Divine Revelation

January Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas and greetings in Jesus’ precious name! Christ came into this world “in the fullness of time” to redeem mankind from sin and to reconcile us to the Heavenly Father (Galatians 4:4,5). And what a great salvation it was and is that God wrought for us in Christ (see Hebrews 2:3-18)! Denise and I and our family wish you a warm and wonderful Christmas season and the best new year of your life in 2022.

Today I want to talk to you about opportunities and adversaries, but first I want to say thank you for being such a faithful partner with our ministry. As I told you in my letter last month, our ministry is bursting at the seams, and I am so humbled that God would use Denise and me, our family, and our team to minister to the many people who are reaching out to us every day.

Every soul is precious, and it is our heartfelt desire to convey that truth to every person God brings to us — that they are precious to Him and to us. And your gifts are so vital to our ability to touch every one of these treasured souls! So today I want to say a special thank you for all you do with us to take the trusted teaching of the Word of God to people in Russia and all over the world. From the depths of our hearts, Denise and I THANK YOU!

This month is the last month of the year — and I know you are probably preparing for Christmas and many different kinds of gatherings. But in addition to Christmas, it’s also almost 2022. As we come to the end of this year and to the beginning of a brand-new year, the Holy Spirit keeps telling me to “stay on track” with the assignments He has given us. I hear Him saying that even if we hit bumps along the way, everything will be all right if we’ll just stay on track and maintain our God-assigned territory — the many opportunities and assignments He has given us to inspire, strengthen, and equip believers with the sound teaching of the Bible.

But I’ve learned over the years that opportunities and adversaries usually go together — and today I want to encourage you to undergird yourself so that you can stay on track with what God has asked you to do this month and in the coming year.

Over the course of our ministry, we’ve had many great, effectual doors open to us to do the work of the Gospel. I’ll never forget when I received an opportunity to minister on television in the former Soviet Union. It was as if a great door had suddenly swung open to an entire vast territory — a door that had never before been opened for anyone else — and I knew I was experiencing something miraculous. By faith, Denise and I stepped through that door and began to preach the Word of God on television in this spiritually starved corner of the world.

Given the former socialist-communist campaigns against the Gospel in this particular region, this opportunity was as miraculous as the Jordan River dividing for Joshua and the children of Israel. But with this great open door also came a slew of adversaries, specifically dispatched by Satan to instill fear and doubt into my heart. The devil desperately wanted to prevent me from touching the lives of spiritually oppressed people, so he positioned evil people with insidious plans to try to block my view of what God had in store for our ministry.

I’m telling you that it was like the children of Israel looking at the Promised Land from the far side of the Jordan River. From that perspective, they saw only the fruitful land of blessing that lay before them. But once they entered the Promised Land, they had to fight giants of every kind before they could possess that land and enjoy the blessing. In much the same way, if Denise and I had taken our eyes off the Lord during that tumultuous period — or if we had focused only on the problems and forgotten about the fruit we were pursuing for God’s Kingdom — I’m sure we would have backpedaled to get out of the situation!

But we knew this was a God-given opportunity and worth the fight, so we fixed our gaze squarely on the Lord. Girded with the armor of God and the power of the Spirit, we pushed through every obstacle and possessed the ground that God called us to take. As a result, millions of souls began to hear the Gospel for the first time. We knew that only God could have opened this door!

In First Corinthians 16:9, the apostle Paul wrote about the strategic doors of opportunity that open for the Gospel and the adversaries that usually accompany them. He said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Notice that Paul used the words “great,” “door,” “effectual,” and “is opened” to describe the opportunity that had been set before him.

The word “great” in this verse is translated from the Greek word megale, which means gigantic. The word “door” is the Greek word thura, which typically refers to a door, but in this context, denotes a rare opportunity. The word “effectual” is the Greek word energes, and it depicts something that is powerful and ready to be set into motion. Finally, the phrase “is opened” is the Greek word anoigo, which describes something standing wide open. In other words, the door in question couldn’t be any more open! Thus, an alternate translation of Paul’s words in First Corinthians 16:9 could be rendered, “A gigantic, powerful opportunity is already set in motion and standing wide open….”

Paul continued by saying, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me….” You see, Paul knew that the particular door he was referring to had never been opened to anyone else, and he stood in awe of the unprecedented opportunity. Walking through these kinds of doors is impossible without divine assistance, and Paul was fully aware of God’s role in the matter. That is why he specified that this door had been opened “unto me.”

Paul’s prayer request in First Corinthians 16:9 was not for a door to open because it had already opened. His prayer request was to receive God’s wisdom to deal with the numerous adversaries who were trying to come against him. Paul used the Greek word antikeimenoi to describe the vast number of “adversaries” that were sent to attack him. This Greek word describes something that was piled high and lying all around him. In other words, he was dealing with more than a few minor opponents. On the contrary, it felt like opposition was stacked high on every side!

I’ve learned that the enemy will try his best to keep you from stepping through the gigantic doors of opportunity God desires to open for you. Satan is afraid of what will happen when “his” territory is invaded by someone fully equipped with a full arsenal of spiritual weapons. So know this: God will open doors for you — but He needs you to make a determined decision that you will walk through them, no matter the opposition, with the help of His Spirit.

By opening the door, God has already done His part, which would have been impossible without His assistance. Now He beckons you to come, dressed in the whole armor of God and in the power of His Word — and proceed through that effectual door into new territory. It may look like enemies are everywhere, but it is simply a fact that the devil and his forces flee and collapse when they are subjected to a show of strong faith!

As I mentioned earlier, many great and effectual doors have been opened to us over the years to do the work of the Gospel. In each case, we knew these doors were unique to us and had never before been opened for anyone else. And just as Paul experienced opposition, there were plenty of enemies that came against us with each opportunity. But because we obeyed God, the devil was forced to move out of the way, and we walked right into the virgin territory that God had opened for our ministry.

Even if you think your situation looks threatening right now, I want to tell you that God is with you. He wants to supernaturally open new doors for you — doors that have never before been opened for you. He is not beckoning you to walk through these doors so you can fail. He is with you every step of the way, and He will empower you to defeat every foe and bring Him glory in that new territory that is yours to possess in Jesus’ name!

Your open door may be an opportunity to shine the light of God’s Word and God’s love to your family or friends during this holiday season. It may be a door that will open to you in the new year. Regardless of when it is or what it is, the same God who opens doors will empower you to walk through them — and then He’ll be right with you to give you the wisdom and strength needed to overcome any giant that tries to meet you on the other side.

I know this is not a typical December, “Christmas-style” letter, but this is what was on my heart to share with you today. I want you to always know that if we can join you in prayer, we would be delighted to do so. To be honest, we are praying for you anyway, but when we are alerted to know exactly “how” to pray, it increases our effectiveness as we pray for you. So if you have a special need, please either call or write to let us know how we can get in agreement with you for God to show Himself mighty to you according to Jeremiah 33:3, which says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

And please pray for us as we continue marching forward by faith to push back darkness, to shine the light of God’s Word, and to take territory for the Kingdom of God. Together — as partners — we can make a difference in the lives of throngs of people who are crying out to God for help. They are waiting for God to respond to their prayers, and God wants to use us — you and us together — to bring them the answers they desperately need.

But before I close, I want to say we are specifically asking God to do something special for you this month and before the end of the year. I don’t know what it is, but that is what we are praying. We are asking God to do something special that will bless your life! And please, please pray for us as we continue pushing ahead to build our studio in Moscow, to finalize the purchase of our new headquarters in Tulsa, and to continue to minister effectually to every precious soul Jesus brings to us!

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

Just as I was getting ready to write you this letter, suddenly I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart about what to expect in the year 2023. I heard the Holy Spirit tell me, The year 2023 will be filled with divine surprises, divine provision, and divine revelation for those who will receive it.

So…in response to what I heard from the Lord just minutes ago, I want to speak to you today about the divine surprises, divine provision, and divine revelation that God wants to impart to our lives in 2023, but in this letter, I will especially focus on the various types of divine revelation that God wants to give you this year. However, before I plunge into this wonderful subject, I first want to say thank you!

THANK YOU for all the ways you stood by our ministry in 2022. I truly believe God has graced our ministry with some of the most wonderful ministry partners in the world, and Denise and I want you to know how much we appreciate you and love you.

For your part in this, Denise and I, our family, and our ministry team say THANK YOU!

As we move forward into this wonderful new year, we want you to really understand that your partnership with our ministry is vital for us to fulfill the assignment Jesus has entrusted to us. So again, thank you for all you have done, and thank you for all you will do. You are truly a God-called partner, and we are so thankful for you.

I also want to let you know that I’ve just released my new book Apostles and Prophets! This insightful and timely book is filled with vital information that is needed for the Church today — especially in these last days. Please be sure to take a look at the enclosed flyer for more details on how you can purchase Apostles and Prophets for your personal library.

Now let me get to what is on my heart to share with you today.

The Holy Spirit just spoke to me and said that He would give divine surprises, divine provision, and divine revelation to those who will receive it in 2023, so I want to encourage you to throw open your heart to receive what God wants to give TO YOU in this new year!

  1. Could you use a few divine surprises this year to bring more joy into your life?
  2. Could you use divine provision so you can financially do what you need to do?
  3. Could you use divine revelation to help provide the answers that you’ve been seeking?

Well, today I want to focus on that third point — divine revelation — and then next month, I’ll be writing to you about divine surprises and how to access them by faith!

In First Corinthians 2:9, Paul described the frustration that so many people feel when they can’t seem to see or comprehend what they really need to know. And then in verses 10 and 12, he went on to give us God’s miraculous answer to this dilemma. In these verses, Paul said: “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God…Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

The dilemma is defined in verse 9 where Paul wrote, “…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” According to this verse, man by himself simply does not have the ability to see, hear, or comprehend the things that God has prepared for him.

But in verse 10, Paul went on to say that God sent the Holy Spirit to enable us to see and to know all those things that we once found so difficult to see and know. This means the Holy Spirit has all the answers, and the Holy Spirit is the major key in how we receive divine revelation!

First Corinthians 2:10 specifically says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

So what has the Holy Spirit come to reveal to us? Everything that we once couldn’t see, hear, or know. What once seemed to be unknowable mysteries should no longer be concealed to us, because verse 10 says that “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.”

The word “revealed” is the Greek word apokalupto, and it is a compound of the preposition apo and the word kalupto. The preposition apo means away, as in to remove something, while the word kalupto describes a covering or veil that obstructs one’s view.

Let’s use the example of curtains on a window to make the point.

When curtains are drawn shut, it isn’t possible to see through the window and enjoy what’s waiting for you on the other side. On the other side of the curtains is something wonderful for you to see, but because the curtains are blocking your view, you can’t see or enjoy it. However, if someone pulls the curtains apart, then you’ll suddenly be able to see what has been there all along. You’ll instantly see it — and instantly seeing it is what the Bible calls a revelation.

There are many things God wants to reveal to you, but you’ve been unable to see them on your own. The Holy Spirit comes on the scene to supernaturally pull your mental curtains apart — to remove whatever has obstructed your view. And when He does that, you will suddenly and clearly see what you couldn’t see before. In that moment, you will have a divine revelation!

Paul continued in verse 10, saying, “…the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” The word “searcheth” is a translation of the Greek word ereuna, which depicts a deep and scholarly investigation. This tells us that when the Holy Spirit comes to reveal things to us, He begins by doing His homework. He digs deep to find all the answers that we are seeking.

This verse says that the Holy Spirit searches the “deep things.” The Greek words used here describe the deepest depths of the sea. The usage of these particular words means that when the Holy Spirit begins His investigative work to find the answers your heart is crying out to know, His searching is not superficial, but rather, He dives to the depths to find exactly what you need to know. When He has gathered all those needed answers, that’s when the Holy Spirit begins to pull the curtains apart and out of the way so that He can reveal to you the answers you need!

Verse 12 emphatically states that the Holy Spirit is sent by God to remove our blinders so we can see and know what we need to see and know! It says, “Now we have received…the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

The word “know” in the original Greek means to know, or even better, it means to know like an expert. This means that after the Holy Spirit has plunged to the depths to find the answers you need to know, He begins the process of pulling the curtains out of the way so you can clearly see the answer — and the answer He gives you will not be blurry. You’ll discover that what He reveals to you is so complete that you’ll see and know the answers like an expert!

So if you’ve been frustrated because you don’t have the answers you need about…

…Then it’s time for you to invite the greatest private detective and investigator in the world to go to work for you. Yes, I’m talking about the Holy Spirit. After He does His work, you’ll discover the answers you need. The answers, that for whatever reason you’ve been unable to see up to this point, will suddenly come into view.

If you’ll invite the Holy Spirit to help, after He obtains all the answers you are seeking, He’ll then begin removing all your mental limitations so you can finally SEE and KNOW what you need to see and know. The Holy Spirit will pull the curtains apart — and when He does, in an instant, you’ll have a divine revelation that clears everything up for you!

First Corinthians 2:12 clearly states that the Holy Spirit has been sent “…that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” That means God has it all ready and waiting for you. Now you need to ask the Holy Spirit to do His revelatory work so you can see it and receive it!

That, my friend, is a big part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to you!

Next month, I will pick up right here with the word the Holy Spirit gave me for you concerning 2023 — and I’ll be writing to you about the different kinds of divine surprises that God wants to surprise you with this year.

But for now, I want to remind you that we are here to pray with you for anything that is on your heart. If you want us to agree with you for a divine revelation, for divine provision, or for God’s power to show up in any area where you are concerned, just contact us to let us know how we can pray for you. Based on the promise of Jeremiah 33:3, we will call out to God in faith, believing He will hear us, He will answer us, and He will show you great and mighty things. So please reach out to us, and we’ll pray in faith with a full expectation for mighty things to take place for you!

I can hardly wait to write to you again next month. But until then, please also pray for us. We thank you for your faithful partnership in the Lord and in the work of this ministry!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
Along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our ministry team

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