You Are the Salt
of the Earth

March 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,

Greetings in Jesus’ wonderful name!

Denise and I just returned from a fabulous trip to the United States where we ministered in many states and multiple churches, and we are so thrilled that we were able to see so many of our friends and partners in those meetings! When we see you, it just elates us, because our friends and partners are so important to us!

In my letter today, I am going to talk to you about why Jesus said we are to be the salt of the earth. I believe this letter will encourage you — but first, I want to say THANK YOU for all you have done, are doing, and will do, as we all march forward by faith to reach the world with the trusted teaching of the Word of God. Denise and I, our sons, our family, and our team are on the frontlines to do the work, but you are working alongside us to enable us with your gifts and prayers on our behalf. We are so thankful for you, and we genuinely value your much-needed partnership so we can keep doing what Jesus has commissioned us to do.

If there is any special way we can be praying for you, please reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593, or send us an email at prayer@renner.org. As soon as we hear from you, I promise that we will call out to God in faith, according to Jeremiah 33:3, which says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee….” And we know that God will respond and do precisely what needs to be done! So please — let us know how we can pray for you!

But today, I want to speak to you from Matthew 5:13, where Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth….” This is a very powerful statement, and today I want to explore it with you!

Considering the various uses of salt in the ancient world and how important salt was at that time, this statement carried great weight. When Jesus likened His followers to salt, all kinds of images flashed through their minds, and they understood the many connotations that salt carried with it.

By using this illustration of salt, Jesus was teaching about the influence that we are supposed to have upon the world in which we live. The word “salt” in Greek is the word halas, and it describes the same type of salt we use in our homes and kitchens today. In our current day, salt is so common that it can easily be purchased in any grocery store.

However, in early New Testament times, salt was an expensive and treasured commodity that was crucial and necessary in many spheres of life, but high-quality salt could only be found in a few places in Israel. One location was known at the time as the Hill of Salt, a several-mile stretch located on the southwest coast of the Dead Sea. Salt could also be collected from the marshes situated along the embankment there, or it could be gathered from salt pits nearby.

In each of these locations, the gathering of salt was an expensive process, which made salt a very costly commodity — so rare that it was seldom wasted, sparingly used, and highly valued.

Let’s explore the various ways salt was used in the ancient world.

#1: Salt was used as a preservative.

In biblical times, meat would quickly rot, spoil, and decay, especially in the warm temperatures of Israel. But when salt was added, it acted as a preservative. Because of this, salt was very important in the preservation of meats and other kinds of perishable foods.

Those who heard Jesus’ teaching that we are to be “the salt of the earth” therefore understood what He meant — that through our influence, we should be a preserving force in a world that is filled with rot, spoil, and decay.

When God’s Word is working in our lives, it causes us to be like salt, in that our very presence helps preserve the truth and abate the corruption that is eating away at the world.

#2: Salt was used as a flavor enhancer.

Salt is one of the most profound flavor enhancers that exist in the culinary world. A person quickly becomes aware of how powerful this additive is when he eats food that contains no salt. Unsalted food is often monotonous, bland, and uninteresting, but when salt is added, the flavor is ignited.

Just like today, salt was used in the ancient world to give food a stronger and richer flavor. It was considered essential for the long-term preservation of food and for the enhancement of taste. Therefore, it was vital in every kitchen.

This tells us that not only should our presence decrease the evil in the world, but our presence should also change the flavor of society as we bring the savor of Christ to our surroundings wherever we go (see 2 Corinthians 2:14).

In light of this, let me ask you: In what ways does your personal presence make a difference in your world? Are you doing your job as “the salt of the earth?”

#3: Salt was used as an antiseptic.

In the ancient world where dirt and disease were common enemies to health, salt was used as an antiseptic. It was believed that salt would work like a disinfectant — especially in areas considered unclean, tainted, or contaminated — areas so filthy that it could potentially become hazardous to one’s health. The effects of properly applied salt in heavy doses to those areas would make a location sanitized, hygienic, and relatively germ-free.

The application of salt in such circumstances was considered to be enormously advantageous because people believed such an application of salt sterilized non-sterile environments. If a rapidly spreading disease was known to exist in a village, the sick people were removed and relocated, and salt was immediately spread to disinfect the contaminated area and prevent further spread of the disease.

Salt was such a powerful cleansing force that the ancient world believed it would assist in freeing an environment of infection. As an antiseptic, salt was used in the fodder, or animal feed, of barns and barnyards — places where sickness and disease could swiftly spread among animals. A small dose of salt scattered on the fodder in a barn or barnyard served as a deterrent to the proliferation of sickness and disease among animals.

Thus, when Jesus said we are to be “the salt of the earth,” those who heard Him understood that through our influence, we are called to be a kind of spiritual antiseptic to a world that is diseased with sin. Even a small dose of the spiritual salt we carry within ourselves is such a powerful disinfecting agent that if scattered in society, it will help deter the spread of sin and moral decay.

You see friend, if you are doing your job as “the salt of the earth,” your very presence can hinder the proliferation of sin and its effects. When you look at your life and the things that surround you, do you see any evidence that your personal presence is making a difference and that you are helping to promote a more spiritually sanitized environment? Are you doing your job as the salt of the earth?

#4: Salt was used as a medicinal and healing agent.

Salt was also a very important ingredient as a healing agent, used by physicians and those employed in the field of medicine. For instance, if a person was severely wounded, salt was poured into their wound to sanitize it from germs, to stop the bleeding and the spread of infection, and to speed up the healing process.

It is a fact that salt has healing properties that cause wounds to heal more readily. That is why in the ancient world where medications were rare, salt was an indispensable product in every doctor’s medical bag, and it was especially valuable in incidents where there was an open wound. In every home, business, and public place, salt was kept close at hand in case it was needed for the treatment of a laceration and was always kept nearby for emergency situations.

When Jesus said that His people were to be “the salt of the earth,” those who heard Him understood that through our influence, we should be carriers of physical healing to a world that is suffering with all manner of sickness and ailments.

Through the preaching of God’s Word and personal ministry to those who are ill, we are supposed to be “the salt of the earth” that brings healing to those who are physically suffering. The fact is, the power of the Holy Spirit that we carry within ourselves is fully sufficient to administer healing to those afflicted with sickness and disease — always, of course, in the authority given to us in the name of Jesus!

As “the salt of the earth,” you are a vehicle God has chosen to carry healing power to those who are struggling. When you look around you, is there evidence to show that you are carrying this power to those who are ailing or physically challenged in some way, just as Jesus has asked you to do? Are you doing your job as the salt of the earth?

#5: Salt was used to give protection from and to drive away evil spirits.

In the ancient world, salt was also a very important ingredient used in pagan religious rituals to give protection from and to drive away evil spirits. At the time Jesus said we are to be “the salt of the earth,” Israel was under Roman rule, and because of this, they regularly witnessed the pagan practices of Roman religions.

One practice of those pagan religions of the time was rubbing salt all over a newborn baby to protect that child from evil spirits or to drive evil spirits away from that child. It was commonly believed in many pagan nations that salt contained magical powers for this to be accomplished.

The pagans believed so wholeheartedly in the magical, protective powers of salt that they regularly administered heavy quantities of it to the doorway of their homes and businesses, believing it would create a strong barrier that evil spirits could not cross. They also spread salt on their windowsills, believing that salt could keep evil spirits from entering their homes or places of business through the windows.

So those who heard Jesus say that Christians were to be “the salt of the earth” understood that through our influence, we are to be a source of spiritual protection, deliverance, safety, and freedom to people who have been assaulted by demonic powers. By spreading God’s Word and using the name of Jesus, we can create spiritual barriers so strong that Satan is unable to successfully attack those standing on God’s promises. We are to be carriers of protection, safety, and deliverance!

When you look at the people who are closely connected to you, do you see that they are spiritually protected — experiencing deliverance, safety, and freedom from the attacks of the enemy? Are their lives different, safer, and better because of your influence?

#6: Salt was used as a fertilizer.

Salt was also a very important ingredient used by farmers to enrich and fertilize their soil to produce larger crops of a higher quality. Even a small amount of salt scattered sparingly on the ground could improve the quality of the soil and result in bigger harvests and healthier crops. Therefore, it was viewed as an essential ingredient in the farming industry. The best salt nourished and stimulated the earth to produce better crops.

When Jesus said we were to be “the salt of the earth,” it could actually be translated “the salt of the soil.” The implication is that through our influence, we should affect the world in which we live. In other words, our very presence should enhance life and make this world a better place to live. The world we touch should become productive and the presence of God in our lives should positively impact the quality of life for those around us. That is how much power we have as believers!

As the salt of the earth, each of us are to enrich the atmosphere through our influence wherever we go, simply because we carry the life of God within us. As carriers of His presence, we have the ability to make life better for those around us. When we walk into a situation, the environment surrounding us should be filled with more peace, joy, and hope than it was before we arrived! As the salt of the earth, we have the power to make a difference everywhere we are scattered.

In Colossians 4:6, the apostle Paul also used the word “salt” to tell us that our conversation should be “seasoned with salt.” In light of what you have read today, this means that instead of speaking complaining, critical, negative words along with the rest of the world, you can exert a spiritually positive influence on your environment.

When you’re seasoned with salt, you will speak:

Jesus plainly taught that we are meant to be the salt of the earth! If you are doing your job as “the salt of the earth,” there should be fruit all around you to show that God’s “salt” in you is working in your surroundings. As you examine your life, can you see visible proof of your “salty” influence?

I am teaching on this subject in my TV program this month, so I wanted to share it with you. Why not take a few minutes to reflect on your life to see if you are having the kind of influence in your world that Jesus wants you to have? The Holy Spirit will help you honestly assess your fruit so you can see if you are doing your job as “the salt of the earth” the way God has called and equipped you to!

I realize this was a little longer than my usual letter, but I wanted to share all of it with you today. Thanks for taking time to read along with me — I pray that it has been a blessing to you.

Again, if there is any special way we can be praying for you, please let us know. Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT every weekday or send us an email at prayer@renner.org. God will move mightily in response to faith-filled prayer, so please never hesitate to let us know how to pray with you. And please keep praying for us as well. We are so thankful for your faithful partnership. Together, we are impacting a lot of lives around the world!

We love you and thank God for you!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus,
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Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

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