GOD RISE THROUGH Submission, Secondly they rise through…
2. Service
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them wellto serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. THEN everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen” (1 Peter 4: 10-11 NLT).
Queen Kapiolani
- She BROKE STRONGHOLDS AND SERVED HER PEOPLE
- She sponsored schools and hospitals and participated actively in a variety of charitable causes
Queen Emma
- Fostered education and public health for Hawaiian people
- During their reign they expanded the system of eduction beyond elementary studies in Hawaiian language to include higher levels of learning
- Research into modern medical treatment for the victims of Hansen’s disease (once known as leprosy)
- Raised funds for the building of The Queens Hospital
AND FINALLY THE PEOPLE OF GOD RISE THROUGH…
3. Suffering
“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21 NLT).
Of course Peter was speaking in regards of suffering for the cause of christ. This does not mean that all suffering is the result of good Christian conduct. If you are being persecuted because you are simply a mean person, well then you aren’t really suffering.
In 1 Peter 4, the Apostle Peter makes the distinction:
“If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.” (1 Peter 4: 14-16,19 NLT).
For current affairs; we are not really suffering but maybe you feel like you’re sacrificing… loss of job, losing your mind from isolation .. know that is pleases God when we do what is right.
And during these end times we will be persecuted and slandered for following in the Lord’s ways and standing for His righteousness and we must count that as Joy.
But as we look at our last Queen this morning we truly get a deeper sense of appreciation for what suffering might look like in the lives of the believer:
Queen Lili’uokalani was Christlike in all she did (submission, service, suffering)
- succeeded to the throne after death of her brother, King David Kalakaua in 1891
- She was educated by American missionaries and born with a talent for languages and music
- Because of this moved easily in both Hawaiian and foreign circles
- SHE ABDICATED HER THRONE TO
- Keep the peace
- Stop any bloodshed
- AND KEEP HER PEOPLE FROM SUFFERING.
Sound like anyone we know. Yes!! Jesus 1 Peter 3:18 says,
“Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18 NLT).
Queen Liliuokalani, was wrongfully imprisoned, and suffered house arrest for 8 months. Her palace became her prison. And because of her love for her people and her Lord, she willing turned her imprisonment into a place of prayer and praise.
P. Wayne back in May of 2011 spoke of The Queens prayer for her people and we want to share that clip with you now ….
