The tongue, when moved by anger, envy, jealousy, ambition, and like passions, is like a destructive, spreading FIRE which destroys without partiality or pity.
- It is like a fire in the heat of it, stirring passions like water boiling.
- It is like a fire in the danger of it; no one in its path is safe. It can turn a happy home or a church into a barren wilderness.
- It is like a fire in the duration of it; a fire out of control is hard to stop, and words spoken in anger live on and on.
This small member can destroy friendships that have stood for years. It can destroy homes and churches that have been happy and content. It can destroy character and reputations, plant suspicion and doubt, and turn men from truth to error.
Men have succeeded in taming beasts, birds, serpents, and even the fish of the sea; “but the tongue,” James said, “can no man tame.” That’s true! No man can tame the tongue; but the grace of God can tame it, subdue it, and even make it an instrument for God’s praise and glory.
When the grace of God acts on the heart, it will subdue the tongue. Grace slays the corruption which uses the tongue as an outlet. Grace quenches the flames of hate and envy which motivate the tongue. Grace implants a new nature of love which influences the tongue to speak in kindness, truth, and sincerity for the glory of God and the good of the hearer.
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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