What Is Success?
The Gospel still has the power to lead to conversions and spiritual growth, but many churches are not experiencing this because they are focused on intellectual power and entertainment rather than spiritual growth and salvation.
D.L. Moody emphasizes that the Gospel retains its power and that the Church must return to its roots by confessing sins and seeking the Holy Spirit's influence. He laments the current state of Christendom, where many churches prioritize social status and intellectualism over spiritual conversions. Moody calls for a revival of genuine faith and a focus on the transformative power of the Gospel, warning against the complacency that leads to a lack of spiritual life. He illustrates this with the example of Jacob, who experienced God's fear after turning away from false gods. The preacher urges believers to seek a higher, holier life to witness true conversions in the Church.
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The Gospel has not lost its power; it is just as powerful today as it ever has been. We don't want any new doctrine. It is still the old Gospel with the old power, the Holy Ghost power; and if the churches will but confess their sins and put them away, and lift the standard instead of pulling it down, and pray to God to lift us all up into a higher and holier life, then the fear of the Lord will come upon the people around us.
It was when Jacob put away strange gods and set his face toward Bethel that the fear of God fell upon the nations around. And when the churches turn towards God, and we cease grieving the Spirit, so that He may work through us, we will then have conversions all the while. Believers will be added to the Church daily.
It is sad when you look over Christendom and see how desolate it is, and see how little spiritual life, spiritual power, there is in the Church of God today, many of the church members not even wanting this Holy ghost power. They don't desire it; they want intellectual power; they want to get some man who will just draw; and a choir that will draw; not caring whether any one is saved. With them that is not the question. Only fill the pews, have good society, fashionable people, and dancing; such persons are found one night at the theater and the next night at the opera. They don't like the prayer-meetings; they abominate them; if the minister will only lecture and entertain, that would suit them.
I said to a man some time ago, "How are you getting on at your Church?" Oh, splendid." Many conversions? "Well - well, on that side we are not getting on so well. But," he said, "we rented all our pews and are able to pay all our running expenses; we are getting on splendidly." That is what the godless call "getting on splendidly;" because they rent the pews, pay the minister, and pay the running expenses. Conversions! that is a strange thing. There was a man being shown through one of the cathedrals of Europe; he had come in from the country, and one of the men belonging to the cathedral was showing him around, when he inquired, "Do you have many conversions here?" "Many what?" "Many conversions here? "Ah, man, this is not a Wesleyan chapel." The idea of there being conversions there!
And you can go into a good many churches in this country and ask if they have many conversions there, and they would not know what it meant, they are so far away from the Lord; they are not looking for conversions, and don't expect them.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of the Gospel
- A. The Gospel has not lost its power
- B. It is still the old Gospel with the old power, the Holy Ghost power
- II. The Need for Spiritual Revival
- A. Confess and put away sins
- B. Lift the standard and pray for a higher and holier life
- III. The Consequences of Desecrating the Church
- A. The fear of the Lord will not come upon the people
- B. Conversions will not occur
- IV. The Distinction Between Spiritual and Intellectual Power
- A. Spiritual power is desired by God, not men
- B. Intellectual power is sought by those who do not care about salvation
Key Quotes
“It was when Jacob put away strange gods and set his face toward Bethel that the fear of God fell upon the nations around.” — D.L. Moody
“Conversions! that is a strange thing.” — D.L. Moody
“Many conversions? 'Well - well, on that side we are not getting on so well. But,' he said, 'we rented all our pews and are able to pay all our running expenses; we are getting on splendidly.'” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- A church must prioritize spiritual growth and salvation over intellectual power and entertainment.
- Confessing and putting away sins, lifting the standard, and praying for a higher and holier life can lead to spiritual revival.
- Conversions are a sign of a church's true success, not just financial success.