The New Life by Andrew

Andrew Murray on The New Life: Words of God for Young Disciples Text
to make them free from punishment, but not to liberate them from themselves, from their own will.
But the invitation to discipleship still always rings: 'If any man would come after Me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'
The reason as well as the power for self-denial, we find in the little word Me. 'If any man would come
after Me, let him deny himself, and follow Me.' The old life is in ourselves: the new life is in Jesus:
the new life cannot rule without driving out the old. Where one's own self had everything to say, it
must be nothing. This it would fain not be: on this account there must be all the day denial of one's
self, imitation of Jesus. He, with His teaching, His will, His honour, His interests, must fill the heart.
But he that has and knows Him, willingly denies himself: Christ is so precious to him, that he
sacrifices everything, even himself, to win Him. (Gal. 2:20; Phil. 3:7,8)
Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me.
Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
dung, that I may win Christ
This is the true life of faith. Not according to what nature sees or thinks to be acceptable, do I live, but
according to what Jesus says and would have. Every day and every hour I confirm the wonderful
bargain: 'Not I, but Christ:' I nothing, Christ everything. 'Ye died,' and no longer have power, or will,
or honour; 'your life is hid with Christ in God:' Christ's power and will alone prevail. O soul,
cheerfully deny that sinful wretched self, in order that the glorious Christ may dwell in you.
Precious Saviour, teach me what self-denial is. Teach me so to distrust my heart that in nothing shall I
yield to its fancy. Teach me so to know Thee that it shall be impossible for me to do anything else than
to offer up myself to possess Thee and Thy life. Amen.
1. Of the denial of the natural understanding Tersteegen says: 'God and His truth are never known
aright, save by such an one as, by the dying of his carnal nature, his inclinations, passions, and will, is
made very earnest and silent; and by the abandonment of the manifold deliberations of the
understanding, has become very simple and childlike. We must give our heart and our will entirely to
God, forsaking our own will in all things, releasing ourselves especially from the manifold
imaginations and activities of the understanding, even in spiritual things, that it may collect itself
silently in the heart, and dwell as in the heart with God. Not in the head, but in the heart is found the
living truth itself, the anointing that teaches us all things. In the heart is found the living fountain of
light. Any one that lives in a heart entertained with God, will often with a glance of the eye discern
more truth than another with the greatest exertion.'
2. Read the above passage with care: you will find in it the reason why we have several times said,
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