I have often thought that the way that God dealt with Moses might just be the way he deals with every called servant. Moses wanted to be God's leader; but when he was finally made ready to be God's prophet, he did not want the job! Moses believed God had raised him up to deliver Israel from Egypt. He was a strong, educated, popular man; and when he saw the Egyptian smiting the Israelite, he assumed that the time had come for him to act. Moses had many natural gifts; but he needed patience, wisdom, humility, and grace; God's gifts, to do God's work. Gadsby said, “God sent Moses forty years to college in the desert to qualify him for the ministry of God. After Moses had been forty years in the wilderness, he did not volunteer so quickly nor so zealously.” It was a different Moses who said, “Lord, send by whom thou wilt, but I am slow of speech; I am not eloquent.” He did not talk this way forty years earlier. He was anxious to be a prophet of God; but now that the Lord has equipped and qualified him to serve him, he shrinks back and does not want the job. He is like Paul who cries, “Who is sufficient for these things?”
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.
Comments
Your comment has been submitted and is awaiting moderation. Once approved, it will appear on this page.
Be the first to comment!