Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. - Acts 18:9-10
Be not afraid, but speak...for I have much people in this city.
Because of opposition and persecution Paul would have left Corinth; but the Lord commanded him to stay and preach the gospel, “For I have much people in this city.” This is our encouragement and motivation for preaching the gospel here and everywhere we have the opportunity, because our Lord has chosen to save some of Adam's fallen race. And the gospel of our Lord Jesus, preached by “earthen vessels,” is the means God is pleased to use to bring his people to know and love the Saviour.
We call on his name because we believe he is the only Lord and Saviour. We believe he is our Redeemer because we heard of him from God's preacher. And God's preacher preached the gospel to us because God sent him to preach that gospel to us (Rom.10:13-15). If you begin this story from the other end, it would be: God chose them; God sent the gospel to them, quickened them and gave them ears to hear; God made them willing to believe and they called on him for mercy and were saved.
Salvation is of the Lord from its origination to its ultimate perfection. “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” He began the work and he will perfect it. Yet, every son is a willing, loving, obedient son who would be nowhere else (but the Father's house) for ten million worlds! We are his by choice—His and ours!
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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