And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
Paul speaks here of faithful pastors and preachers. He exhorts believers to know them.
1. To recognize, acknowledge, appreciate, and respect them for what they are: ministers of God.
2. Make yourselves known to them, converse freely and honestly with them, so that they may know the state of your souls and speak a word in season.
3. Esteem them, holding them in high and affectionate regard, in appreciation for their faithful work among you.
4. Be at peace among yourselves in regard to the ministry. Do not find fault, disagree, or take offense over trivial matters. To do so is to make the minister's work more difficult and hinders the unity and growth of the church.
These men labor among you. No honor or respect is due the lazy, idle preachers who neglect prayer, study, and the faithful preaching of the Word.
They preside over you in the Lord. They are not lords, but leaders, by the authority of Christ.
They admonish you. They teach, warn, reprove, and exhort you in the Word of God, and it is in this respect that they are to be obeyed and followed.
It is the solemn responsibility of the voice to speak the truth in Christ. And it is the solemn responsibility of the ear to hear, the heart to believe, and the feet to walk in paths of righteousness and faith.
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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