Constraining Jesus

II Ki 4:8

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. (KJV)

THE PROPHET = THE WORD OF GOD

constrained (KJV)

2388 chazaq (khaw-zak’);

a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous,), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer: catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), take (hold), be urgent, behaveself valiantly

II Ki 4:9

9And she said unto her husband, Behold (now) I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

(when will it be now for you? When will you realize this word that has been passing you by continually is your healer, your saviour, your deliverer, your baptizer, etc.?

The logos is passing your way,, but it will never become Rhema until you let it live in your heart.

* LET’S MAKE A PLACE FOR THE WORD TO LIVE IN OUR HEARTS*

logos is passing us continually, but it will never be rhema until we become aggressive and take it (him) into our hearts =house

WE MUST BECOME AGGRESSIVE CONCERNING THE WORD OF GOD

Lu 24:13-31

15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

(where 2 or 3 are gathered together there am I in the midst of them)

Luke 24:16

16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Eyes:

) metaphorically, the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing

THEY WALKED TOGETHER AND TALKED TOGETHER AND YET WERE STRANGERS

Holden:

1) to have power, to be powerful,

to be chief, to be master of, to rule

b) to hold fast, that is, not discard or let go,

to keep carefully and faithfully

2) to hold in check, to restrain

That they should not know him:

Luke 24:16

16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

There are many things that keep us from knowing the Lord, many things that captivate our attention, and our affections, ( these are the things that hold us or keep us from knowing him ) Family, Money, Prestige,

Religion, Pride, Jobs, Cares of this life.

JESUS MADE AS IF HE WOULD GO FARTHER

He waited for an invitation

THEY CONSTRAINED HIM = IMPLORED, DESIRED, COMPELLED, PULLED,

constrained:

to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous,), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer: catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage (-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), take (hold), be urgent, behaveself valiantly

WE MUST BECOME AGGRESSIVE AND POSSESSIVE,

Religion today has given birth to a very weak and wimpy, lazy halfhearted, spirit,

K sara sara, if it’s God’s will,

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SEEK HIM WITH ALL OUR HEARTS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LAY HOLD UPON HIM AND CONSTRAIN HIM, SEIZE HIM AND FASTEN UPON HIM, CATCH AND CONQUER HIM,

LIKE THE PROPHET HE IS PASSING BY CONTINUALLY, WAITING AND HOPING FOR SOMEONE TO DESIRE HIM ENOUGH THAT THEY WILL CONSTRAIN HIM.

WE MUST BE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET HIM TO ABIDE WITH US,

(LIKE ZACHEUS,) ( LIKE THE LITTLE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD,) ( LIKE THE WOMAN WHO WOULDN’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER,) (LIKE THE 4 MEN WHO TORE THE ROOF OF TO GET TO JESUS ) LIKE THESE MEN WHO CONSTRAINED HIM TO ABIDE WITH THEM.

HOW MANY TIMES ARE WE GOING TO LET HIM PASS US BY BEFORE WE FINALLY SAY: LET’S BUILD HIM A HOUSE AND MAKE HIM FEEL AT HOME,