BEST WORDS IN THE BIBLE


MARK 2:1-12


And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Dr. Gough:

The Bible contains 810,697 words, inspired of God.

--Which are the best words .. in the Bible?

--The best words .. to live by? What would you say?


All words are important. What we say, how we say it.

--Words are remembered. Let them be wise, and kind.

--My prayer, "Let the words of my mouth be acceptable, in (God's) sight" (Psalm 19:14). And in man's.

--If our words are important, how much more, God's!


In Mark 2:2 Jesus "preached the word to them." Which?

--God's Word! No better to teach, preach, or learn.

--Why? "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word.. from the mouth of God" (Matt.4:4).


I. PONDER THIS LITTLE WORD COME - COME TO GOD.

--Down where I grew up we often heard, "Y'all come!"

--God says that to us! All through the Bible. Come.

--God invites, "Come in the ark. Come before Me."

--All who came were saved. Spared from the "flood."

--"Come" is found many times. God says, "Come now."

--He never says "Come later." Always, "Come now."

--Jesus invites, "Come, and dine" (John 21:12).

--Says, "Come to Me, all who labor .. heavy laden."


The Bible ends, "Let him who hears, come" (Rev. 22).

--So from start to finish God seeks, "Come.. to Me."

--A wonderful thing - anyone, everyone, may come!


In Mark 2, "Many gathered together." To hear Jesus.

--So many there was no room, "not even at the door."


One wanted to come, couldn't on his own. Paralyzed.

--Four friends kindly brought him to Jesus on a cot.

--When they came, so many people, they can't get in!

--Did they go home? Not these? They had a purpose.

--To get to Jesus! Hear Him. Get His healing or help.

--They took the outside stairs to the flat roof.

--Removed the opening used in summer, lowered the man.

--I have been on several of these flat-roof homes.

--I spent two weeks in Bethlehem one summer, on some.

--Seeing such faith as these men, Jesus healed him!


I was invited on a preaching mission to lovely Haiti.

--In Cap Haitian, Port Au Prince, and many places.

--There churches have crowds, like this in Mark 2.

--Packed and jammed inside. Windows, doors, crowded!

--Not for me. But regularly. Eager for the Gospel.

--It thrilled me! I pray, "0 Lord, do it here too!"

--Not just to get a crowd, but to get converts!

--To get people to come, to Jesus, to be "born again."


II. GRACE IS ANOTHER GREAT WORD .. GOD'S GRACE.

--We sing, "Wonderful Grace of Jesus." And it is.

--Of "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound." And more.

--Grace is God's mercy. His love. Undeserved favor.

--That reaches out to the lost, even to the least.

--"The Law came by Moses; Grace and Truth by Jesus."


God's grace drew these men. As Jesus had for others.

--Grace bids sinners come, and we all are, friend.

--It is "By grace are you saved, not works" (Eph. 2:8).

--Friend, we get to heaven by God's grace, in Jesus.

--Not one of us is good enough, or can do enough.

--Jesus did it. On a cross. By His resurrection!

--You and I must trust and obey. How to spell grace?

--I spell it, "God's Riches At Christ's Expense."


This helpless man received grace. Of men, and Jesus.

--The four men brought him. But Jesus saved him.

--Jesus said, "Your sins are forgiven you" (v 5).

--Crowd "Glorified God; we never saw it like this!"

--I tell you, God's grace is amazing, isn't it?


III. FAITH, YOU SAY, IS ANOTHER GREAT WORD. IT IS.

--What is faith? Right believing about God, others.

--We need faith to live. Faith in family. Others.

--Faith sees the invisible. Believes the incredible.

--With a tiny hill of faith, we can move mountains.

--Faith brings a soul to heaven. Heaven to a soul.

--It is simply taking God at His Word; obeying it.

--We trust its truth, because of God who said it.

--Faith will be tested. The trials make us strong.


"Lord, increase our faith," the disciples prayed.

--Why? "Without faith we cannot please God" (Heb 11).

--This crippled man, and friends, had great faith.


I want that kind of faith. I want it for you too.

--No matter what, to trust the Lord, for His best.

--How can we get His best? Trusting in His love.


IV. LOVE INDEED IS ONE OF THE BEST WORDS, GOD'S LOVE.

--You know why? Jesus personifies this kind of love.

--He models it. Love at its highest and holiest.

--Jesus saw the man, his friends, and He loves them.

--Love does miracles for people. Can change anyone.

--Makes us patient. Understanding, loving others.

--Jesus said, "Love God. One another. Enemies!"

--God loves us, even when we are enemies of His.


There's no love like God's. He wants it in us.

--"God so loved .. He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish" (Jn 3:16).

--Most of us know the verse. Do we show God's love?


As to "faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love."

--When hope is no longer needed, and faith has become sight, there will always be a need for love.

--Love overlooks the little flaws in other people.

--It remembers that we have some of our own.


My friend, God's love is great, but love doesn't save.

--God doesn't save by love - He saves us by Jesus.

--His love sent Jesus to earth; a manger, a cross.

--To a hurting, wicked world, to model God's love.

--And for Jesus to pay sins debt. Love Him for it!


Peter said of Jesus, "Whom having not seen, we love."


Why is love so important? I Corinthians 13 tells us.

--"Love is patient .. kind .. does not envy or boast"

--"Is not proud .. rude, self-seeking, easily angered"

--Love "keeps no record of wrongs .. never fails."


It is only natural to love those who love us.

--It is supernatural to love those who do not.

--Tell dear ones often, "I love you," as God does us.


V. SOME MAY SAY HEAVEN IS ONE OF THE BEST WORDS.

--Heaven sure is. Our real home we are going to.

--God is there. Jesus. Loved ones. Friends. Saved.


I believe this crippled man will be there in heaven!

--He was saved. Jesus said, "your sins ..forgiven!"

--The heaven-bound must be heaven-born. By choice.

--Yes, there is Jesus, God, and many great words.


VI. TO ME, THE BEST WORD IN THE BIBLE IS FORGIVEN.

--That's what Jesus told this man. So many others.

--Why do I feel it is best? It is what we all need.

--It includes God, Jesus, Grace, Love, all others.


I say forgiven is best, for it is the costliest word.

--It cost Jesus His life on a cross for a lost world.

--It was a price He was willing, and able, to pay.

--A sacrifice required. The Father accepted.

--That was approved by His resurrection, as no other!

--Promises a resurrection to all who follow Him.


Salvation, or forgiveness is God's gift forever.

--Healing is important, but healing does not last.

--All whom Jesus healed, later passed away, remember.

--Healing is only temporary. God's forgiven, always!


Some then doubted, said, "Who can forgive, but God."

--That's right. But Jesus is God. He proves it.

--Said, "Arise, take up your bed and walk." He did!

--"In the presence of all." A new man. "Forgiven."


Forgiven was the first of seven words from the cross.

--Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, they not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Forgave them who crucified.

--Are we as willing to forgive? To be like Jesus?

--He taught us to pray, "Forgive us, as we forgive.."


The forgiven of God are to forgive others.

--Jesus said, "Forgive and you will be forgiven."

--As we do, we save marriages, families, friendships.

--It reconciles divisions. Makes peace and harmony.


Jesus spoke to many this joyous word, "Forgiven."

--Has He to you? Be healed of the palsy of unbelief.

--Let us help you to come to Christ. Walk with you.

--When shown how Jesus saves, He changed me for good.

--Where He leads, may we follow, in His good words.

--His best words.

Dr. Wilbert D. Gough
INDEX OF SERMONS



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