"Wake Up, O Sleeper"

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness and truth; and find out what pleases the Lord.  Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.  But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.   This is why it is said: 'WAKE UP, O SLEEPER, RISE FROM THE DEAD, AND CHRIST WILL SHINE ON YOU.'"    (Eph. 5:8-14)

Whether v. 14 is a quote from an ancient baptismal hymn or a line from an Easter celebration, its command to the "sleeper" to "rise from the dead so that Christ may shine on him"  places the order solidly within the context of revival.  The general call in the passage above is to holiness.  Christians are to come out of darkness and walk in light.  The light of Christ will shine on them so that the worldly who walk in darkness, as well as weakened believers who have slipped back into the shades of the world, may be exposed and wake up and repent and become a part of the community of light.

Waking Christians from their slumber is a task beyond human ability.  But the Holy Spirit is good at it.  In 1993, after 43 years of pastoring, the Lord called me to a ministry of reviving His people.  I've always known that revival was God's secret of preserving His church.  But I never knew how difficult it is to awaken lethargic believers.  Just getting Christians to a point of sensing their own personal need of revival is a test in itself.  But according to II Chronicles 7:14, this is the first step - that of humility.  It takes humility and courage to admit the symptoms of pride, selfishness, unbelief, wrong attitudes, prolonged discouragement, small acts of disobedience.  But this is the road to revival, and it nearly always takes the best people in the church to lead the way in confession.  Then there is prayer.  Oh, yes, it takes prayer!  Much prayer!  Passionate prayer!  Burdened prayer!  Tearful prayer!  Intercessory prayer!  Militant prayer!   Anointed prayer!  And then we must seek God's face.  I believe what is meant here is that we must seek to know the Lord more intimately.  I think this is what the apostle Paul was expressing when he said, "that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (Philip. 3:10).  In seeking His face, we will find the Spirit-empowered will to say NO to our selfish desires, then we can go on to finding His will for our lives.  Then there is the final condition for revival - turning from our wicked ways.  This means crucifying pride, greed, lust, ill will, laziness, and establishing a new record of obedience to God.

Then when we have met God's terms for revival, He will release His Spirit of revival on His people.  I have been happy during the past 13 years serving the Lord and His people in the role of a revivalist.  I hope my readers will read my report that follows for the year of 2007.

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Ministry Report for 2007

I am reporting 17 events this calendar year, all in the U.S.A.  It's the first year in several that I have not ministered outside the North American continent.  I conducted four Schools of Prayer, 10 revival meetings, one camp meeting, and I attended two special events (centennial celebrations at Seattle First Church of the Nazarene and Indianapolis First Church of the Nazarene, having pastored six years in Seattle and five in Indianapolis).

Because of my own deepening in prayer throughout 2007, because of the passionate praying of more prayer partners in my ministry, and because of unusual hunger for God and revival in most of the churches where we ministered, I must say that this has been the greatest of the last 13 years in full-time revival service as far as God's manifested Presence and Glory, as far as signs and wonders (physical and emotional healings, deliverance from addictions, demons and all kinds of bondages) and definite revelations from the Holy Spirit.  Many relationships were healed, and believers were convicted of ill will.  There are churches in the eastern part of the U.S., in the Midwest and in the South, that are awakened, united and aflame in the Spirit that were poor examples of life in the Spirit a year ago.  This is what happens when God's people humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways.  God sends revival!  It can happen anywhere, any time and with anyone who will comply with God's terms for revival.  Praise God, it still happens today!

I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to: (1) Those who took seriously their commitment to pray regularly for me and this ministry.  A day never went by that I did not feel those prayers, knowing that God was hearing you as you wept and fasted with me for His powerful moves on churches and members entangled in their carnal ways and fighting against the Spirit's efforts to bring freedom and holiness of heart; (2) Those who sent in offerings to support the work of publishing the CHRISTIAN RENEWAL JOURNAL, traveling to and from meetings, and maintaining an office and a website; and (3) and those pastors and churches who have trusted us to come and lead them in revivals and Schools of Prayer, who cleared their schedules, prayed, gave special offerings and believed with us for the outpourings of the Spirit.

I also thank my daughter, Pris Larsen, for her labors as my executive assistant.  She has worked tirelessly and efficiently both when I am present in Bozeman and when I am out in meetings to keep accurate records and respond to the calls and orders.  I feel fortunate to have Pris at my side in this ministry, knowing that she too is a prayer warrior of the first order and discerns the Spirit's leadings even as I do.  Also, my gratitude is here expressed for our CHRISTIAN RENEWAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS:  Dave & Marilyn Bos, Paula Butterfield, Greg & Rina Donaldson, Gail & Betty Fremont, Duncan & Susan Hill, and Kyle & Vanessa McMurray; and during the January board meeting we will add the names of Ben & Ruth Ann Smith.

It is that time of year to ask those who feel the leadership of the Holy Spirit to support this ministry to once again renew your support.  I hope you will see the time you spend in prayer for us and the amount of money you mail in as an eternal investment, a laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven.  I wish you could be with me in the meetings and see the manifestations of the Presence of the Holy Spirit and sense the demonstrations of the Spirit's power as the results of your prayers and giving.

Please allow the Lord to direct you as you mark your response cards.  Let Him direct you in the amount He would have you give.  Let me know if you will stand with me in intercessory prayer.  And don't forget to list your prayer requests on the back of your card, for I take these requests seriously and pray over them several times a week.

Prayer Requests

Anointing for Prayer, Study, Preaching and Teaching.  The year 2007 has been the most fulfilling year in my personal prayer life.  But I know this is because of the support I have from so many prayer partners across the world.  Still, I yearn to spend more meaningful times in secret prayer throughout 2008.  I find that often in my study, I am driven to prayer for deepening of understanding and for knowing how to clarify for others what the Spirit is saying to me.

Direction for Events throughout the year.  I  realize more now than ever that we need to rely on the Spirit's direction for the calls from the churches and pastors - which invitations to accept, the dates to agree on and the meeting formats (whether a School of Prayer, a Revival effort or teaching on the Holy Spirit).  When the Spirit leads, we can economize by arranging meetings geographically and according to dates. 

Health and Strength for the Schedules.   The Lord healed me of diabetes in Oct. of 2006.  But the enemy has sought for the last six months to steal back my healing.  As of June 10, 2007, when I received a sign from the Lord that I was to take my healing by faith, I went off all medications and have been trusting God for complete healing from diabetes, high blood pressure and a healthy heart.  I've never felt better.  I've never enjoyed such energy.  I've never been stronger and healthier in my spiritual life.  Please continue to pray for my physical condition.

Financial Support for the Ministries.  There was a time when I apologized for mentioning our need for help in operating our ministries.  No more!  I know this ministry is of God.  I know He blesses me as I continue to support CHRISTIAN RENEWAL MINISTRIES, as well as tithe my income to my local church.  I've had so many testimonies from those who support this ministry, telling me how the Lord has blessed them financially, that I no longer feel hesitant to accept the contributions from those who are blessed by our ministries and wish to help spread the message on revival.

Wisdom and Direction for Me, for Pris Larsen and for our Board of Directors.   I need the Lord's direction for the management of my time and energies, for knowing what invitations to accept and discernment for what the Spirit wants emphasized.  I know Pris appreciates your prayers for strength and wisdom to run the office, which covers a hundred duties ranging from correspondence to bookkeeping.  The ministry and I are fortunate to have her as my executive assistant.  The Board of Directors feels with me that we need to pray about relocating and expanding the ministry of The Big Sky House of Prayer, which is now located in Belgrade, Montana.  We are feeling the need to move into Bozeman to make this important ministry more accessible to our brothers and sisters in all the churches.

NOTE:  Please list your prayer requests on the back of your Response Cards.  They will go into my Personal Prayer Journal, and I will pray for you on a regular basis throughout 2008.  Let's make it a JOYOUS YEAR OF PRAYER.

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The Staff of Christian Renewal Ministries Wishes You A Happy and Blessed 2008!

May you have NEW vision for this season of ministry.

May you have NEW songs of worship, encouragement and hope to strengthen you for service.

May you have NEW passion for prayer.

May you receive a NEW filling of the Holy Spirit, empowering you to love and live like Jesus in your world.

What does God plan to do through and for you during 2008?

Live expectantly!