Page 7 - Good News July 2011 paper

"One day I was talking with a unattractive territory of nearly my unfaithfulness - everything Friends share how the Murray
missionary," writes Andrew Murray, 50,000 square miles and 12,000 troubled me." home was always filled with
"and he said to me, 'Brother, people beyond the Orange River. Murray's daughter wrote of her activity. He and his wife, Emma, had
remember that when God puts a Even at this early stage of ministry, father, "It was after the 'time of nine children, and there was an
desire into your heart, He will fulfil he already showed signs of silence' [in sickness] when God endless stream of visitors and
it.' That helped me; I thought of it a becoming a noted author. The came so near to father and he saw friends. In 1873, Andrew helped
hundred times. I want to say the "deeper Christian life" was a more clearly the meaning of a life of establish the Huguenot Seminary, a
same to you who are plunging favourite subject for Murray. He full surrender and simple faith. He school where young women could
about and struggling in the quag- told how God was committed to began to show in all relationships be trained for educational work.
mire of helplessness and doubt. revealing more of Himself to those that constant tenderness and Girls from all over the country
The desire that God puts into your who would seek Him. unruffled loving-kindness and began arriving. When classes
heart He will fulfil. As a preacher, he consistently drew unselfish thought for others which opened, the building was too small
"If any are saying that God has not a large crowds and led many to trust increasingly characterized his own for all who had enrolled and a wing
place for them, let them trust God, Christ as their Saviour. But life from that point. At the same time had to be added.
and wait, and He will help you and Murray's life was not without he lost nothing of his strength and He also served as the first president
show you what is your place. testing. As a young man, an determination." of the Young Men's Christian
"I have learned to place myself enduring sickness left him weak When revival came to Cape Town, Fellowship. Not only was he the
before God every day, as a vessel to and exhausted. Later at the prime of Andrew Murray was hesitant. He author of over 240 books, he was
be filled with His Holy Spirit. He has his ministry, a severe illness didn't want to be swept away in the also a man of great prayer. Through
filled me with the blessed assu- resulted in his absence from the heart of emotion. But Murray his private devotional time with the
rance that He, as the everlasting pulpit for two years. quickly realized that God was Saviour, he learned that laughter
God, has guaranteed His work in But God used each trial to remove working in South Africa the same and fellowship were two of life's
me. all that hindered his devotion to way He was in America. The result most important activities.
"If there is one lesson that I am Christ. Murray wrote about "that was an even deeper knowledge of He often prayed, "May not a single
learning day by day, it is this: that it awful pride and self-complacency the things of God. moment of my life be spent outside
is God who worketh all in all. Oh, which have hitherto ruled in my He writes in The Secret Of the light, love, and joy of God's
that I could help any brother or heart". He fought an insidious Adoration, "Take time. Give God presence, and may not a moment
sister to realize this!" battle with pride, but God had the time to reveal Himself to you. Give exist without the entire surrender of
One of four children born to victory. yourself time to be silent and quiet myself as a vessel for Him to fill, full
Andrew, Sr. and Maria Murray, “I had never learnt with all my before Him, waiting to receive, of His Spirit and His love."
Andrew Murray was raised in what theology that obedience was through the Spirit, the assurance of Abiding in Christ was the corner-
was considered then the most possible," writes Murray. "My His presence with you, His power stone to Andrew Murray's life and
remote corner of the world - Graaff- justification was as clear as noon- working in you. ministry. He writes: "Abide in
Reinet, South Africa. It was here, day. I knew the hour in which I "Take time to read His Word in His Jesus: your life in Him will lead you
after his formal education in received from God the joy of presence, that from it you may to that fellowship with God in which
Scotland and three years of pardon. I remember in my little know what He asks of you and what the only true knowledge of God is to
theological study in a College in room at Bloemfontein how I used to He promises you. Let the Word be had. His love, His power, His
Holland, that Andrew Murray sit and think, What is the matter? create around you, create within infinite glory will, as you abide in
returned as a missionary and Here I am, knowing that God has you a holy atmosphere, a holy Jesus, be so revealed as it hath not
minister. justified me in the Blood of Christ, heavenly light, in which your soul entered into the heart of man to
Murray's first appointment was to but I have no power for service. My will be refreshed and strengthened conceive."
Bloemfontein, a remote and thoughts, my words, my actions, for the work of daily life." www.intouch.org