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Jul 9, 2023

Dwight L. Moody

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Henry Moorhouse was a derelict–a gambler, gang leader and thief. During the revival of 1859, he gave his life to Jesus and began preaching. His favorite text was John 3.16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
A few years later, Henry met the world-renowned evangelist Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) in Dublin, Ireland. Henry had the audacity to tell Dwight, “If you’d like, I’ll come and preach for you.” Dwight didn’t take him seriously. “If ever you are in America, come and see me,” he casually remarked. Well, Henry showed up in Chicago later that year. Dwight was away preaching at a Bible conference, so elders at his Illinois Street Church sent him a telegram inquiring about a young man offering to preach for him. Dwight sent back the response, “Let him preach Thursday and Friday. I’ll be back Saturday and handle it from there.” Upon his return, Dwight asked his wife Emma for a report of this guest preacher. “He preached two sermons from John 3.16. I think you will like him, although he preaches a little differently than you do.” “How is that?” Dwight asked. Emma answered, “Well, he tells sinners God loves them.”

Dwight went to hear Henry preach and later reflected, “He preached a most extraordinary sermon from that verse…I never knew up to that time that God loved us so much. This heart of mine began to thaw out, and I could not keep back the tears. It was like news from a far country. I just drank it in.” That moment altered Dwight Moody’s preaching forever. He had been a hellfire preacher. God hates sinners. It’s only when they repent that God turns toward them in love. Henry took a different approach. God loves sinners, even though he hates the bad things they do. I give Dwight Moody credit–his teachable spirit is commendable. He leads us to pray:

Use me, my Savior, for whatever purpose, and in whatever way, thou may require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it with thy grace. Here is my sinful and troubled soul; quicken it and refresh it with thy love. Take my heart for thine abode; my mouth to spread abroad the glory of thy name; my love and all my powers, for the advancement of thy believing people; and never suffer the steadfastness and confidence of my faith to abate; so that at all times I may be enabled from the heart to say, “Jesus needs me, and I am his.”

Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.