How Heaven Answers When We Worship

March Teaching Letter from Denise 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 Friend,

As I sit down to write to you this March, my heart is overflowing with excitement to share the word the Lord has placed deeply within me. It is truly a privilege to witness His faithfulness, and I believe He is stirring something powerful within His people during this season.

I want to thank you for your unwavering support and for walking this journey of faith with me. May you be blessed as you read and receive His word today!

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you didn’t know what to do, so you simply began to worship God? In that moment, didn’t the peace of God begin to flood your heart, calm your mind, and did you start to receive answers?

That’s exactly what I want to share with you today. 

*[If you started reading this from your email, begin reading here.]

A year ago, my husband and I, along with a group of people and a film crew, traveled to Turkey to see Noah’s Ark. It was an incredible experience, but something special happened there that I will never forget. Historians believe that there is a particular place where Noah built an altar and made a sacrifice to the Lord after they came off the Ark.

When I saw this altar, a rock that had been manmade and chiseled so that the blood of sacrifices could flow down, I was overcome with emotion. This was the first place of sacrifice unto the Lord after everything had been destroyed. After all had been lost, this was the first place where worship was offered to God.

In that moment, I began to reflect on the power of worship. When we truly worship God, when we open our hearts and surrender to Him, He begins to speak to us. Sometimes he gives us answers; sometimes He simply reminds us of His love. There is nothing like it. God loves it when we worship.  In fact, Jesus said that the Father seeks worship. His eyes go to and fro across the earth, looking for those who will worship Him.

In Genesis 8:20-21, it says:
“Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.'”

When Noah made that sacrifice, when he worshiped and surrendered to the Lord, God spoke.

The first thing God did was accept Noah’s offering, and that’s what happens when we worship. We bring our hearts before God as a sacrifice, and in a mystical way, He receives it.

Romans 12:1 tells us that we ourselves are that sacrifice. It says:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

In 2 Corinthians 2:15 says:
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”

Even when you don’t feel special, when life feels difficult, know this: you are a fragrance to God. Just as Noah’s sacrifice was a soothing aroma to the Lord, so are you. Because Jesus lives in you, you are a pleasing fragrance to Him.

God is so interested in you, friend. When we come before Him, offering all that we have in worship—whether it’s our words, our hearts, or our surrender—God speaks.

That’s exactly what happened with Noah. When he worshiped, God spoke and made a promise: “I will never again curse the earth.” And He has kept that promise. The Bible tells us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His promises are yes and amen, and we can trust that He will keep His word.

What has God promised you? What in His Word have you claimed, saying, “God, I trust in Your promise”?

In Genesis 9, we see God bless Noah and his sons, giving them clear instructions:
“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.”

What was God saying here? He was telling Noah, “You no longer need to fear the animals. You have the power to rule over them.” Even though lions, bears, and tigers were still the same wild creatures, God protected Noah and his family from their danger.

Not only did God offer protection, but He also made provision, saying, “You can eat any living thing.” How amazing is that? When we worship God, He opens doors to provision and protection. He gives us the resources we need to thrive.

God’s instruction in verse 7 is powerful:
“Be fruitful and multiply.”

At first, I thought this meant just having children, but as I studied, I realized it’s about more than that. It’s about what God has given you—your talents, your mind, your gifts. He’s telling you to be fruitful and multiply in all areas of life.

If you have a talent, multiply it. If you’re a manager, learn to be a better one. If you have resources, find ways to grow them and give them away. Be fruitful with what you have and multiply it.

I heard about a world-renowned violinist who, in his 70s and 80s, continued to practice every day, even after he had quit performing. Someone asked him, “Why do you still practice?” He replied, “So I can get better.” Even though no one was listening to him anymore, he was multiplying his gift.

Friend, don’t quit. If you’re in school, don’t get discouraged—study harder and multiply what God has given you. A woman once told me that she didn’t feel she had any talents. She said to the Lord, “God, what can I do? I have no talent!” The Lord replied, “Do you have hands? Do you have feet? Do you have a mouth? Use what you have.”

Right now, you can choose to use your smile, your kindness, and your willingness to serve. When you give these things away, they multiply. And all of this, friend, comes out of worship. When we worship God, we are positioned to hear from Him and receive guidance.

God finally promised Noah that He would never again destroy the earth with water. Can you imagine how terrified Noah and his family would have been the first time it rained after the flood? But in Genesis 9:16, God says:
“The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

They could have been terrified, but God comforted them, saying, “I will not destroy the earth with water again,” and He gave them the rainbow as a sign of His promise.

When I visited Noah’s Ark, I saw a double rainbow—what a powerful reminder that God keeps His promises!

Take a moment to quiet your heart and worship the Lord. Recognize that you are an aroma to Him. He loves us deeply, my friend, and when we worship, He opens heaven to answer us.

If you need prayer, please let us know how we can pray for you. Our prayer team is ready to support you. Call 1.844.473.6637 or email us at prayer@deniserenner.org.

I also want to invite you to join me for my weekly program, TIME with Denise Renner. It’s a special time set aside for encouragement, inspiration, and spiritual growth. This month, I’m diving deeper into the message I’ve shared with you here in a series called How Heaven Answers when We Worship. You can watch every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. on Facebook or YouTube. The Lord is speaking powerfully, and I’m so excited to share this time with you!

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I pray it encourages you to lean in and surrender to the Lord in worship. May God continue to move mightily in your life, and may our worship always reflect His glory.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

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