There are some men who would like to preach the gospel, serve a church, and even glorify God, so long as it can be done with due regard to their own comfort, interests, and on the field of their choosing. Spurgeon once said, "We are content to follow the Lord provided we are recognized, cared for, and content. We will give God the glory after we have sucked the juice out of it, but we must have the orange first."
This attitude God will neither bless nor endure. He is not going to have a man's leftovers. He will have all the glory or none at all. If a man seeks to serve and honor himself and only looks out for the comfort and care of his own personal interests, God will not use that man.
The hymn writer put it this way:
"Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill.
Ready for service lowly or great,
ready to do His will!"
A man (or woman) who desires to be used of God must be persuaded that what he is going to do is for the glory of God, without any other consideration, and he must labor and work from no other motive.
I know that we are human; that every human passion, family care and concern, desire for praise, honor, and comfort still lives in us, but we’re also bond-slaves, and a bond-slave belongs to his Master lock, stock, and barrel. He does not choose his own service, place of service, or length of service; this is the Master's prerogative.
If two angels came to earth, one to rule a nation for the glory of Christ, and one to sweep the streets for the glory of Christ, it would make little difference to them who did which task.
"Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease?
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?”
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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