What can a believer do to stir up divine praise and never take for granted the mercy and grace of God? I suggest four things.
1. Bear in mind always that all that we are, have, and hope to be comes from our Lord. “A man can receive nothing except it be given him from God.” “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” “I am what I am by the grace of God.”
2. Realize the value of “our heavenly blessings” as opposed to the emptiness of material possessions. “What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” The whole world is not equal in value to one man's soul!
3. Keep a true understanding of your unworthiness and his goodness! Mephibosheth is a good spokesman for us all; “He bowed himself and said, what is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?”
4. In order to, “give thanks always” for all things unto God, we understand that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” The Lord's will and purpose is the good of the whole body of Christ (the church), not just the good of one person. What takes place in each life is for the salvation and ultimate good of all the family and for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
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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