September Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear friend,

This year has just been going by so fast! 

I pray that you and your family have been safe and blessed as you’ve made your way through the year so far, and I also want to say that I’m praying that any teachers, students, and parents have settled in after this transition into a new school year. 

At this point, I’m sure we’ve all seen so many things happen in our lives during this year, things that are beautiful and that we are so grateful for as well as things that have been hard or frightening. There is always so much happening all around us, but that is why we need to be aware of the unchanging promises of God.

As I write about His constancy, it just reminds me of something that He does for us, something that is set up for our benefit every single day. Friend, I believe this letter is going to be so encouraging to you, because today we are talking about the table set before us in the very presence of our enemies.

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You’re probably familiar with Psalm 23:5, which says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” The table that this verse talks about is set right now for you and me, and on it is everything you need.

Just imagine with me this magnificent table. It is covered with the finest of tablecloths and set with the finest napkins, silverware, and dishes, and all over this table are these bowls. Friend, there are bowls filled with healing, peace, joy, financial provision, and soundness of mind — and it’s all set on the table just for you!

Now, when you see this beautiful table, you can choose to stand back and just look at it. You can decide to just stand there and say, “Oh, nice table. Oh, look at that beautiful bowl of healing over there, and there’s some peace over there. Oh, that looks so good.” But if that’s all you do, then you’re not going to get anything from it.

Friend, God doesn’t want us to just look at the table — He wants us to sit down and take from it. You didn’t come up with this idea — the Bible says He’s the one who prepares it, so why would He do that if He didn’t want us to have it? But it doesn’t matter how much He wants it for us if we refuse to sit down at the table and start eating.

It reminds me of what the Bible says in James 1:22-24:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Of course, these verses use the picture of looking in a mirror and then forgetting what we saw, but we can apply this idea to the table in Psalm 23 as well. If we are just looking at the table and saying, “Oh look, there’s a bowl of healing. Praise the Lord that by the stripes of Jesus, I’m healed,” but we’re not actually reaching out and taking from that bowl, then we’re being hearers only. If you want to be a doer, then you have to reach out and take from those bowls that God has provided for you.

He is giving freely, friend, giving so much that our cups should be running over, so just reach out and claim it! If you think that you’ve been eating from the bowl of joy, but you’re not joyful yet, then just take some more. Keep taking and eating until you are full of joy! Maybe you have taken from the table and been filled up before, but now your plate is almost empty. Well, there’s still more on the table, so God can fill your plate right back up! The provision has never run out, and the blood of Jesus has never lost its power, so that bowl of courage or love or patience is still on the table, ready for you and I to just dip in and start eating.

Maybe you wonder what I mean by eating. Well, the Bible says that we are to renew our minds (see Romans 12:2), and part of how we do that is by being in the Word. When we get into the Word, it opens our eyes to let us see everything that is set on the table for us. We become able to say, “That bowl of mercy right there has my name on it, so I am going to take of it until I see it manifest in my life. Just because I got sick doesn’t mean that healing isn’t on the table. Oh no, it’s there, and I’m going to eat of it.”

I was challenged about a year ago to try reading through the Bible multiple times in one year. Now, reading all the same things multiple times in one year might seem like it would get a little repetitive. You might be saying, “Denise, haven’t you already read those scriptures? Don’t you know those things already?” Well, yes, I do know a lot from reading the Bible many times, but oh, how I need to know more! How we all need to know and experience more of His Word!

Maybe you’ve read through the whole Bible, but have you really discovered what it says in Ephesians 3:18 about the width, length, depth, and height of His love? Have you experienced the truth of “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)? Have you personally found all of these things yet?

Friend, I have read through the Bible a few times in my life, and I still only know a tiny bit of what’s on the table. There are still things I am discovering and experiencing from His Word, and you still have things to discover too. We always will, but as long as we keep going back to the table, even if we didn’t see it before, we will find a bowl full of whatever provision we are in need of. 

Even the enemy can’t stop us from taking from these bowls of provision, friend. Even if the devil comes with sickness, strife, confusion, or serious financial problems, the table has been set in the presence of those problems! God is so unintimidated by your enemies that He doesn’t just give you the answer, but He sets it on a table where you can sit down and eat without fear.

I want to encourage you to make it a priority in your life to read God’s Word. This book is the table that He has set before you in the presence of your enemies, and it’s up to you and I to start taking it in. Let’s make the choice to renew our minds and sit and eat what the Lord has provided for us.

I am so grateful to be able to share this encouragement with you today, and I want to remind you that if you ever need another believer to stand with you as you believe for His promises, our team is here for you. Every weekday from 8 AM to 5 PM CT, our Partner Care team is available by phone at 1.844.473.6637 or by email at denisesocial@renner.org, and we are eager to come alongside you and come before the Lord for whatever you need right now.

As always, I also want to invite you to come watch my weekly program live on Mondays at 7 AM CT on both Facebook  and YouTube or on Facebook at 12 PM CT on Wednesdays. I am starting a new series this month on Psalm 23 that is just so precious, and I can’t wait for you to see the ways God acts as your Shepherd, so I hope you will join me for TIME With Denise Renner and be encouraged by the truth about this amazing, providing, protecting God that we serve.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

September Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

As I write to you this month, the weather is rapidly changing in Moscow, and we are already experiencing much cooler temperatures. In fact, it is not uncommon here to experience many inches of snowfall as early as October!

Before I get into the heart of my teaching, I want to share some personal family news with you, our “extended family” in the ministry. Last month, our oldest grandson William was married to his beautiful bride Elizabeth!

He is our second grandchild to be married, and Denise and I couldn’t be happier as our family continues to expand. Congratulations, William and Liza! (For wedding photos, please see my Facebook and Instagram!)

I also want to THANK YOU for connecting with this ministry as we take the trusted teaching of God’s Word to the ends of the earth. It is so humbling to see how the Lord is working through our ministry to touch so many lives. If you have been blessed by this ministry in some way, it would thrill our hearts to know about it! If you desire to be a part of what the Lord is doing through us, please pray about becoming a partner. If you would like to know more about what we do, please visit our website at renner.org/how-we-help.

Last, before we dive into the teaching, I want you to be among the first to know that my newest book The Miracles of Jesus Christ is now available to order. I can’t think of another book that SO DEEPLY explores the miracles, healings, and deliverances in the four gospels, as well as the book of Acts in synopsis form. You will fall in love with Jesus all over again as you “eyewitness” His intense love for people and His intense hate for the enemy’s works that bind them.

I believe you will want to share a copy of this book with friends who long to see the power of God in operation. Those who want to know more about being set free and setting others free will find in this book a deep look into how Jesus performed signs and wonders, with very clear instruction about how they can do it too. It will be a resource they can refer to for years to come.

“NOW I WANT to take you to the story of the woman with the issue of blood — a story that I deeply love, but which the Holy Spirit helped me to see more clearly and powerfully as I wrote this new book about the miracles of Jesus. Luke 8:43-44 tells us:

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.”

First, the word “woman” finds its roots in the Greek word gune, which signifies not only an adult female, but can also mean wife. Second, she was suffering from “an issue of blood.” The word “issue” is derived from a form of the words rheo and haima. The word rheo refers to a flowing spring, and the word haima is the Greek word for blood — which tells us that her condition was a continuous, nonstop stream of blood. Luke, a physician, chronicled that this woman endured this unending cycle for a span of 12 years

THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL TOLL

It is a fact that enduring such a condition for years can open the door to an array of additional health issues, such as draining the body of red blood cells and iron, which can lead to exhaustion and frailty. It can also precipitate a decline in estrogen levels, commonly causing hormonal disruptions that expedite bone deterioration and increasing the likelihood of fractures and osteoporosis. Those hormonal fluctuations can also disrupt cholesterol balance, thereby raising the risk of cardiovascular complications. Additionally, fertility may be impaired, making conception more difficult. The chronic struggles associated with incessant bleeding can also lead to psychological struggles, impacting one’s emotional quality of life.

It is apparent that this woman endured suffering on many levels. But beyond that, society also regarded this woman as “unclean” according to Levitical law (see Leviticus 15:25), creating an unseen wall between her and the rest of the world. As I’ve noted, the Greek word used in Luke 8 to denote a woman was also frequently used to describe a wife. This makes it entirely plausible that she had a husband, but due to her status, she would have been bereft of physical contact with him during her 12 years of being deemed “unclean.”

But just imagine the added sorrow if she were also a mother. She would have longed to hold her children, but would have been robbed of their tender touch because she was “unclean.” Under the Law, no one dared sit where she had sat or use objects she had touched lest he or she also be labeled as “unclean.” Having little or no human connection for 12 years tells us she was not only sick physically, but she was emotionally marred by the shackles of loneliness.

Beyond that, Luke 8:43 says she “…had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any.” The words “spent all her living” portrays a woman who had depleted her wealth on doctors. Luke observed that despite consulting a parade of physicians, this woman “neither could be healed of any.” The word “healed” is translated from a form of the Greek word therapeuo, indicating therapy or treatment. In essence, this woman who, after a multitude of attempts that depleted nearly all her finances, still found no relief from her ailment.

WE ‘TOUCH’ THE PROMISES OF GOD WITH OUR FAITH

But Luke 8:44 says “…[She] came behind him [Jesus], and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Aware of her status as an unclean person, she likely waited patiently for the crowd to move past her. She approached from “behind,” suggesting from the original Greek that she lingered at the rear, following the bustling mass until she could make her move. This verse then states that she “touched the border of his garment.”

When it says she “touched” the border of His garment, the original word used is a form of the Greek word haptomai. This wasn’t just a casual contact; this word evokes an image of a powerful, deliberate touch and conveys the idea of clinging tightly, as if she were fiercely grasping to lay hold of a profound connection with Jesus.

The woman extended her hand toward the fringe of Jesus’ robe. This act was loaded with significance, for she was fully aware of the Jewish law that stated her touch would render Him ceremonially unclean for a period of time and could even give justification to stone her. Perhaps she surmised, “If I only grab hold of the very edge of His cloak, He will not feel it, and I can be healed in secret and slip away into the crowd.”

Luke 8:44 says that “immediately her issue of blood stanched.” This woman’s 12 years of affliction came to a screeching halt when her menstrual flow was “stanched.” Here the Greek word for “stanched” means it ceased at once.

JESUS PERCEIVED THE FAITH IN THIS WOMAN —
AND HE KNOWS YOUR FAITH TOO

Luke 8:45 says, “And Jesus said, Who touched me? Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” Jesus’ gaze must have swept over the masses as He sought out the one who had reached out to Him in such a powerful way. He said, “…Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (v. 46).

The word “perceive” is derived from a form of the Greek word ginosko, meaning I know. Sensing that profound power had just flowed out from Him, Jesus was resolute in His assertion that someone had touched Him in an extraordinary fashion. Because the Greek used here is emphatic, it means Jesus declared, “I absolutely know that virtue has gone out of Me.”

The word “virtue” is derived from the Greek word dunamis, a word often used in the New Testament to describe superhuman power that yields remarkable results. In the First Century, the word dunamis was also employed to characterize the formidable strength of the Roman army — an indomitable force that demolished adversaries. In essence, Jesus perceived that a supernatural force of might had flowed out of Him that possessed the capacity to extinguish darkness and heal any ailment.

Luke 8:47 says, “And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.”

JESUS AND HIS ANOINTING BRING HEALING, RESTORATION, AND BOUNTY INTO YOUR LIFE

The woman understood she had already potentially contaminated anyone she encountered on her journey through the crowd to reach Jesus. But realizing that she was now caught and that every gaze was fixed on her, she confessed the reason she had reached out and touched Him, detailing how she was instantly “healed.” The word “healed” is from a form of the Greek word iaomai, which could be better rendered cured. The word “immediately” springs from the Greek word parachrema, emphasizing not only the speed at which this event occurred, but how this healing touch instantly brought God’s generous bounty into her life.

Now the woman was healed after 12 long years of suffering, yet a wave of fear must have washed over her that she might be punished for the audacious act that led to her miraculous recovery. But Jesus said to her, “…Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Luke 8:48). Here the word “whole” emerges from a form of the Greek word sodzo, which is often translated as salvation, but also encompasses meanings of deliverance, healing, and prosperity, and in the Jewish understanding, the word sodzo merged all these into one powerful experience. In the woman’s case, she was:

• instantly healed.
• liberated from the financial strain of endless medical costs.
• relieved from the agony of seclusion and freed to rejoin her community.

Also, if this woman had a family, she would have also again enjoyed the warmth of their loving embrace.

By reaching out to Jesus, this woman released her faith, and the power of God flowed into her, completely restoring every part of her life. This is what happens when someone’s faith connects with Jesus and His power!

Friend, I want to encourage you that if you are in need of a supernatural touch of God’s power, reach out to Him and release your faith — His power is more than enough to touch every area of your life and restore you completely. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8), and He is waiting to respond to your faith today!

And please let us know how to pray for you. Regardless of what you’re facing, if you’ll let us know, we will pray scripturally, God will hear us, and He will do exactly what needs to be done. So please reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or send us your prayer need online at renner.org/prayer. Please also remember to pray for Denise and me and our family and team as we push back the powers of darkness to take the light of the Gospel into as many places as possible. We are giving our all to do what God has asked us to do, and we cherish your prayers for us.

Again, THANK YOU for partnering with us in this work — 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, Joel, their families, and our entire ministry team

Wasteful Worship

August Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear friend,

I pray that your year has been so blessed so far! Our God is generous — He is the God with the open hand and not the clenched fist, and I know that He wants to pour out so much provision and blessing on your life. In fact, if you have any testimonies of His generosity to you in this year so far, I hope you will reach out and tell us! We love celebrating His goodness with you, so feel free to share with our team by calling 1.844.473.6637 or emailing denisesocial@renner.org.

Now, I know that many of us could go on forever talking about what He has given to us, but today, I actually want to talk to you about what we can give to Him. Of course, He is God, so He really doesn’t need anything from us, but He is deserving of our gratitude, surrender, and praise, and He is faithful to honor the sacrifices we make to choose those things. That’s why today, I want to take you to the Gospel of John and show you a powerful example of true worship.

[If you started reading in your email, begin here]

You’ve probably heard this story before.

It was six days before the Passover, six days before Jesus was going to pour out His blood on the Cross, and He was visiting His friends, Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, in Bethany. They probably spent the whole day preparing to host and feed Him and all His disciples, and during this time, Mary had something special stirring in her heart.

At the end of the meal, she came to Jesus at the table, and John 12:3 says, “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”

This is a wonderful picture of true worship.

I want you to understand that this was an expensive gift that Mary was giving. This spikenard was so expensive that it took a whole year’s wages to buy, and it had a very special purpose. Spikenard was something that a bride would bring into her marriage, so this gift was also very personally costly to her.

Friend, when we take what is most costly to us, and we let it go for Jesus’ sake, we are showing our overflowing love for Him. You see, God is a jealous God, and He wants us to love Him more than anything else: more than ourselves, our spouses, children, friends, reputations, money, or anything else that we could love. He even says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”

He wants to be that most important thing in your life, because He knows that it will be really difficult for you to worship Him if He’s not. True worship will cost you something. It may be your pride, time, or energy. It could be something monetary or something that’s emotionally significant to you, like we see in this passage, but if you’re going to give up those things, you’re going to need to love Him more than any of them.

What’s beautiful about Mary’s worship is that it wasn’t just expensive — it was downright wasteful! You see, Mary could have just given Jesus that spikenard. She could have said, “Jesus, I love You so much. You’re so powerful, and You raised Lazarus from the dead, so I’m giving You a gift of the most expensive thing I own.” She could have just put it in Jesus’ hands, and that still would have been a complete, costly release.

But she went a step further. She got down on her knees and poured it on His feet. She took that year’s worth of wages, took the top off, and just turned the bottle over! She was giving her most costly possession, not for Jesus to go sell it for money, but to totally waste it on Him.

John 12:3 even says that she took her hair down and wiped His feet with it, which is important because at that time and in that culture, ladies only ever showed their hair to their husbands. So Mary had already poured out the most expensive, precious thing to her, and now she was even giving up her reputation and the things people thought about her — all to worship the Lord!

You know, friend, you really can’t worship and worry at the same time. You’re either on one side with God in worship or you’re on the other side with worry, fear, and thoughts that say, “Are other people looking at me and judging me? Will I have enough money for tomorrow if I give this now?”

How are you supposed to worship God when your mind is so focused on all those other things? Friend, I’m telling you from experience, it’s hard to worship when you are burdened down, so we have to instead be like Mary. We have to put our full focus on Him, so much that we don’t even notice how much time or money we’re wasting or how much judgement we are receiving.

In fact, when you are fully worshipping Him, you don’t even have to worry about those things, because He is your protection. Look at what happened to Mary as she was pouring out her incredible, wasteful, costly worship to Jesus: “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’” (John 12:4-5).

Mary was totally wasting herself on Jesus, and in the midst of that beautiful, undignified worship, someone came against her. Judas spoke up and said, “Why are you wasting that expensive perfume? You should have given it to the poor, Mary.”

Maybe you’ve faced opinions like this in your pursuit of God: “Why are you going to that church so much? Why are you donating your money all the time? Why are you spending so much time praying?” Other people are always going to have opinions, but what did Jesus do when Judas tried to rebuke Mary? He said, “Let her alone” (John 12:7).

When you worship God with everything that is within you, you can stand strong in the promise that Jesus will defend you. You don’t have to worry or hold back a single thing, because if something comes against you, He will stand up and say, “Let her alone!” He will honor your sacrifice and reward your commitment with His powerful presence. He will draw close to you with all His joy, wisdom, and peace.

I encourage you to decide today that you’re not going to hold anything back. Decide that you are going to completely waste yourself on the Lord. That is true worship, friend, and I can promise that when you do it, you will be fully protected and supplied for by the One who you are worshipping. 

Well, friend, I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to write to you, and I want to thank you for taking the time to read it. Before I finish, I want to invite you to join me for my weekly program, TIME With Denise Renner. If you were encouraged by this month’s letter, then I know that God will have something to say to you in some of my other weekly teachings as well, so I hope you’ll come watch live on Monday at 7 AM CT on Facebook and YouTube or catch the rerun on Facebook on Wednesday at 12 PM CT. You can also find my teachings any time on my YouTube channel or by visiting renner.org. I can’t wait to spend this time in the Word with you each week!

I also want to remind you that we have a wonderful prayer team who is here for you through whatever is going on in your life. Whether you are facing financial or relational difficulties, seeking healing, or even just needing prayer for a right heart and attitude before God, our prayer team would be so honored to come alongside you. You can call us at 1.844.473.6637 or email denisesocial@renner.org.

Thank you so much for spending this time with me today, friend, and I look forward to writing to you again next month.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

You Have Authority Over Demons

August Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

 

 

Dear Friends,

What a joy to greet you in the name of Jesus!

Today I am going to speak to you about Jesus’ authority — and about the authority He has given to us — over demon spirits. But first, I want to personally THANK YOU for connecting with us and taking the time to read what is on my heart to share with you this month. When God called us to do this ministry many years ago, the Holy Spirit said he would provide everything we need to do the work, and God is using our partners to help put “fuel in the tank” so we can take God’s Word to the ends of the earth. Would you prayerfully consider becoming one of those who help us carry out this great work by joining our amazing team of partners? When the Lord plants a vision in someone’s heart to carry out His work, He always calls “senders” alongside to help fulfill that vision. And as the Lord has called Denise and me to “go” to the other side of the world to bring the trusted teaching of the Bible to hungry hearts, we truly know we cannot do it without our team of partners who have been called by the Lord to send us out. If you would like to know more about what we do as a ministry, please visit our website at renner.org/how-we-help.

I am also excited to tell you that my newest book called The Miracles of Jesus Christ — An Eye-Opening Examination of Every Miracle, Healing, and Demonic Encounter in the Gospels and the Book of Acts will be released on September 1. I honestly don’t know of another book like this one — and I believe God is going to use it to open the eyes of people’s understanding regarding Jesus’ power at work on the earth in both past and present times. I spent hundreds of hours to mine treasures from the Scriptures about Jesus’ miraculous ministry and am fully convinced that this will be an eye-opening book to take you deeper into the ministry of Jesus and to help you know how to move in the power of God yourself.

From now until September 1, this book is available for the introductory price of $28.00. If you will visit our website at renner.org or call our office at 1-800-742-5593, you can preorder your copy at this wonderful discount. You may want to order several copies of this book, because I believe you will want to share a copy with your pastor or with friends who long to see the power of God in operation.

But today I want to take you to the gospel of Luke, to the moment when Jesus delivered a demonized man from nearly 7,000 demons. Luke 8:26 says, “And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.” The country of the Gadarenes lies to the east of the Sea of Galilee, and it is where Jesus’ boat arrived near the ancient village of Kursi. In close proximity to this village was a cemetery, and nearby were rugged cliffs dotted with numerous small caves. Today the ruins of a Byzantine monastery from the Sixth Century can be visited there, constructed to honor the encounter between Jesus and this demoniac.

Luke 8:27 says, “And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.” The word “met” is derived from the Greek word hupantao, often rendered as met and is used to picture a dramatic encounter wherein the demoniac dramatically rushed out from the tombs and rugged cliffs to confront Jesus. Luke elaborated on this confrontation by describing the miserable state of the man who “had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.”

The word “devils” is daimonia, plural, which portrays an infestation of demons. Luke, who was a physician, informed us that the man had been under demonic influence for a considerable period of time. The original text uses the words chrono hikano — words derived from the Greek word chronos, indicating an extended time frame and the root of the English term “chronology,” along with the Greek word hikanos, which means many, sufficient, or considerable. Together these words describe a prolonged and significant span of time.

Luke also noted that this man wandered without clothing. Not only was this man’s naked body exposed to harsh weather conditions, but this shows how the demonic presence drove him into a position of social humility as he roamed about bare. Additionally, Luke remarked that the man “neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.” Although Luke 8:39 states that the man actually had a home, instead of living there as a normal person would do, he was driven to live in the atmosphere of death among the tombs.

Luke 8:28 says, “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.” The words “cried out” are translated from a form of the Greek word anakradzo. The root of this word, kradzo, depicts a cry, scream, or shriek, while its prefix ana implies an ongoing action. Therefore, the man wasn’t simply yelling once, but his screams echoed continuously as they sliced through the air with unrelenting ferocity. The words “fell down” are from a form of the Greek word prospipto, which is a compound of the words pros and pipto. Here the word pros means toward, and the word pipto pictures a downward fall. As a compound, these words picture the man throwing himself toward Jesus as quickly as possible.

The word “beseech” is derived from Greek word deomai, which means to implore, to plead, or to pray earnestly. In this encounter, we discover that even demons, when faced with dire situations, can adopt religious behavior and language. The spirit specifically prayed, “Torment me not.” The word “torment” is a form of the Greek word basanidzo, a term borrowed from the world of torture, and it pictures anguish, intense distress, pain, suffering, and torture.

Exactly how Jesus was tormenting this spirit is described in Luke 8:29. That verse says, “For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.”

Notice the verse says “he had commanded” the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The tense of these words in Greek is repetitive, and a better rendering would read, “…he was persistently commanding and commanding.” This suggests that the spirit didn’t depart instantly, so Jesus intensified His demands, persistently commanding and commanding the spirit to exit the man. The command to “come out” is derived from the Greek words exelthein apo. The word exelthein is a variant of exerchomai, which means to come or to go. The Greek word apo means away and conveys a sense of detachment. Thus, Jesus was resolute that this spirit would depart and sever itself from the man.

In Mark’s account of this event, Mark 5:4 says that no man could “tame” this demonized man. The word “tame” refers to seasoned animal trainers who had been summoned to try to subdue this troubled soul who wandered about among the tombs. Yet in every instance, those intending to help him left in defeat. Jesus, however, was unyielding as He persistently commanded the oppressive spirit to release its grip. This evil spirit had never faced such unwavering resolve, and it was this unshakable and persistent authority that caused the spirit to experience “torment.” In this narrative, we see that while demons relish inflicting suffering and torment on others, when confronted by the power of God, they cannot cope with pressure themselves.

In Luke 8:29, with his medical background, Luke provided a vivid description, stating, “For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.” The word “oftentimes” translates from the Greek word polus, suggesting a large number of unpredictable episodes. As a physician, Dr. Luke selected a term that described something like epilepsy to illustrate how this condition manifested. Just as an individual with epilepsy typically enjoys normalcy but occasionally experiences seizures, this man could at times be in control of his senses. Yet he would often suddenly find himself seized by the spirit and thrust into a frenzy of madness.

Luke noted that the man was “kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.” The words “kept bound” come from the Greek word desmeuo, which suggests binding as one would bind up in order to take captive a dangerous criminal. The word “chains” is translated from a form of the Greek word halusis, which refers to the formidable iron chains used by Romans to bind prisoners. The word “fetters” is derived from pedais, which is plural to denote shackles used to restrict both feet of prisoners. These fetters typically consisted of solid metal bands encircling the ankles, linked by short chains to severely limit movement.

But remarkably, this man was so infused with demonic strength that he “brake the bands.” The word “brake” is rendered from a form of the Greek word diarresso, meaning to tear apart, and it indicates that he could destroy these metal restraints as easily as ripping a sheet of paper. Luke then added that this man was “driven of the devil into the wilderness.” The word “driven” derives from the Greek word elauno, often used to depict a leaf swept by the wind or a ship propelled by a storm, signifying powerlessness against the force. Thus, much like a leaf or a ship with no resistance to the wind’s might, this man was driven “of” the devil. The word “of” is from the Greek word hupo, and it indicates direct agency, revealing that the man was literally driven madly into the wilderness by the devil.

Luke 8:30 says, “And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.” In this intriguing account, we witness an unusual moment in which Jesus deviates from His customary approach of silencing evil spirits. Unlike other spirits that would typically flee with one word of His command, this one clung tenaciously to its host and seemingly defied Jesus’ repeated commands. Jesus inquired of the spirit to learn its identity, and the evil spirit’s reply revealed the complexity of the situation. Jesus asked, “What is thy name?” And he answered, “Legion.” Luke explained, “…because many devils were entered into him.”

Here Jesus breaks His pattern of not permitting evil spirits to speak, and He asks the demon to identify itself. The reason for this change is that Jesus was seemingly intrigued the spirit did not easily come out of the man. This narrative shows that Jesus was repeatedly commanding, commanding, and commanding the spirit to come out, yet it had not yet come out. Again, Luke 8:30 says, “…Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.”

The term “legion” has roots in military language, and it signifies a force of 6,826 soldiers. In Luke 8:30, the word “many” is translated from the Greek word polla, which portrays a vast multitude. This reveals that the man suffered under the torment of nearly 7,000 unclean spirits. Up to this point, Jesus had been in a dialogue with a singular spirit, but Jesus continued to apply spiritual pressure, and suddenly the entire legion of demons spoke all at once.

If you read the remainder of this account in Luke 8, you will see that the demons implored Jesus to send them into a herd of swine that were nearby. In Jewish tradition, pigs were seen as the epitome of filth and were shunned as unclean creatures under the laws of Moses. As such, not a morsel of pork was ever to touch the lips of a devout Jew. But on the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Gentiles resided, a herd of these swine roamed that were possibly owned by non-Jews. The leading demonic voice among the legion of demons boldly pleaded for all the spirits to be allowed to go into these pigs. Those demons knew Jesus had authority to command them to leave the man, but this shows that evil spirits are so fearful of being disembodied that they are willing to take up residency anywhere, including in pigs.

Luke 8:32 reveals that Jesus “suffered” the demons to enter the pigs. This word “suffered” is a compound of the Greek words epi, meaning over, and trope, meaning to turn. In this moment, Jesus granted their wish and “turned them over” to the swine, which then immediately ran into the sea and drowned (v. 33). Then Luke 8:34 says, “When they that fed them [the swine] saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.” Verse 35 says, “Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”

As the crowd arrived, they laid eyes on the man who was previously frenzied and unkempt, but was now the picture of tranquility and order, seated calmly at Jesus’ feet, clothed and possessing a clear mind. The stark transformation left these bystanders trembling with fear. Once frightened by the demonized man, they now found themselves unsettled by his transformation. This reaction reveals the fickle nature of human emotion, and we are reminded that both Scripture and experience reveal that when people encounter God’s power, it commonly either draws them closer, or they are pushed away with fear or misgiving.

So now I want you to think about this….

Every miracle recorded in the Old and New Testaments belongs to us as testimonies of the nature of God — His holiness, His mercy, His compassion, and His great power, all demonstrated toward mankind to teach us His heart and His ways. What does Jesus’ act of setting this one man free tell you about His thoughts toward this man? What about His thoughts toward the evil that completely stole — even hijacked — this man’s life? Jesus did this for one man! Read Psalm 8:4 and Jeremiah 29:11. Ponder God’s thoughts toward you, as well as His ability to care individually about every person on the planet as he or she cries out to Him just as this “madman” did.

Jesus gave His name and His authority to us, and when we are confronted with an evil presence, we must remember that we have His name and His authority to bind it and to drive it out. We are not powerless; we are powerful when we use the name of Jesus and the authority He gave to us. So when you feel you are confronted with evil, it is a time for you to use His all-powerful name and authority to tell that presence to flee. It will obey you, just as it obeyed Jesus! Oh, how I love to see how Jesus sets people free. He is still in the business of setting people free today — and He wants to use you to do it!

As I close my letter, I want to remind you that we are here to pray for you. It doesn’t matter what you are facing, Jesus has the answer — and if you’ll let us know of the need, we will pray scripturally with you. First John 5:14-15 promises that God will hear, He will answer, and you will have the answer that you need. Call us at 1-800-742-5593 or send an email with your prayer need to prayer@renner.org. As soon as we hear from you, we will release our faith along with yours, and Jesus will do what needs to be done. But please, let us know how we can be praying for you.

And please pray for us too. Denise and I, our family, and our team, are pushing ferociously against the powers of darkness with the light of God’s Word. That darkness is being driven back and lives are being changed, but we covet your prayers for us as we do this God-called work.

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 Renner and our entire ministry team

Beyond the Curtain of Understanding

July Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe it’s already the month of July! Time is flying by so fast, and before we know it, it will be the end of the year again. But today, I want to talk to you about the Holy Spirit giving you the insight you need for any problem, project, or task in front of you. I will share a bit from my personal experience, and I believe that what I am going to share will really help you!

But before I get into this teaching, I first want to say that it is our mission to fulfill the Great Commission and “teach all nations.” Every prayer prayed — and every gift given — empowers us to be able to accomplish God’s call on our lives and ministry. The task is huge, and it seems the Lord has trusted us enough to place more and more on our plates for us to do. Everywhere I look in our ministry, I see productivity and growth as people are responding in record numbers to the teaching of God’s Word. We couldn’t do any of this alone, which is why we are so grateful to our wonderful partners. If you would like to support us in this God-called endeavor, please visit renner.org/partner. We’re so grateful to anyone willing to help us reach more people with the Gospel.

I also want to tell you that on September 1, my next book will be released. It is called The Miracles of Jesus Christ — An Eye-Opening Examination of Every Miracle, Healing, and Demonic Encounter in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. I can’t find another book similar to this one. What makes it so different? Well, it is a commentary on every supernatural event in the Gospels, and as I wrote it, it made me fall deeper in love with Jesus. He is so amazing — and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever — so we need to understand how He healed the sick, worked miracles, and cast out demons. I truly believe this book will enrich your understanding and make you fall deeper in love with Jesus. This book will be offered at an introductory price of $28 for a limited time. To order ahead, simply call 1-800-742-5593 or go online to renner.org.

Now to begin my teaching this month on receiving the insight of the Holy Spirit! For years early on in our ministry in Russia, I searched for a way to reach the very large elderly population in Moscow where we live. They are a very unique generation, and I had never understood the key to touching them in large numbers. I knew there was a way to do it, but I didn’t know that way. To be honest, I had nearly bent my brain trying to think of how “I” could reach them! I didn’t realize it at that time, but I had worked so hard thinking on my own that I hadn’t involved the Holy Spirit very much in obtaining the answer!

But I’ll never forget the day many years ago when I looked out the living-room window of our apartment in downtown Moscow — and there on the street that ran parallel to the Kremlin was a massive demonstration of pensioners, widows, and other elderly people, looking like they were having the greatest party of their lives! As I leaned out our window to get a better glimpse, I heard music from the Soviet era being played, and I saw that many of these pensioners were actually dancing in the streets to the music. They were reveling in the memories of earlier times when they were younger and life seemed easier than it had become in their old age.

I told Denise, “I want to go downstairs, get out on the street, and experience those elderly people!” Within minutes, I had my winter coat on; I pressed the button on our elevator to take me down to the street; and I nearly flew out of the door of our building to quickly join that big demonstration. I just wanted to share the experience with these thousands of lively elderly people!

When I stepped into the huge throng of people, I suddenly found myself engulfed by senior citizens who were behaving like teenagers. All around me was a mass of white-haired revelers who had seized the moment to step into earlier memories of life in the USSR. For several hours, they really “whooped it up” on the central street of downtown Moscow. It was so invigorating to see them enraptured in their memories that I lingered among them until several hours had passed and the crowd finally began to dwindle down. As I walked home toward our apartment, the streets were covered with confetti and large banners with old Soviet slogans that lay scattered on the ground.

As I stood there pondering the whole experience, I cried out, “Holy Spirit, please show me how to reach this generation!” Before I got back to our apartment, God had marvelously opened my heart and mind to a new idea of how to reach this older generation, and before I stepped back into our elevator, God had given me the plan for how to do it. He imparted to me a revelation that, when later acted on, enabled us to build what is now one of the largest senior-adult ministries in the world and is still a major part of our Moscow ministry today.

It all began with an “idea” from the Holy Spirit that was birthed in my heart when I was not expecting it. It had started out as just an ordinary day that then developed into an unusual set of circumstances that ultimately became our ministry to many thousands of elderly people over the years.

In the midst of that unexpected situation near the Kremlin that day, suddenly the Spirit of God showed me something to do that I had never thought of before. It was like a supernatural beam penetrated my mind, and I could see what to do. Since that moment, years of fruit born from the implementation of that idea have proven that it truly was a revelation from the Lord.

I had always prayed for a way to reach the senior population in Moscow because they represented such a large part of the city, but I would have never been smart enough to dream up the idea that the Holy Spirit dropped into my heart that afternoon. And not only did the Holy Spirit give me an inspired idea, He also injected me with the courage I needed to obey it. In one split second, I had both the idea and the courage to do what the Holy Spirit had shown me. Insight for the plan and the faith to move forward on it came simultaneously, and the outcome in the years since that moment has been truly profound. Through this outreach that was birthed in my heart in that moment years ago, many thousands and thousands of senior citizens have gotten saved and experienced the love of God in their sunset years. The path to reaching them was so simple and so powerful, yet I had never seen it before that moment.

This plan has become our Golden Age outreach — a weekly gathering where Moscow’s senior citizens come to enjoy live performances of the music they grew up with, lovingly presented by volunteer musicians. After the concert, they are invited to hear a message about Jesus, and each meeting is paired with practical care through the distribution of food, vitamins, arthritis creams, Bibles, Christian books, and other necessities. Through these gatherings, we minister to nearly 4,000 people every month. It is amazing what God can do, isn’t it?

Often we think so long and hard about how to do certain things that need to be done — when all along the Holy Spirit knows exactly how to do it. The Holy Spirit sees and knows everything. He knows the key to every heart. He knows the secret to every success, whether in ministry, business, education, family, or anything else. If we will listen to Him, the Holy Spirit will reveal exactly what we need to know for every situation we face in life. The question is — are we listening?

In First Corinthians 2:9, Paul wrote of the restrictions normally placed on our minds, but in verse 10, He told us that part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to remove those restrictions so we can see what we normally could not see on our own. He says, “But God hath revealed them [hidden things] unto us by his Spirit.…”

The word “revealed” is the Greek word apokalupto. The root word is kalupto, which describes something that is veiled or hidden to the human eye and mind. It is there, but it isn’t seeable or knowable. It’s like an entire lawn that is green, lush, and beautifully landscaped, but because the curtains inside the house are closed, you are unaware of the beauty that is right outside for you to see.

But in First Corinthians 2:10, the word apo is added to the front of the word kalupto, and that little addition of apo means the curtain that once hid our view has been removed. Suddenly what was unseen becomes visible, and what was hidden becomes revealed. This is the reason apokalupto is translated as something revealed or as a revelation. And Paul stated that this was a strategic part of the Holy Spirit’s ministry — to take hidden things that we can’t know on our own and reveal them to us.

On that day when the Holy Spirit spoke to me, it was as if He held the strings on an invisible curtain that had blocked my ability to see how to reach that older population. When I cried out to Him for answers, He lifted that curtain, and I instantly saw what I had never seen before. In a split second, I had an answer to a question I had been asking for years. It wasn’t something I sat around and concocted on my own; it was something revealed to me as the Spirit removed the invisible veil that had separated me from the answer I had been seeking.

God has blessed our ministry enormously over the years, and I am the first to tell you it isn’t because we are so smart. If Denise and I have done anything right, we have listened. We discovered that if we remember to ask the Holy Spirit for help, He will always be there to show us that which we’re not smart enough to figure out on our own. I don’t know what answer you’ve been seeking, but I know who has the answer!

The Holy Spirit sees everything and knows everything — including those things that your mind would never see or know on its own. Perhaps you’ve been seeking answers about your marriage, your business, your education, your finances, your health, your children, or an important relationship — the list could go on and on. You may have been seeking answers for years, but you just couldn’t see what to do. In my own case, all those years, the Holy Spirit had the answer I had been seeking, but I was so busy trying to brainstorm ideas by myself that I hadn’t allowed the Holy Spirit to operate in His revealing ministry on my behalf.

Today I want to encourage you to open your heart to the Holy Spirit in a new way. He is present with you right now, holding the strings to the curtain that has blocked your view. This may be the very moment that He pulls those strings, and you finally see what you’ve been seeking for so long. Instead of only brainstorming and trying to think it through on your own, look to Him — and let Him give you a revelation of what He wants to happen next. He has all the answers, but we must surrender to Him so that He can show us what we need to know and see!

This letter is simple, but this is a life-transforming truth that changed me and resulted in the salvation of tens of thousands of senior citizens. In like manner, the Holy Spirit has all the answers you are seeking, and He wants to reveal them to you. Today I encourage you to pray: “Holy Spirit, please open my eyes and mind to know and see what I haven’t been able to figure out on my own. You hold the answers I need, and it is God’s plan for You to show them to me, so I ask You to do what is necessary to open my eyes and mind to supernaturally know and see the answers that I am seeking!”

This may seem so simple, but when the Holy Spirit shows you what you need to know, you’ll want to shout, “Hallelujah!” Finally, you’ll see what you need to see, and you’ll know what you need to do. And if you want someone to pray with you so that you can more easily hear and see what the Holy Spirit wants to show you, please reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org. We are very sincerely praying for you, but when we know exactly how to pray, we become more effective in our praying for you. It always helps to have someone agreeing in prayer, so please reach out and let us know how we can pray for you.

Before I close, I want to ask you to also pray for us. Denise and I, our sons, and our team are on the frontlines and doing what Jesus has asked us to do. But it is your prayers and financial gifts that help us to take God’s Word to those who are languishing in darkness. They need answers, and we have the answers, but it is your prayers and gifts that help us do this job of impacting lives for the present and for eternity. Thank you for praying for us too!

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 Renner and our entire ministry team

A Calm That Brings Authority

July Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear friend,

We are halfway through the year, and time is just flying by, isn’t it? I pray your year has been so blessed and filled with the Lord’s goodness, but even if it has been difficult so far, I am excited to be writing to you today, because I’m going to talk to you about something that will help you walk in peace and authority, even in the hard times.

You’ve probably heard people talk about how the brain is the control center of your whole life, but as Christians, what we really want is for the Holy Spirit to be the control center. Without Him, our minds can lead us so off-track and make us so fearful, angry, or stressed. But with Him at the center, we have something inside of us that is so powerful for taking captive the harmful thoughts that the enemy sends our way: self-control.

I have an amazing story for you today that is going to show you just how effective self-control is in causing our minds to think right, and that is the story of Daniel.

[If you started reading in your email, begin here]

When Daniel was a young man, he and his friends were taken as captives to Babylon, but because they were obedient to the Lord, they ended up getting promoted to serve the king among his many wise men.

The story I want to share with you starts one day when the king had a dream that started to haunt him. He couldn’t remember what it was, so of course he couldn’t figure out what it meant, and soon, he was losing sleep because he was so troubled by this dream, so he called his soothesayers, magicians, and wise men and commanded them, “Tell me what the interpretation of my dream is.”

They answered him, “Of course. Just tell us what your dream is, and we’ll give you the interpretation.”

That was not the answer that the king wanted to hear, and he told those men, “If you don’t tell me the interpretation of my dream, then I’m going to destroy all the wise men in Babylon.”

Well, none of those wise men and magicians could even tell him what his dream was, so the Bible tells us, “For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them”  (Daniel 2:12-13).

I want you to picture this situation: The decree had gone out, and the guards were already killing all these men and burning down their houses, and then the king’s captain came to Daniel’s door, maybe with an axe ready to kill him, but in the midst of that terrifying experience, the Bible says, “Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon” (Daniel 2:14).

Friend, what kind of self-control is that? Someone was standing there threatening Daniel’s life and everything he owned, and he answered, not with fear or confusion, but with counsel and wisdom! He was even able to say, “Let me go talk to the king. I’ll ask him for a little more time to get that interpretation.”

This wasn’t an easy thing to do, friend. If he didn’t come back with that interpretation, he and his friends were going to die horribly! Daniel didn’t even have the Holy Spirit on the inside of him like we do, but he was still able to operate from that place of self-control and trust in the Holy Spirit on the outside of him. If he could do it, then why do we think that we can’t?

What I love about this story is that it also shows us the amazing things we open ourselves up to when we are moving in self-control. Daniel 2:19 tells us that when Daniel and his friends sought the Lord for the answer, “Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Notice that at the end of that verse, Daniel blessed God. Sometimes when we are looking for answers, we are in such a rush that when the answer actually comes, we just move on with it, and we don’t really stop to thank Him. But with self-control, we can take the time to stop and intentionally bless and praise the God who gives us what we need.

Something else that comes with self-control is humility. After receiving the answer, Daniel went to the king with all boldness and confidence and told him, “I have what you need.” He was able to tell the king in detail what the dream was and what each part of it meant. He did an amazing thing, and yet he was so humble about it. He said, “But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart” (Daniel 2:30).

When we are acting in self-control, we don’t have to say, “Oh, yes, I am the brilliant one. I am the smartest person alive.” Instead we can say, like Daniel, “I’m not the smartest person alive, but this has been revealed to me. This is a mercy to me and my friends, and it’s not because we’re so great.” It’s so wonderful that we don’t have to carry the pressure of finding all the answers!

The last thing I want to show you about self-control is the amazing way that it allows us to be used by God. As we read the interpretation that Daniel gives, we see that this dream that God gave to this wicked king was the culmination of the ages. It was an amazing revelation, and He trusted Daniel to deliver it.

Why did He trust Daniel? First of all, because Daniel was committed to following the Lord’s ways (see Daniel 1:8). Secondly, because Daniel had such self-control and trust in the Lord — so much that he was able to answer a man who was coming to kill him with wisdom and counsel! Friend, when we operate in self-control, God is able to trust us to do such amazing things.

If you have things that are coming against you — if you are in a threatening situation or even just struggling with a difficult relative or coworker — I want you to remember Daniel and his self-control. He was able to step into amazing authority when he walked in self-control, and we can do that too. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us clearly, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” When you and I take advantage of and acknowledge what God has given us in our spirits, every enemy that comes against us has to move out of the way!

If you feel unable to move in this self-control that the Holy Spirit has put in you, I hope you will contact our prayer team and let us pray for you. Just call 1.844.473.6637 or email denisesocial@renner.org, and we will be happy to pray for renewed confidence, fresh provision, or whatever else you might need in your life right now.

I also want to invite you to my weekly program, TIME With Denise Renner. Right now, I am in the middle of a series called How Can I Love Others Better?, and I would love to share it with you and see what God is going to do in your life through it. You can watch Mondays at 7 AM CT on both Facebook and YouTube, or on just Facebook Wednesdays at 12 PM CT. You can also find my teachings any time by visiting renner.org. I can’t wait to see how the Lord moves through this time together!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

A Picture of Patience

June Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

I pray you are having a wonderful summer! Whether this is a time of rest and vacation or a time of extra busyness for you, I hope you are finding peace and refreshment in the Lord.

I am grateful to have this opportunity to write to you, because I have something on my heart that I believe will be so helpful to all of us as we try to live out our relationships in a way that is pleasing to God.

Living in relationship with other people is a natural part of our lives, but sometimes those relationships come with some challenges. Every one of us will have someone at some point who seems to always be testing our patience. You might have someone right now who comes to mind as you are reading this, and that’s why I wanted to share with you today about patience.

[If you started reading in your email, begin here]

Friend, if we are going to love others well, we need to have patience. That’s not just practical advice — that’s a command from God. If you are ever wondering how important patience is to God, I want you to remember what the Bible says in Proverbs 16:32: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

Friend, we can look at generals and people who have conquered cities and think that they are so powerful and ingenious — and it is true that they are due our respect — but it is God’s opinion that when you’re patient, you are even better than they are. That is how important it is to Him that we learn to use self-control and give patience to one another.

Now, friend, you might be reading this and saying, “That sounds great and everything, but how can I do that?” We actually get to see the answer when we look at James 1:19-20: “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Those are some very clear instructions: We are to be swift to some things, and slow to others. What are we supposed to be swift to? Hearing, listening, and just being quiet and paying attention. Then we’re supposed to be slow to two things: speaking and wrath.

This is so simple, friend. When a situation comes up and you need to give somebody patience, you just have to slow down. How many relationships have been destroyed by people who moved too quickly and said or did things that they never would have otherwise? Maybe you’ve done that, and maybe somebody did that to you as well, and even to this day, it has damaged that relationship.

Instead of doing damage like that, we have the choice to slow down. Maybe you have to excuse yourself. You can say, “Can you give me just a minute?” Maybe you have to go and count to 10 or 100. Whatever strategy you have to use, just remember that you don’t have to let the wrath and the rash words control you — you have the choice to slow down!

This is so simple, but it is also so difficult for us to do sometimes. The good news is that we are not expected to do it on our own. When you got born again, the Spirit of God came into you, and He brought self-control and patience with Him. Through His power, not our own, we really are able to give patience to someone else. Even when the thoughtless words are rising up inside of us and we’re about to burst, He gives us the power to recognize what’s about to happen and to instead give patience.

I want to show you how powerful this patience is when we choose to recognize it in ourselves, and of course the best example we have of this is Jesus. Just think about the night when He was about to be crucified. Think about the moment when Judas left to betray Him. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew why Judas was leaving, but instead of telling everyone in the room or yelling at Judas, He kept that secret to Himself. He just said, “What you do, do quickly” (John 13:27).

Later that night, Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him. This is the only time that we know about where He asked them to just stay up and pray with Him, because He needed their support in this time. He was suffering under so much mental and emotional pressure that His sweat even turned to blood that night, but when He went to see His friends who were supposed to be supporting Him and praying with Him through it, they had fallen asleep!

What about everything that happened when the soldiers finally came to arrest Him? It must have taken so much patience not to say anything bitter or wrathful as Judas came up and kissed Him to identify Him, but then Peter dove in and cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear. In that moment, most of us probably would have said, “Peter, can’t you just hold it for a second? I am already having such a hard night, and I don’t need to deal with you acting like this!”

Jesus could have said all kinds of things to Peter or to Judas or to any of the disciples, but He had patience instead. He even took the time to fix the problem that Peter had caused. Now that’s patience!

I’m telling you this because I want you to see what is inside you right now. 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” Friend, no matter how hard it feels for you to be patient with those difficult people in your life, you have Christ in you, and that means you have access to that amazing patience and self-control that He showed to His friends and His enemies on the night He was arrested.

That patience is not ineffective or broken — it is powerful, and it is operating just fine, but you have to recognize it, agree with it, and practice it. When a challenging situation arises and you feel tempted to give into wrath or rash words, you have to say, “You know what? I can act higher than this. I do not have to lose my temper or say the harsh words that are rising up in me. I am not a slave to those things. I have a choice to slow down.”

We really do have that authority inside of us, friend, so don’t sit there and act like you are powerless — claim that authority right now so that you can start giving patience to those around you.

I am so glad that I had the chance to write to you on this important subject, because God really does want us to be equipped to love the people around us as well as possible. In fact, for the next couple months, I am doing a teaching series that is all about the subject of loving others better, and I would love it if you would join me for it. You can watch my program, TIME With Denise Renner, live every Monday at 7 AM CT on both Facebook and YouTube or on just Facebook Wednesdays at 12 PM CT. If you’ve missed a program or just want to find a teaching on another topic, then you can find my past messages any time by looking on YouTube or renner.org. I can’t wait to share this time with you!

I also want to take a moment to offer you prayer if you are needing it right now. Whether it’s for relationships, health, finances, or anything else in your life, we would love to hear from you and have a chance to pray with you. We even love to hear about the wonderful things God is doing in your life! You can reach our prayer team by calling 1.844.473.6637 or emailing denisesocial@renner.org. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Have a wonderful summer, friend.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

Grateful Hearts Please God

June Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

It is my joy to greet you today in Jesus’ wonderful name!

Recently, I’ve been deeply pondering the miraculous works of Jesus, and today I want to share something new for me — and I believe it will be new and wonderful for you too. I would love to hear from you to know how these insights touched your heart!

But before I get into my letter, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for your amazing friendship and partnership with our ministry. Denise and I and our team are doing the work required to fulfill our mandate from Heaven, but it is our friends and partners who give financially and put the financial fuel in the tank so that we can take the message to people around the world. And when I say “around the world,” I really mean all over the world. Please understand that what you are doing is affecting people both near and far — you are a mighty instrument that God is using! I wanted to begin by saying thank you!

Today I want to speak to you about the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. Luke 17:11 says, “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.”

This verse pictures Jesus journeying straight through the heart of Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem. Interestingly, we know from John 4 that Jesus had already made a profound impact in Samaria earlier when He spoke with the woman at the well. John 4:40-42 tells us of the profound moment when the woman at the well returned to a Samaritan village to testify to them about Jesus. So moved were they by this interaction that the Samaritans pleaded with Him to remain with them a little longer, and He agreed, staying for two full days. As described in verses 41-42, many more came to believe, affirming to the woman, “…Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Having already deeply impacted the Samaritans through the testimony of the woman at the well, Jesus would, not surprisingly, revisit a place and people who had welcomed Him so warmly. This serves as a reminder that Jesus repeatedly returns to those hearts and places that are open and receptive to His presence.

But when Jesus was en route to Jerusalem, he entered a village along the way. Luke 17:12 says, “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.” The words “certain village” are derived from the Greek words tina komen, which is the word tina, meaning a certain, and a form of the Greek word kome, indicating a town or village. The particularity of the word tina makes one wonder whether this is a reference to the same village that earlier so warmly welcomed Him. But while He was there, Luke 17:12 says “there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.”

The word “met” is derived from a variant of the Greek word apantao, suggesting a deliberate meeting. It appears these ten lepers had heard rumors that Jesus was either approaching or had already arrived in the village, which prompted them to devise a plan to meet Him in person. The narrative states that these ten individuals were “lepers,” originating from the plural form of the Greek term lepros, which describes individuals who are stricken with leprosy.

Leprosy was a devastating disease that slowly consumed the flesh, disfiguring its victims by gnawing away at fingers, toes, and limbs, leaving terrible patches of raw flesh in its wake. The very sight of leprosy was not just horrid to see, but it was considered to be highly contagious, and people were terrified of coming near anyone with leprosy. Those afflicted with leprosy were burdened with societal rejection and were relegated to the confines of leper colonies.

But here, we see a band of ten lepers, huddled together, possibly seeking protection in their collective presence against a world that shunned them. But Luke 17:12 tells us that they “stood afar off.” The words “afar off” stem from the Greek word porrothen, signifying from a distance. By law, lepers were required to stay at least 100 paces — or roughly 250 feet — from other people. Seeing even one leper was a rarity since lepers lived in leper colonies. But to see a whole group of ten, who courageously left the confines of their seclusion, was enough to rattle the townspeople. These ten lepers ventured boldly into the heart of the village to appeal to Jesus to heal them.

Luke 17:13 says that from a distance, “…they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” The words “lifted up” are derived from a form of the Greek word airo, which means to lift or to raise, and the word “voices” comes from a plural form of the Greek word phone, which means not only voices, but loud voices. As a phrase, it tells us that from a distance these ten lepers corporately raised their voices and loudly said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

The word “said” is used in a continuous tense, illustrating that this was an ongoing action as they were repeatedly vocalizing their plea. The word “Master” is derived from the Greek word epistata, which is a compound of the word epi, meaning on, and the word histemi, meaning to stand. Together, the word epistata captures the image of one who possesses tremendous authority and who is onsite at the moment. By using this term, the lepers acknowledged Jesus’ powerful presence as they persistently implored Him to have “mercy” on them.

The word “mercy” comes from a form of the Greek word eleeo, which is variously translated throughout Scripture as compassion, mercy, or pity. It denotes a powerful and unsettling surge of emotion that arises in response to the sights and sounds of human suffering. However, it transcends mere feelings of pity and embodies a profound inner compulsion that cries out for action. This is not simply a request for empathy for someone’s predicament; it is a heartfelt plea for intervention through concrete, merciful action that can change, relieve, or transform the circumstances at hand. In other words, they were not asking for mere pity, but for a compassion and mercy that would do something to change their afflicted condition.

Luke 17:14 says, “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” The word “saw” is derived from a form of the Greek word horao, and it goes beyond a simple glance; it conveys a profound recognition and understanding of their plight.

The word “shew” is derived from a form of the Greek word epideiknumi, which is a compound of the words epi and deiknumi. The prefix epi conveys a sense of over or upon, while deiknumi means to show. Together this compound signifies a thorough display or a complete demonstration. In this narrative, Jesus instructed the ten lepers to present themselves visibly to the “priests.” This word is derived from the Greek word hiereus, referring specifically to the Jewish priests residing in Jerusalem

Leviticus 14 gave a detailed set of guidelines that those cleansed of leprosy were to follow before priests could pronounce them ceremonially clean and re-admit them to the community. The priests had no power to heal lepers, but they were responsible for enforcing purification rites that were intricate, that lasted several days, and that were the most detailed of all cleansing rituals. The initial requirement to start the lengthy process of being declared “cleansed” was for a cleansed leper to present himself to a priest outside the city limits. This is what Jesus referred to when He told them to “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”

At the moment Jesus told them to go to show themselves to the priests, there was no evidence that they had been cleansed. But Jesus told them to go, and this required faith on the part of the lepers. Luke 17:14 tells us, “…And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

The phrase “it came to pass” is the Greek word egeneto, which here indicates a gradual unfolding over time. This progression is echoed in the phrase “as they went.” The lepers took Jesus’ word, submitted to it, and followed His directive to go show themselves to the priest. As they journeyed, they were “cleansed,” which is derived from a form of the Greek word katharidzo, meaning to cleanse or to purify.

With each step toward the priests, the ten lepers witnessed transformation. They saw their diseased skin healing and consumed flesh regenerating into a soft, new layer of fresh skin. At long last, when the ten lepers stood before the priests, their affliction had vanished entirely, and they were no longer lepers.

Luke 17:15 says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God….” The word “saw” is derived from a form of the Greek word horao, which depicts observation and full comprehension. A more fitting interpretation might be, “Having perceived and thoroughly grasped that he was healed.” The word “healed” is interestingly translated from a form of the Greek word iaomai, which means to cure or to heal, and it frequently pictures a healing that incrementally alleviates an ailment over time, contrasting with sudden recovery. Here, it precisely captures the journey of the ten lepers who were healed progressively as they followed Jesus’ command to present themselves to the priests.

Upon witnessing his own miraculous healing, this leper “turned back” and retraced his steps to Jesus. The words “turned back” are derived from a form of a Greek word signifying a physical turn. This particular leper literally turned around to head back to Jesus and “with a loud voice glorified God.” The words “loud voice” mean the leper lifted his voice with a thunderous intensity — so filled with gratitude that he began to “glorify” God. Notably, the tense implies that the leper offered continual, unwavering praise to God for the incredible cleansing he had received.

Luke 17:16 says that the healed leper “fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” The words “fell down” tell us that in this moment when the leper encountered Jesus, he was so overwhelmed with gratitude for His miraculous healing that he quite literally buckled, crumpling onto the ground with his face on the earth with his entire being laid “at his feet.” Previously, this leper was bound by the rule to remain at least 100 paces away from others, but now he sprawled on the ground, clinging to Jesus’ feet while “giving him thanks.” The words “giving…thanks” paint a poignant picture of the leper’s overflowing gratitude. His heart was so filled with thankfulness that he lay prostrate at Jesus’ feet as he freely poured out appropriate thankfulness from the very core of his being.

Luke 17:16 then tells us that the healed leper was “a Samaritan.” Historically, the general Jewish perception of Samaritans was that they were uneducated and lacked piety, but it was the Samaritan among them who returned to express his gratitude to God for the miraculous healing he received.

Luke 17:17 says, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” The word “where” is translated from an interrogative pronoun that sets the scene for Jesus’ intense questioning of the healed leper with the words, “Were there not ten cleansed?” With full knowledge that all ten lepers had been wholly cleansed, purified, and freed from the ravaging disease that once consumed them, Jesus sought to understand why only one among them returned to express gratitude.

Luke 17:18 says, “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” The word “found” conveys the essence of earnest inquiry. This insight allows us to envision Jesus scanning the horizon as He searched for the other nine lepers He had healed only this “stranger” returned to give God glory.

The word “stranger” hails from a Greek word that speaks of an individual perceived as an outsider or who was an alien to the people of Israel. Here, it is implied that the other nine lepers who were healed were likely Jews — but after they received the healing they had sought, their minds quickly set aside any thoughts of gratitude. In their eagerness to be restored to ordinary life, they rushed to the priests to secure their clean bills of health and resume the lives they knew before leprosy struck them. They, too, should have returned to glorify God. But Jesus observed that it was a Samaritan — the quintessential outsider — who was so moved by gratitude that he turned back to glorify God. From this, we learn that showing gratitude for the wonders Jesus has performed in our lives holds great significance for Him. Let us remember to always voice our thanks to Jesus for all His blessings and not fall into the trap of neglecting this expression of our heartfelt appreciation.

Luke 17:19 says, “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” The words “go thy way” are interpreted from a Greek word that means to move from one place to another, and it evokes the image of one who embarks on a new journey. It was the equivalent of saying, “You can move beyond your past existence and move forward into a fresh chapter of life.”

When Satan has ravaged people’s lives, it is always God’s will to free them and set them on a new trajectory toward a better life. Because of Christ’s work on the Cross, every person can be set free and made whole. After God has touched us and changed our lives, we must remember how important it is to express our gratitude to God for what He has done in our lives. Let’s not be guilty of being among the nine lepers who forget to return to say thanks to Jesus!

I pray this letter has blessed you today. If you have any prayer needs, we want to know about them, so we can pray with you. We are promised in First John 5:14-15 that if we pray scripturally, God will hear us and answer us. It is our honor to pray biblically based prayers with you, and we are confident that God will hear us and do what needs to be done! Please either call us at 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org to let us know how we can join our faith with yours for God to do a special work in any situation you are facing. Also please pray for Denise and me and our team. We need lots of prayer power behind us, as what we are doing requires the supernatural strength and anointing of God. People need the Word of God, and we are giving our all to see that it gets to them

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 Renner and our entire ministry team

Restoration Beyond Imagination

May Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear friend,

It is always such a blessing to write to you, and I pray that the Lord uses these letters to powerfully touch your heart, no matter what may be happening in your life. 

Today I want to ask you something: Has the enemy ever stolen something from you? He is a thief, and he will always try to take away the wonderful things we have in life, whether that is a dream, a person we love, or even the state of peace and joy that God wants us to live our lives in.

When the devil steals something, it can be a struggle to take that thing back — some people never do get it back — but God didn’t intend for us to live robbed lives. I want to give you an example today of a person who lost so many things, but thanks to her obedient posture and our Lord’s graciousness, she recovered it all — more abundantly than anyone could have expected!

[If you started reading in your email, begin here]

It might sound strange to say, but the moment that Esther was chosen as one of the many beautiful women who might become the queen, she must have felt like she had lost it all. When the soldiers came to take her to the palace, they were taking her away from her home, her friends, and her dear cousin Mordecai, who she loved like a father. As if all that wasn’t enough, the last thing Mordecai said to her was, “Don’t reveal your identity as a Jew. Do not even go by your Jewish name, Hadassa, but by the Persian name, Esther.”

In a single moment, poor Esther had lost her home, her father, her friends in the town where she lived, and even her cultural identity, language, and name. All at once, this young woman truly lost everything — but friend, our God is a great restorer, and He was going to restore Esther in a wonderful way.

Of course, Esther’s restoration started with becoming queen. As she was undergoing 12 months of beauty treatments to get ready to see the king, the Bible says that she found favor with the head eunuch who was taking care of all the girls, so he made sure that she had seven attendants from the palace, that she got to stay in the best place in the house of women, and that she even got extra beauty treatments.

When it was finally time for her to come before the king, the Bible tells us, “The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17).

Think about that, friend: Esther had lost so much, but God took her horrible situation and gave her favor so that she would be comfortable in her time of waiting, and when the day came for her to see the king, God restored her dignity and gave her the position, power, and riches of a queen. 

God is so gracious, friend, but you and I know that this was just the beginning of His restoration in Esther’s life. When our Lord restores, He doesn’t just give us back what we’ve lost — He showers us with blessings that are exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20)! When the wicked man Haman tried to wipe out the whole Jewish nation, Esther was in exactly the right place to stand up and save her people. 

Something I want to remind you of is that our restoration doesn’t always come easily. When Esther heard the bad news about the king’s decree to kill all the Jews, she could have felt hopeless. She could have given up and said, “Well, I’ve already lost so much, and now it looks like I’m going to lose all my people too.” When Mordecai asked her to go before the king, she could have said, “Oh, but if he doesn’t want to see me, I could be put to death. I’m too scared,” or, “But I’m so comfortable living as a queen. I don’t want to put my nice new life at risk.”

She could have said all those things, but instead she said, “…I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). What amazing courage! Even after losing so much, she was ready to put everything on the line that she had recovered and even lose her life if that was part of God’s plan — and of course, her reward was great for her obedience.

When she finally appealed to the king and told him about her identity and the threat to her people, God’s plan for restoration was absolutely complete. Friend, Esther had lost her language, her family, and her culture, but through her, they were all saved from complete destruction. She had been taken away from her beloved cousin Mordecai, but in the end, he was promoted to be Haman’s replacement, so she could see him all the time. Esther, with her courageous and sacrificial attitude, had absolutely everything restored to her on a greater scale than she could ever have imagined!

Friend, you can’t outgive the Lord. He’s always going to give back more than you ever did. That’s why I want to encourage you to look at Esther’s example. If the enemy has stolen something from you, it’s God’s will for you to recover it. Esther lost everything, but she recovered it all and then some more, more than she could ever have imagined. Her humility and obedience opened the door for God to do amazing things, and those qualities in your life can open that same door.

I just love Esther’s story, and there is so much more that I would love to share with you, so I want to invite you to my weekly program, TIME With Denise Renner. I’m currently in the middle of a series that is all about the restorative power of God, and if you are feeling like life has stolen everything from you, then you won’t want to miss it. I hope you’ll come watch live on Monday at 7 AM CT on either Facebook or YouTube, or on Wednesday at 12 PM CT on Facebook. You can also watch my programs any time by visiting my YouTube channel or renner.org.

I also want to invite you to contact our team for prayer if you need it. The number is 1.844.473.6637, and you can also email denisesocial@renner.org. We love having the opportunity to stand with you in the hard times and to celebrate with you when the Lord’s restoring power moves in your life, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

Living Past the Emergency

 

May Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus’ wonderful name!

I’m excited about what I’m going to be sharing with you today, but before I get into it, I want to say THANK YOU for being such an amazing friend! It truly is a joy and an honor to write to you. I’m especially thrilled to share that my newest book Fulfilling Your God-Given Purpose — A Sparkling Gems from the Greek Guided Devotional Journal for Your Divine Destiny releases May 5. If you’d like to purchase a copy, you can call 1-800-742-5593 or go online at renner.org.

I also want you to know how grateful we are for those who stand with us as financial partners. Everything we do at RENNER Ministries is about carrying God’s Word further and touching more lives, and that simply wouldn’t be possible without the faithful prayers and support of people standing with us. If becoming a partner is something the Lord might place on your heart, we would be so grateful to you if you could prayerfully consider joining us in this work. No matter what, please know how much we appreciate you and the part you already play by walking this journey with us.

Today I want to talk to you about moments of trouble when calamity seems to unleash on us and emergencies tower like giants — whether through family turmoil, financial upheavals, health crises, relationship challenges, or any other dire predicament. It’s often then that we discover the profound truth that reaching out to God in faith summons His presence and help. Thankfully, emergency help is promised in Hebrews 4:16, where the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

The words “help in time of need” are a translation of the Greek word boetheia — an old word with a military connotation. In the time of the early New Testament, this word specifically depicted the urgent cry from a soldier who had fallen — who was besieged, ensnared, or wounded in conflict. When a fellow soldier heard his cry for help, he swiftly mobilized and moved to liberate his fellow warrior. And when that nearby soldier heard that cry for “help in time of need,” he spared no effort to do whatever was necessary to deliver his fellow soldier and to rescue and bring him back into a place of safety, security, and protection.

In Hebrews 4:16, the word boetheia paints a vivid picture of divine intervention. It describes how Jesus — like a Mighty Warrior — swiftly springs into action whenever we find ourselves in distress and call upon God for assistance with unwavering faith. With determination, Jesus charges forth to protect us and liberate us from our troubles. For those who lift their voice in faith and seek help in their time of need, they can rest assured that Christ will spring into action and provide the urgent assistance they require.

God’s faithfulness knows no bounds and extends even to those entangled in self-wrought troubles. For example, consider the individuals ensnared by family strife, financial instability, health emergencies, relationship woes, and countless other challenges — predicaments often created by their own actions or inactions. Yet despite having brought these predicaments on themselves, these people are not forsaken. God — in His boundless mercy — responds and moves to liberate them when they call out in faith during their time of need.

I have personally experienced such grace, and I am sure you have too. No matter the origins of one’s difficulty, Jesus remains the steadfast Shepherd who answers cries for “help in time of need.”

When life morphs into a relentless cycle of turmoil, in which each day demands the improbable intervention of a miracle just to survive, the result is an existence steeped in despair. Enduring crisis after crisis is an arduous burden. To illustrate my point, imagine facing turbulent financial waters, where each dawn greets you with the weight of fervent hopes for a reprieve, just for you to meet another emergency. Have you ever walked that tightrope?

If you have, you surely understand how such relentless pressure can turn life into a grim endurance test. Occasionally, these periods are the result of our own choices, but there are also moments when they seem like direct attacks from forces determined to derail you. When divine intervention finally arrives, and an unexpected windfall materializes to temporarily lift you over the looming obstacle, your heart overflows with gratitude. However, this momentary relief often acts like a “band-aid” — a short-term solution that covers the immediate need but fails to secure your future stability. Until that financial predicament is completely resolved and steps are taken to make yourself less vulnerable to falling into the same trouble in the future, you will likely be swept once again into a vortex of anxiety, pleading for another miraculous intervention to carry you through.

Dwelling amidst the relentless turmoil of perpetual crises is a formidable challenge. I can testify that over the years of our ministry, we’ve navigated the terrains both of financial plenty and financial scarcity. In times of abundance, it has been easier to stay focused on our God-given mission. In darker hours when we’ve experienced scarcity, we’ve raised our voices in faith and sought divine intervention while continuing our ministry activities and operations. And time after time, we’ve witnessed the steadfast mercy of God to meet our needs allowing us to exhale a sigh of relief.

But the rollercoaster of stress — marked by relentless ups and downs circumstantially — is notoriously mentally challenging to endure even when hearts are full of faith and expectation that God has heard and is answering. Often, such dilemmas in personal lives or organizations spring from our own missteps, be it ill-considered choices or inadequate planning. Yet in moments of divine intervention, when unexpected financial support arrives, hearts swell with gratitude to God and to those He used to help.

But when individuals, businesses, churches, or ministries live in stability — which renders urgent and emergency prayers a rarity rather than a routine — they are able to shift their focus from survival to growth. What a testimony not just of God’s present help to rescue, but of His grace to grow and sustain!

Undoubtedly, the stories of God’s intervention are wondrous and deserve to be shared, yet the most profound testimony is when one can give witness to God’s unwavering faithfulness, which transforms life’s tumultuous rollercoaster of ups and downs into a journey free of stress. While miracles are awe-inspiring and necessary at times, they are not meant to be a constant lifeline. It is not God’s intention for anyone to remain in a perpetual state of tension and emergency. Eventually a time comes when you must move from living from emergency to emergency into a higher state. God does not wish for you to live in this nonstop pressure cooker for the rest of your life.

During Israel’s journey through the barren wilderness, a miraculous provision appeared in the form of “manna” — a mysterious gift from the heavens. When the Israelites needed God to provide an emergency provision of food, they discovered that manna settled like dew upon the earth, and neither its origins nor its supernatural delivery were understood by anyone. Every time the Israelites gathered this sustenance and tasted its mysterious texture, they were indulging in a divine wonder beyond earthly reasoning.

Indeed, in a spectacular display of mercy, God bestowed this otherworldly nourishment upon them as a testament to His care in their dire moments. Although other foods existed at their disposal, none could compare to the manna’s miraculous essence that fulfilled needs beyond the capabilities of mere earthly fare. This extraordinary sustenance was a marvel that met every requirement as if tailored to their souls.

God lavished manna upon His people, as is recounted in Psalm 78:23-25, where it is written that God “…opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat….” Determining the exact quantity of manna that cascaded from the heavens during those 40 years is beyond our grasp. But with the consensus among biblical scholars proposing the Israelites numbered around 3,000,000, it is estimated that they required approximately 4,500 tons of manna daily to sustain themselves. Imagine a daily harvest of 4,500 tons for every day spanning those 40 years. This would mean an astounding total of about 65,700,000 tons of manna supernaturally appeared over that epic journey.

Imagine waking up to a city blanketed in 4,500 tons of fragrant manna, a miraculous feast gifted freely to anyone willing to step outside and gather it. The alluring scent would waft through the streets and draw people from their homes like moths to a flame. If such an astonishing event happened today, it would spark an international frenzy — scientists would descend from every corner of the globe to analyze its wonders, while journalists would scramble to capture the essence of this edible enigma. Major news outlets would buzz with excitement, chronicling every detail of this extraordinary phenomenon.

Yet for the children of Israel, this daily spectacle was as routine as the sunrise, a testament to the everyday supernatural miracles they experienced. A whole generation of young ones came into the world and grew up with the belief that it was perfectly normal for 4,500 tons of manna to materialize “out of thin air” each morning (see Exodus 16:35).

The manna descended with such clockwork precision and unwavering consistency that, eventually, the Israelites scarcely marveled at its arrival. In a gradual fade from wonder to familiarity, the miraculous became mundane, its divine splendor blending seamlessly into their everyday existence. The extraordinary nature of this heavenly sustenance slipped into obscurity, and this supernatural food, along with its supernatural delivery system, began to be seen as a normal occurrence.

But when the next generation entered the Promised Land, the daily manifestation of manna ended. For 40 years, God had intervened and met their emergency need. But a time came when, as Joshua 5:12 tells us, “…the manna ceased…neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.”

In time, the wondrous supply of manna ceased, and God beckoned His children to embrace a more elevated way of life. God stopped feeding them hand to mouth and required them to use their faith to conquer the Promised Land and to take the fruit — and their long-term blessing and sustenance — for themselves.

I share this to remind you that while God stands ready to greet you repeatedly with emergency miracles when needed, His ultimate desire is for you to step into a realm where you enjoy a vigorous and enduring life of faith for daily living that’s brimming with vitality. Fully living in a state of victory is a magnificent testament to God’s glory!

In Psalm 37:25, we read, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” What a powerful testimony! Yet few people today can lay claim to it. But such a statement demonstrates God’s absolute faithfulness and it brings honor and glory to His name.

I realize this letter is a little shorter than usual, but it’s packed with what God has put on my heart for you this month. Oh, how God wants all of us to step upward into a higher level of living that is better than living in a constant pressure cooker of stress. This is what I am praying for you. BUT…if you are in a tough place right now, remember that Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

According to this Bible promise, Jesus is available right now to come to your assistance and to deliver you from whatever is assailing you. He is a Mighty Warrior who will swiftly spring into action to protect you and liberate you from troubles. If you will lift your voice in faith and seek help in your time of need, you can be sure He will spring into action to provide the urgent assistance you need.

And I want to remind you that we are here to pray with you — and praying with you would be an honor for us. In our Partner Care department, we really take “care” of those who reach out to us. Denise and I and our team fervently pray for those who contact us with their prayer needs. I assure you that if you need prayer — and if you reach out to us — you will be scripturally and ferociously prayed for with faith that God will do what needs to be done! So please either call us at 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org to let us know how we can be praying for you — and we promise that whatever you share will be kept confidential.

Please pray for us, too, as we step forward by faith to resist the enemy, drive back darkness, and take the light of God’s Word to those who are crying out for it. This is our assignment — which you are a big part of — but we cherish your prayers too!

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 Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to download the Ministry Update printable pdf flyer.