Andrew Yeoman, a writer here at VOR, recently released a book entitled ‘Jesus Ministry” available at Amazon.com [click here to order]. We asked him a few questions concerning the work:
How would you summarize your book?
The book is summarized as ‘A Call to an emerging generation to live out on the earth the radical life & mission of Jesus’. In other words, it’s in some aspects an elementary but hopefully a startling call to clear away the paraphernalia in churches and see the glorious Christ of our salvation . It is a call to re-embrace the simple centrality of Jesus again, without the add-ons – so to speak. I purposefully made the publication more of a booklet rather than a full book, in order for it to appeal to young people (especially those who wouldn’t normally read a book), for them to see it, pick it up and read it within an hour or two… and by His Grace, be impacted & ignited.
What was the motivation for writing ‘Jesus Ministry’?
My motivation was a visitation from the Lord a number of years ago, where the Holy Spirit literally possessed my heart with a glimpse of His will for a new Jesus-People to arise, moving in authentic New Testament Christianity. I am very aware that quite a few people recently have predicted a ‘new move’, whilst others talk about it – it is almost the ‘in thing’, and yet much of it is rhetoric without substance. My firm belief is that it will take a key paradigm shift in the hearts of leaders to firstly return to New Testament discipleship as Jesus prescribed, and an authentic deepening of the Spiritual life, which will in turn be passed on to those they lead. Many are ‘promoting’ a new revival movement, and much of it is with good intentions but remains frothy! I believe the Lord wants young people to get deeper into the Word and encounter the Spirit of God in a way the Puritans, Reformers and early Pentecostals knew, and do this without fleshly weirdness. At the same time, I am not promoting as some do, a nostalgic or romantic ‘things aren’t what they used to be…’ kind of attitude either. (There’s lot’s of that around!) I believe God wants us to carry the deep truth & revelation of those who have gone on before but have it as a present reality today, and express it for this generation. I am not calling for an ‘old fashioned’ thing as some are, neither am I looking for new weirdness. Rather, a return to ‘Jesus centeredness’ (if I can make up a word for it) – to be expressed in a radical way for this time, just as Godly young saints did in past generations.
So yes, my motivation was that moment in God a few years ago, which infected me with these things somewhat, and it has stayed with me ever since, and by His grace, until I die.
What do you want people to come away with after reading it?
A burning desire to begin to get deeper for the things mentioned above to become a reality. I really believe God is not looking for numbers in and of itself, but rather is looking for unknown personalities to link in with God and link up with those with like passion. I am longing to see New Testament teams formed out of this rising generation, that will come into a genuine understanding of Apostolic & Prophetic ministry, and how that functions in missionary endeavor, rather than in the surface ways we see today. After all, this is the Jesus paradigm in the Gospels and the Pauline paradigm for us in Acts – so my question is – ‘Where is it?’
Ten to fourteen years ago the fire fell in the West, of which I was privileged to be a part of. My life was changed completely. However, as in every move of the Spirit, the fruit that comes out of it in years to come is vital. I do not believe God is looking now for another Brownsville or Toronto, rather he wants to take those of us who knew of that work, mature us, test us, prune us further, deepen us, and then cause us to reproduce others, who though may not have experienced those moves firsthand, certainly come into the same intensity. Then for a ‘new thing’ to arise… new wine and a new wineskin for what He wants to do in terms of Kingdom ministry. If the experience of 10 years ago did not produce a ‘Jesus obsession’ in our hearts then we must re-evaluate. Praise God, I know hundreds of fruit bearing and ‘Jesus – centered products’ of the revival, still ministering today. However, some others may have missed the heart of visitation – Jesus and His Kingdom. That’s what I pray will now take place, and if the book can a have a small part to play in that then AMEN!
This book is short, to the point, and hopefully Spiritually impacting. It could have been deeper in some ways, and simpler in others, but I was mindful of the audience in terms of getting the balance right. It could have been written better, but I wanted to keep some of the rawness of the material to connect with those who God wanted to speak to. God willing, we will hear in years to come of those impacted, stirred and changed.
You mentioned a desire to see authentic New Testament missionary teams formed, are you starting to see that happen with the ministry you’re leading, ‘Europe Ablaze’? Or is it more of an ideal you’re shooting for?
The answer is probably both. We are certainly beginning to see emerging ministries functioning on the front line, as it were, but it is also very much at a starting stage. We are at a learning and development time. For the Church it is crucial to train and raise up ministries, but being careful not to put our ideas as to who, what or when. Remember it was the Holy Spirit who separated Saul & Barnabas in Acts 13, in the moment of His choosing. I am feeling the challenge of the need to learn more how to perceive God’s grace at work in different lives, how to nurture that and release it at the correct time. It is vital to remember it is Jesus who gives gifts to His Church, and it is the Spirit that is at work as He wills, not man or a leader. We leaders need to pray for grace to get the balance right between training, leaving the Lord to do the needed unseen work and getting the timing of release right.
I guess in conclusion, the more NT mission takes place, the more NT Churches can be planted, and that will in turn produce more vessels for ministry, as with Paul and Timothy. It is a spiritual cycle. So at this present time we are encouraged by what we are seeing emerge in young ministries but are certainly longing for more. The above principles will be crucial in seeing that ideal become more of a reality.
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“Remember it was the Holy Spirit who separated Saul & Barnabas in Acts 13, in the moment of His choosing. I am feeling the challenge of the need to learn more how to perceive God’s grace at work in different lives, how to nurture that and release it at the correct time. It is vital to remember it is Jesus who gives gifts to His Church, and it is the Spirit that is at work as He wills, not man or a leader. We leaders need to pray for grace to get the balance right between training, leaving the Lord to do the needed unseen work and getting the timing of release right.”
Good word, Andrew. I pray that this booklet bears much last fruit!
“lasting fruit”
:o)
“A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”…….
“I am very aware that quite a few people recently have predicted a ‘new move’, whilst others talk about it – it is almost the ‘in thing’, and yet much of it is rhetoric without substance…I am longing to see New Testament teams formed out of this rising generation, that will come into a genuine understanding of Apostolic & Prophetic ministry, and how that functions in missionary endeavor, rather than in the surface ways we see today.”
So often I find it tempting to get discouraged at the mismatch between what God wants and the reality we often demonstrate as His church. My spirit is quickened this morning with your words to continue to press until the things He desires become reality in my life and in His church.
Thanks guys for your gracious words. Let’s all pray with fervency and faith for God to bring a fresh move of His Kingdom, and a glorious possession of Jesus by the Spirit, to fill our hearts.
Over and out,
A
I love your answer to the question of your motivation by the book. Particularly about the Jesus People. I love watching videos of those guys. They’re OOOK. (I don’t feel convicted about the OK in this case Andrew.)
Hopefully see you soon,
Marc
“love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man loves the world the Love of The Father is not in him, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of The Father but is of the world”…….
why is it so hard, for the multitudes of “believers” to “see” what this world, and it’s systems of religion, is all about ?
could be it is because they have believed a lie, just as eve did. why is it that the multitudes have accepted the lie that is the pagan catholic/christian ‘jesus’, the name ‘catholicism’ gave to one head of their three headed pagan ‘god’ less than 600 years past ?
simply, the name ‘jesus’ is the trasliteration of the pagan greek name, given their version of a “messiah”, into the pagan latin/catholic……. are you so blind that you can not “see” that catholicism is the mother of ‘christianity” ? why do you accept her lies ? could it be it’s just as hitler was said to have spoken, “tell people a lie often enough and long enough and they will believe the lie, and then when truth is given them they will reject it.”
and it is quite clear that one must receive “the love of The Truth to be saved”, and Truth is the “strongest thing in the world”…….
so there is hope…….
for Miracles do happen…….
hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is receiving “the love of The Truth”, for all who receive will clearly “see” The Light, and The Light that is The Messiah reveals all the darkness, delusion, deception, perversion, destruction, “confusion, and every evil work” that is of this world and it’s systems of religion…….
and those who receive will take heed unto The Call of The Only True GOD to “Come Out of her, MY people”…….
they will “Come Out” of this world(babylon) and it’s systems of religion, for they will clearly “see” that “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one”(1John5:19) indeed and Truth…….
Truth is never ending…….
Francisco,
Some of your quotations are from John’s first epistle. I wondered if you were aware that John also says in the same epistle, 1 John 2: 22:
‘Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah). Such a man is the anti-christ – he denies the Father and the Son.’
I found your comments a little strange. Could you please enlighten us as to what belief system you adhere to? Or who DO YOU believe is the Messiah?
sad i am for all the “dr’s” of this world, for seems all have rejected simplicity…….
sadder yet for those “unlearned and ignorant” who take heed unto their “good words and fair speech which deceives the hearts of the simple”…….
“Some of your quotations are from John’s first epistle. I wondered if you were aware that John also says in the same epistle, 1 John 2: 22:
‘Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah). Such a man is the anti-christ – he denies the Father and the Son.’”
Simply, the “imag”ined catholic/christian ‘jesus’ is anti-messiah…….
“I found your comments a little strange. Could you please enlighten us as to what belief system you adhere to? Or who DO YOU believe is the Messiah?”
Faith will not create a system of belief…….
and Truth always sounds ‘strange’ unto those who have not received “the love of The Truth”…….
and once again:
“could be it is because they have believed a lie, just as eve did. why is it that the multitudes have accepted the lie that is the pagan catholic/christian ‘jesus’, the name ‘catholicism’ gave to one head of their three headed pagan ‘god’ less than 600 years past ?
simply, the name ’jesus’ is the trasliteration of the pagan greek name, given their version of a “messiah”, into the pagan latin/catholic……. are you so blind that you can not ”see” that catholicism is the mother of ‘christianity” ? why do you accept her lies ?
and why is it you accept the lie that is the “imag”ined name of ‘jesus’ which was given to one head of the three-headed pagan catholic/chrisitan ‘god’ less than 600 years ago?
Francisco,
What do you base your belief on? I mean, do you have a ‘sacred text’ like the Bible? I assume you do believe something? I don’t quite understand what it is. I’m quite interested though.
Marc
Additionally, and not that it really matters a great deal, you misquote Hitler, what he actually wrote was,
It’s from ‘Mein Kampf.’ Not that I’ve read it myself. Ha.
Marc
“What do you base your belief on? I mean, do you have a ’sacred text’ like the Bible? I assume you do believe something? I don’t quite understand what it is. I’m quite interested though.”
Truth…….
All, of what catholic/christians” call their “bibles”, are biased in accordance with the religious dogma of the translators………
i believe there is The One and Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL, and HE yet communes with HIS children, and i believe that The Messiah was, is and always will be The Son of The One and Only True GOD, and that His Brethen, adopted yet nonetheless His Brethen have taken heed unto The Call of The Only True GOD to “Come Out of her, MY people”…….
The Brethren of The Messiah have “Come Out” of this world(babylon) and it’s systems of religion for they have “seen” that “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth……. They have chosen a better place, for they realize that they have “no continuing city here” and “their Life(citizenship) is in Heaven”……. So they but await their final transformation, “corruptible to incorruptible”, “caterpillar to butterfly”…….
The Brethren of The Messiah have chosen to “Come Out” from among those who are destroying the earth(land, air, water, vegetation, creatures) and who are perverting that which is Spirit(Light, Truth, Life, Peace, Love, Hope, Mercy, Grace, Miracles, etc.)…….
Faith will not create a system of religion(belief, laws, worship, 501(c3), etc.)…….
Faith realizes that “Our Father”, The Only True GOD, HE yet leads The Way…….
And as The Messiah was a servant of The Only True GOD, so also His Brethren seek to serve HIM WHO is “Our Father”……. And as The Messiah desired above all else, so also His Brethren desire above all else, “Father, not my will, But THY Will Be Done”…….
“A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”…….
Truth, and The Life, are never ending…….
“It’s from ‘Mein Kampf.’ Not that I’ve read it myself. Ha.”
hitler did not stop speaking after he wrote mein kampf…….
Ok, but what do you base that believe upon, I mean, to say you base it on truth. What if I were to send out a television broadcast saying that the truth is that, ” Mr X is a murderer and a menace to society and we all need to mob him.”
However, Mr X hasn’t even harmed a fly. My statement doesn’t make it true – if I have evidence of the truth that I claim though… that might be something different. What’s the evidence of your truth?
And you’re right about Hitler.
Marc
“What’s the evidence of your truth?”
Sadly, because all catholic/christian religions have their own version of that which they call their “bible”, from which they seek to establish their brand of theo’ry’logy, so it is that all religions have their version of ‘truth’…….
i do not…….
i received “the love of The Truth”, yet “Truth” it is not ‘mine’…….
Truth is Spirit and eminates from, in, of, by, and through “The Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL”……. And “HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM”…….
Truth is a gift and must be received, not arrived at thru debate and disputation…….
We are to share that which we have freely received, that which “we have seen(experienced) and heard(received)”, not read and studied…….
Thankfully, Our Father, HE yet reveals all things…….
Truth is never ending…….
And yet – you keep quoting a form of Biblical text…
The pharisee’s(dr’s) of this world and it’s systems of religion yet abide in the “imag”es they have created in their pursuit of “knowledge falsely so-called”…….
Sadly, they have made multitudes “two fold more the children of hell than they themselves are”…….
True it is that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness unto The Only True GOD”…….
Thankfully, The Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL, HE yet reveals all things unto those who realize how “poor and in need” they truly are…….
Father Help! and HE does…….
Truth is never ending…….
OK. Thanks for coming on the site Francisco.
Blessings,
Andrew