The birthright which Esau treated with contempt and sold for a morsel of meat was more than material wealth. That birthright was A SPIRITUAL TRUST—God's leader in the family. It carried with it divine favor, spiritual blessings, and responsibility. Esau's desires were sensual and fleshly, so he threw aside the favor of God to satisfy his present appetite. Shall we be so foolish as even to consider that anything the world has to offer is worth departing from the fellowship of the Lord and His people? Men and women who allow things in this world to cause them to abandon their faith and duty as God's children will, like Esau, weep with bitter tears when it is beyond their power to recover what is lost.
Life on this earth is filled with trials, disappointments, and difficult times. Along the way there will be steep mountains and dark valleys, as well as tempting pastures of pleasure which appeal to the flesh. We must continue in the way of Christ—faithful to the gospel of grace, faithful to Him who loved us and gave Himself to redeem us, faithful to our children, our church family, and all who look to us for guidance.
We are seeing far too many of our friends making unwise decisions which may satisfy the flesh and allow them to have their way. But, oh, the price paid by their families, friends, children, church, and ultimately BY THEMSELVES will result in a repetition of Esau's experience. "For you know that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears" (Heb. 12:17).
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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