People do not always perceive things as they should. Andrew Murray, a renowned South African devotional writer and pastor, struggled to accept a move of God that erupted in his congregation over a century and a half ago. He believed he understood what God was doing in his generation, but he was mistaken. Those unwilling to change will never see revival.
During a worship service in Murray’s congregation, the Holy Spirit began to stir, and the crowd erupted in intense cries of intercession. These loud displays were far from the norm in a reserved Dutch Reformed church, and it irritated Murray. Determined to restore order, he shouted, “Silence!” But the congregation, lost in the glory of the Lord, did not heed their pastor.
Fortunately, a visitor who had been part of the Layman’s Prayer Revival in New York (1857–1858) was present that evening. With a heart attuned to the Spirit’s work, this visitor gently pulled Murray aside and cautioned him. He believed the outbursts were a sign of God’s presence, not disorder, and warned that Murray might quench the Holy Spirit by trying to manhandle the people.
Murray found himself at a crossroads. He could have brushed off the warning, relying on his own reasoning and sense of order. That would’ve been the easy choice—the familiar path. But the Spirit-led words of this visitor cut to the heart—stirring something deep within him.
In a moment of humility and courage, this South African pastor did the unthinkable. Rather than quelling the fervent cries of his congregation, he embraced them. Murray, once anchored by rigid tradition, dared to release his grip on the familiar and step boldly into the unknown. He embraced the untamed move of God, and as the old chains of tradition shattered, his life was set ablaze with a fresh, unstoppable fire.
Andrew Murray, one of the celebrated intercessors in history, nearly missed a move of God because of a wrong mindset. If we're not careful, something similar can happen to you and me. We must guard against letting our preferences blind us to how the Lord is moving. The Holy Spirit does not always work in neat, predictable ways.
Murray made the bold decision to die to his instincts and pride, and in doing so, embraced a fresh move of God. This transformation sparked something new in his life, leading him to become one of the most influential Christian authors in history. One wrong choice, and all of this could have been lost.
Today, the choices you’re making carry the same weight. Are you willing to let go of your rigid ideas and embrace the unexpected? Now, more than ever, the church needs soft hearts, ready to yield to the move of the Holy Spirit—even if his stirrings challenge our sensibilities. Now is the time to let go and let God move, even if it upends everything you’ve known.
It would be terrible if you were the one who shut down a move of God.
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