Why God Used D. L. Moody

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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2019 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library

https://archive.org/detaiis/whygoduseddimood00torr1

Why God Used
D. L. Moody

/ By

R. A. TORREY, D.D.

Author of “How to Bring Men to Christ,” etc.

Foreword by

WILL H. HOUGHTON, D.D. President, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago

The Bible Institute Colportage Ass’n

843’845 North Wells Street
Copyright, 1923, by
Fleming H. Revell Company

The Bible Institute Colportage Ass’

Owner

Printed In U. S. A.

FOREWORD

This little book has been out of print for a time. Its message is too important to be lost, so in this form it is presented to the world again.

Dr. Torrey knew Mr. Moody intimately. He was associated with him for years, both in the work of evangelism and as the first Superintendent of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

Some of our readers may take exception to Dr. Torrey’s use of the term, “the baptism with the Holy Ghost.” Perhaps if Dr. Torrey lived in our day, and saw some of the wild fire in connection with that expression, he would use some other phrase. But let no one quibble about an experience as important as the filling with the Spirit. In this little book. Dr. Torrey quotes Mr. Moody as saying, in a discussion of this very matter, “Oh, why will they split hairs? Why don’t they see that

FOREWORD

this is just the one thing that they them¬ selves need? They are good teachers, they are wonderful teachers, and I am so glad to have them here, but why will they not see that the baptism with the Holy Ghost is just the one touch that they themselves need?”

Undoubtedly there is a fullness of the Spirit’s presence unknown to some Christians but known to many, such as D. L. Moody, F. B. Meyer, George Mueller, and Andrew Murray, the victorious “M’s” of recent church history. The tragedy is that so many are technically correct and spiritually powerless. What if the baptism in the Holy Spirit was once and for all, the exhortation “Be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph. 5:18) still remains.

The ‘Vhy” of any life is always interesting, but when that life is an outstanding success it becomes doubly so. That Mr. Moody was a successful man no one would deny. He accomplished a lot during his lifetime and he left organizations on both sides of the Atlantic which are still triumphantly at work.

FOREWORD

A contemporary of Moody, still living, says that he was a much more important evangelist than others because he was able to put new converts to work at once. Few men have had his ability to get others working. Indefatigable himself, he inspired others to go at it.

Moody was a Wesley, rather than a Whitefield, though he had many of the qualities of both. But like Wesley he did not depend on his preaching alone for results. He sought to leave some¬ thing behind. Undoubtedly Whitefield was a better preacher than Wesley. He preached great sermons to huge throngs. He held 20,000 spellbound on Boston Common as he preached Christ and many were saved. John Wesley perhaps faced smaller crowds, but he did not leave until he left the “class meeting” behind. He left a little company and said to them, “You go out and get others.” D. L. Moody believed that every Christian was to become a soul winner.

Look around and see the institutions which Mr. Moody left in Great Britain

FOREWORD

and America. See his printed sermons still circulated by the scores of thousands yearly. See the steady line of young people going through the Bible Institute at Chicago to carry the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and you will realize that Moody was a success.

God writes history in terms of human personality. The Book of Genesis gathers around eight men. The Bible presents epochs and eras, but at the center of each is a personality, and generally the man is the key to the age.

Much of Old Testament history is summed up in the eleventh of Hebrews, but it is presented as the story of human life. God’s estimate of it all is seen in the men, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and so on.

Is it too much to say that God is always looking for a man he can use? Notice the word “use,” for there seem to be four ideas concerning our relationship to God in service. Some teach that man is instructed of God. The Divine command is given and man must obey. Others teach

FOREWORD

that in service man is helped of God. Still others, that he is led of God. All of these suggest a partnership with Deity. The fourth idea, and the right one, is that man can be used of God. This demands the surrender and submission of a Christian. This looks to God for enablement and gives to Him the glory.

Moody was used of God.

Men pass. Nations rise and fall. Customs change. Accepted philosophies are discarded like last year’s garments. But it is ever true that God is looking for a man He can use. Will you be that man?

Will H. Houghton.

November, 1936
;

!

Eighty-six years ago (Febuary 5, 1837) there was born of poor parents in a humble farm¬ house in Northfield, Massachusetts, a little baby who was to become the greatest man, as I believe, of his generation or of his century — Dwight L. Moody. After our great generals, great statesmen, great scientists and great men of letters have passed away and been forgotten and their work and its helpful influence has come to an end, the work of D. L. Moody will go on and its saving influence continue and increase, bringing blessing not only to every State in the Union but to every nation on earth. Yes, it will continue throughout the ages of eternity.

My subject is “Why God Used D. L. Moody,” and I can think of no subject

upon which I would rather speak. For I shall not seek to glorify Mr. Moody, but the God Who by His grace. His entirely unmerited favour, used him so mightily, and the Christ Who saved him by His atoning death and resurrection life, and the Holy Spirit Who lived in him and wrought through him and Who alone made him the mighty power that he was to this world. Furthermore: I hope to make it clear that the God Who used D. L. Moody in his day is just as ready to use you and me, in this day, if we, on our part, do what D. L. Moody did, which was what made it possible for Grod to so abundantly use him.

The whole secret of why D. L. Moody was such a mightily used man you will find in Psalm 62: 11: “God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power BELONGETH UNTO God.” I am glad it does. I am glad that power did not belong to D. L. Moody; I am glad that it did not belong to Charles G. Finney; I am glad that it did not belong to Martin Luther; I am glad that it did not belong to any other Christian man whom God has greatly used in this world’s history. Power belongs to God. If D. L. Moody had any power, and he had great power, he got it from God.

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