Forgiveness Is the Expeller of Rejection

July Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

 

Dear Friend,

This month God put this message on my heart for you. I started thinking about the power of forgiveness and its connection to rejection — and rejection’s connection to fear. There was a woman I knew years ago whose body was filled with cancer. One day a man of God received a word of knowledge and the working of miracles — two gifts of the Holy Spirit — concerning this woman and he began praying in tongues over her.

As he was praying in tongues, she began to scream out all the times she had been rejected, starting with when she was a very, very young girl. After all this rejection and pain in her soul were confessed, they soon found there was no cancer in her body. But shortly after this miracle, this woman encountered another situation where someone she deeply loved rejected her, and the cancer came back and she died.

Another woman, a friend of mine, recently died from an illness. She was actually getting better, but her father, who had already rejected her most of her life, came to see her and threatened to take everything away from her. She died just a few days later. I know that, scientifically speaking, this woman died of a terrible disease. But it was the pain of rejection that was actually the killer and took her life in the end.

The forgiveness that Jesus gave us — because He was rejected by His Father because of our sin — freed us of rejection by the love of God. He forgave us and overcame all the horrible evils of mankind, and mankind was forgiven. But in the same way, we have to receive the forgiveness that He gave us.

Oh friend, it is more important than ever for us to become more and more acquainted with the love of God and to extend that love of God to others the best we can. It could be a spouse, a parent, a brother, a sister, or even a friend or a stranger who inflicted us with so much pain. But it is the love of God that is so powerful. If we let it, His love can extinguish all the pain in our life. The Bible says we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers that want to wound our hearts and separate us from one another (see Ephesians 6:12). We are not fighting against that person; we are warring against the enemy of this world and his evil strategies.

As I was thinking about all of this, I also reflected on the love of God that was shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. And it says in Romans 5:5, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

The Bible says in Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.” What is this great power that is used to destroy those weapons? It is the love of God in you and me, and it’s greater than any weapon the enemy tries to use against us.

There is no power greater on this earth than the love of God, and the love of God is the great extinguisher of rejection. And therein lies the power that has been made available to us to tap in to and forgive others. Jesus has already forgiven us, and we need to extend this same forgiveness that we receive to others. Jesus paid the complete price for every place in our heart to be filled with the love of God so rejection has no room to dwell there — even if it was a very, very small closet. The whole price was paid to free our complete heart.

But remember: Rejection, if embraced, can leave us as a victim — not a victor.

Think about the Apostle Paul and how he did not die from sickness or disease. It says in Second Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” And verse 8 says, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Paul died a victor — not a victim.

The apostle Paul, with all that had happened to him, could have died a bitter man, but the love of God which he embraced healed his body and soul over and over again, and he gave this forgiveness to those who lied about him, betrayed him, and persecuted him.

I am not saying this kind of forgiveness — extended to those who have rejected us, and then allowing God to free us with His love — is easy. We find even more instruction from Jesus about this very challenge to give love and forgiveness to those who have wounded us in Matthew: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43,44). Matthew was very clear: We are to love our enemies, and we have the love of God on the inside of us which empowers us to do this.

I once had the privilege to go to Rome and see the place that historians say was the very place where the apostle Paul laid his head to be executed. Historians say they did not drag him to that stump, but that when Paul saw it, he ran and embraced it and wrapped his arms around it. His attitude was not one of a victim, but a victor. He saw decapitation as an entrance into Heaven, and he knew that day he would be swept up into the arms of Jesus.

The love of God is greater than any hate. Jesus proved this love as He hung on the cross, pushing up on His torn flesh where the nails were piercing his torn feet, enduring the excruciating pain that enabled him to breathe. He also proved this great love to us when the Roman soldiers spat on Him,  beat Him, and slapped Him, and still, He spoke the words, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (see Luke 23:34 NLT).

This is the love of God that extinguishes the sting of rejection, and this is the very love of God that dwells in your spirit. Even though the pain that comes through the actions or words of another can scream very loudly, the love of God is even louder. His words and actions are louder and more powerful — with forgiveness, compassion, and kindness that we receive from our wonderful Savior — than any rejection or onslaught that has been inflicted on us by another.

The devil wants us to believe that we are the rejected. But that’s a lie! Jesus says we are the accepted in the beloved. It was the love of God poured out by our wonderful Savior that has freed us to forgive and to be released from the pains of rejection. Forgiveness is the expeller of rejection!

Thank you for spending this time with me. I wanted to share this message with you because it is very important in these last days that we continue to extend love and forgiveness to anyone who hurts or offends us. Jesus said that offenses will come (see Luke 17:1), and I know He wants to equip us for this time to walk as victors over the painful emotions of rejection.

Are you ready to live the life of a victor? I want to recommend my book Unstoppable to you. I know that the enemy wants to stop us in our race of faith with the attacks of others and for us to be offended and remain in bitterness, but God has a limitless supply of everything we need to be unstoppable! I am hearing from many who have read Unstoppable and are experiencing freedom and victory. I am so thankful for each and every response, comment, and testimony.

I also want to invite you to watch my program TIME With Denise Renner on YouTube, Facebook, or Telegram! And if you need prayer today, please do not hesitate to call our prayer team at 1.800.742.5593 or email us at  prayer@deniserenner.org. Let’s continue to equip ourselves with the love of God so we can give this love to others.

Moving forward together,

Denise Renner

John’s Vision of the Exalted Christ

July Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

 

Dear Friends,

Today it’s on my heart to encourage you that God wants to give YOU a divine visitation. Please carefully read what I’m going to share with you today because I really felt impressed that I was to share this timely word with you.

But first, I want to say thank you for being among our faithful family of partners. When we call you a partner, we use that word very sincerely, because we can only do what we’re doing because of what our partners are so faithfully doing to help us. Together — as a God-called team, each doing our part — God is using us to touch people’s lives. For this, I am so thankful, and I want to tell you today how very thankful Denise and I are for you!

Right now we are still in the middle of Phase 3 of our Ministry Expansion Project, and we are also continuing to provide TONS OF RELIEF to displaced people in our part of the world. We have received thousands of prayer requests and testimonies from the people that WE — this ministry and our precious giving team — are helping together. As the conflict persists, the need for even basic necessities for the growing number of hurting people remains. If you are led to give to either of these crucial assignments, please go to renner.org/emergency-situation. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do. You are a real partner with us, but remember that as your partner, we are here to pray for you! Please let us know how to pray, and we’ll pray very seriously and in faith for God to move in your life.

But now let me get to what is on my heart for you today…

When the apostle John received the book of Revelation, he was living as an exiled prisoner on the remote and secluded island prison of Patmos, where the Roman government sent those deemed to be its most dangerous political offenders. John had been arrested for his faith, judged by the Roman legal system, and sent with a shipload of other criminals to languish and die on that forsaken island.

But it was during John’s horrible time on Patmos that he encountered the risen Lord as no one had ever seen Him before. In one split second, the spirit realm suddenly opened, and John found himself standing in another dimension, where he heard and saw things almost beyond description — a panoramic vision both of things present and of things yet to come, all of which John later recorded in the book of Revelation.

Imagine it. While John was living in a cave on this hostile, forsaken island, the elderly apostle’s isolation was unexpectedly invaded, and he was “caught up” into the realm of the spirit to behold the exalted Christ in all His glorious splendor. In this vision, Jesus delivered to John seven messages to seven churches — messages that still apply to His Church today.

Right in the midst of that horrific island, Jesus Christ Himself paid a visit to the lonely cave where John had made his temporary home. On that day, the One who calls Himself the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16) stepped into that hole in the earth to reveal Himself to John as no one had ever seen Him before.

In Revelation 1:10, John gives us insight into how this divine visitation took place when he said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.”

The word “was” in this verse is the Greek word ginomai — in this case, a word that describes something that happens unexpectedly or something that catches one off guard. This tells us that John was not expecting this divine encounter. When it occurred, it took him completely by surprise and caught him off guard. In a way he never could have predicted, he suddenly found himself “in the spirit.”

The phrase “in the Spirit” is a translation of the Greek words en pneumatic. The first part of this verse would be better translated, “In a way I never could have planned, predicted, or anticipated, I suddenly found myself IN SPIRIT on the Lord’s day.” This phrase “in spirit” is a term to describe another realm, another dimension, or a spiritual realm far different from the natural world that surrounded John.

When the phrase “in spirit” is combined with the preceding usage of the word ginomai, which depicts an element of surprise, the new phrase gives a clear picture of what John experienced and how he felt when it occurred. When John experienced this divine encounter, he did not know it was about to happen. The apostle was going about his business, when suddenly — out of nowhere, taking him completely off guard and by surprise — he abruptly found himself no longer in the same physical place, but in another dimension. He had somehow passed from the natural realm into the realm of the spirit and was now “in spirit” or in a totally different realm. Thus, John’s words in this verse convey the following idea: “In a way I never could have planned, predicted, or anticipated, I suddenly found myself in the spirit realm….”

Then all of a sudden, John “heard” a great voice, “as of a trumpet,” coming from behind him in the spirit realm (see Revelation 1:10). The word “heard” is the Greek word akouo, which simply means to hear. This is the same word from which the word “acoustics” is derived. John wrote that it was a “great voice.” The word “great” is the word mega, meaning huge, and the word “voice” is phone, simply the word for a voice. When the two words are used together, the phrase describes not merely a voice, but a great, huge, gigantic voice.

The voice John heard was so loud that he said it was like a “trumpet.” The word “trumpet” is the Greek word salpignos, and the tense used indicates that the sound of the voice was as loud and clear as the blast of a trumpet. Just as a trumpet blast gets the attention of those who hear it, the sound of Jesus’ voice rang forth so loudly and clearly that John was captured by its force and knew immediately he was to submit to the authority of the One speaking.

John then tells us in Revelation 1:12, “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me….” The voice came from behind John, so he turned to see the source of the sound. The word “turned” is from the Greek word epistrepho, which means to completely turn around. The use of this word tells us that John’s vision was experienced both in the realm of the spirit and in the natural realm. John had to physically turn completely around “to see the voice” that was speaking to him.

This phrase “see the voice” is unusual because it is impossible to “see” a voice. But the word “voice” comes from the Greek word phone — again, a word that simply describes a voice. But there was something about this voice that caused John to quickly turn to “see” it. The word “see” is the Greek word blepo, which means to see, to watch, to look at, to give attention to, to pay heed to, or to perceive. When John heard this voice, he perceived something so special and familiar about the sound of it that he eagerly turned to see who was speaking.

John hadn’t physically heard Jesus speak for approximately 60 years, but he had never forgotten the sound of his Master’s voice. As a younger man, John had listened to that voice for three and a half years as one of Jesus’ disciples. Throughout the years since he had last seen Jesus, John had carried the sound of that beloved voice in his heart.

When John turned around to follow the sound of that voice, the barrier between the natural world and the realm of the spirit was suddenly removed, like window curtains that are pulled apart to reveal the view outside. At that moment, John did indeed see Jesus — but the Person he saw was nothing like the memories he had carried in his heart for those 60 years. The voice was the same tender, compassionate one John remembered so well, but the physical appearance of Jesus was dramatically transformed.

John beheld Jesus not as he had known Him during His earthly walk, but in His exalted and present-day role as King and Priest. As the apostle focused his eyes on the dazzling countenance of the One who stood before him, this Person looked “like unto the Son of man” (see Revelation 1:13).

The Greek text actually has no definite article before the words “Son of man.” This means that the phrase doesn’t necessarily refer to Jesus in His role as the Son of Man; rather, it portrays the humanity of Jesus that John so clearly remembered from nearly 60 years earlier. Scholar Albert Barnes wrote, “Indeed, the costume in which he [Jesus] appeared was so unlike that in which John had been accustomed to see the Lord Jesus in the days of his flesh….” Thus, John beheld Jesus in His full glory, both as God and glorified Man united eternally — our great King and High Priest.

In the phrase, “like unto the Son of man,” the words “like unto” are a translation of the Greek word homoios, which describes a resemblance, similarity, or likeness. Jesus’ physical appearance had been transformed from the way John remembered Jesus in His humanity. The Person who stood before the apostle was a vision of the glorified Christ in His kingly and priestly attire. The One standing “in the midst of the seven candlesticks” had a likeness, resemblance, or similarity to the way John remembered Jesus, yet He was also very different.

The manner of likeness John was referring to in this verse isn’t stated. He may have been referring to a physical attribute such as Jesus’ facial features, height, or weight. But the word homoios is sufficient to convey that something about the image John beheld was similar to his memory of the Master — enough for him to immediately recognize that the One he was seeing was Jesus Himself.

The appearance of Jesus in John’s vision as the risen and exalted Christ signaled a powerful message to him and to other early believers who were suffering so much agony, tribulation, and unabating persecution. Jesus’ glorified appearance shouted that Jesus is the King of kings; He holds the highest seat of power; He possesses dominion over all; and His Kingdom will never cease. Other kings and governments will come and go throughout the ages, but Jesus’ Kingdom is everlasting and supersedes all others. A time will come when opposition will cease and all people, tribes, and nations will bow before Christ the King.

Then in this divine visitation, Jesus began to give John messages to the leading seven churches in Asia — seven powerful messages that still speak to us today. (I have written on this subject in A Light in Darkness: Seven Messages to the Seven Churches and No Room for Compromise: Christ’s Message to Today’s Church that are available at renner.org. Both are powerful books that you will devour!

But all this happened in a cave, on a forsaken island, where John was in a horribly tight, life-threatening squeeze. BUT JESUS STEPPED INTO THAT SITUATION AND GAVE JOHN A VISITATION LIKE HE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

The reason I am telling you this today is this:

Jesus knows exactly what you are facing — and He wants to give you a divine visitation regardless of where you are or what you are experiencing. The cave was a natural limitation for John, but in that horrible place, God enabled him to move into a supernatural dimension that empowered him.

Today if you’ll open your heart and ask the Father for it, He will likewise visit you in whatever place or whatever situation you are in right now. God is NOT limited by your situation, environment, or your challenges — and if your heart is open to it, He will give you the exact divine visitation you need to empower you to keep going. It happened for John, and it can happen for you too!

That is powerful!!!

I remind you again, please let us know how we can pray with you for whatever it is that you are facing or dealing with in your life right now. Partnership goes two ways — and we are very serious about praying with you either by phone, by email, or by letter. But please, let us know how to pray for you. We will release our faith for Jesus to supernaturally empower you right where you are!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner

Do Not Worry

June Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

 

Dear Friend,

Lately, it seems as if there are more opportunities to worry than ever before. As you wake up, you can feel the weight of problems trying to attach themselves to the very top of your shoulders. There are days when the sheer weight and number of these problems are trying so hard to weigh you down, it can even affect your very posture and how you carry yourself.

The things that are going on around us are very real and very tangible, and they also carry power in the spirit realm to press on people’s hearts and minds. Jesus said in the last days that men’s hearts would fail them for fear (see Luke 21:26) — even the physical heart can be affected by the pressures that are in the world.

But Jesus said these things would happen (see Matthew 24:6) — and even more will happen before His return. We are also told by Jesus that when these things do happen we are to look up and lift up our heads because our “redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). So how do we simply handle living day to day? That is exactly what I want to talk to you about in this letter, and how we are to live with our heads up — every day — without worrying and fretting or being overcome and overwhelmed by the bombardment of negative thoughts.

Let’s take a look at Matthew 6:25-32 where Jesus was giving a lesson on worry to the multitudes on the hillside.

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Jesus’ words are very clear — He said, “Do not worry.” Even in Philippians 4:6, we read, “Be anxious for nothing.” That word “nothing” in the Greek language means no one, none, nothing — that means that down to the smallest, most minute detail, we are to worry about NOTHING! Wow, that’s a big assignment! So let’s take a closer look at Jesus’ teaching on worry.

Matthew 6:25 begins, “Therefore I [Jesus] say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on it….” The things Jesus mentions are very small, basic necessities for everyday life. And if we are not to worry about these things, these small things, what about our future — the bigger things? How many of us have asked ourselves these questions: Will I be successful at my job? What if my plan fails? What if I’m wrong in what I am pursuing? Will I ever get married? There are so many questions and possibilities for WORRY! Here are a few more thoughts that can bring worry and care to our hearts: Is that person ever going to change? Am I stuck with this situation? This is not fair! I don’t deserve this! Again, WORRY. Worry is fear-based, and fear has torment.

Then in verse 26, it says, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns….” I would like to ask you a question about this verse. Have you ever seen a bird sitting on a telephone wire having a nervous breakdown because it was worried about what to eat? Is that what we see when we look at the birds? No, it’s not!

The next part of verse 26 says that our Heavenly Father feeds them and takes care of them. And then Jesus asks, “…Are you not of more value than they?” That means God cares for us. First Peter 5:7 confirms, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” In the Amplified Classic version, it says “He cares for you affectionally.”

God can do a much better job caring for us than we can do trying to care for ourselves.

So what good does worry do for us? Matthew 6:27 asks, “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit [18 inches] to his stature?” Let’s say, for example, your mind is involved in worrying about 3 hours a day. You’re busy doing other things throughout the day, but several times a day, the question pops up, What if…? If you spend 3 hours a day, 7 days a week, entertaining that question, that’s 21 hours a week of worry. There are 52 weeks in a year, so this part-time activity of worry has now taken 1,092 hours of your energy, mental calmness, and your valuable time. If you continue this pattern of worry for 3 years, that’s about 3,276 hours of your precious time consumed with worry, exhaustion, and maybe even opening the door to impatience and anger. Jesus gave this example about increasing our physical stature to emphasize that worry doesn’t accomplish anything — it’s a waste of time and it doesn’t work.

So what is the answer to worrying? We find the answer and much-needed wisdom in the next two verses: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”(Matthew 6:33,34).

Friend, if anyone could have worried about tomorrow, it was Jesus. He was constantly criticized, doubted, accused of having demons, kicked out of cities, and ridiculed by religious people who were also plotting His death. His disciples, who followed Him the best they could, really didn’t understand who He was. And weightiest of all, Jesus knew His purpose was to come and give His life as a ransom for the sin of the world. He knew the penalty of death was the only payment that would be accepted for our freedom.

Jesus had every reason to worry. The Bible says He was tempted in every way, just as we are (see Hebrews 4:15). Yes, Jesus was tempted to worry just like you and me. He never sinned, but He identifies with us, and His answer for not worrying is to live one day at a time and to do everything we can each day to work hard, serve people, and enjoy life. It may sound simple to some and very difficult to others, but He has given us the Holy Spirit on the inside of us to help us live one day at a time and not be encumbered, overcome, and defeated by worry.

Dear friend, I want to pray the following prayer with you. As you read this, let your heart agree: Father, I thank You for the Word of God and Your instruction to us not to worry. And I thank You for the help of the Holy Spirit — the ultimate Helper. Right now, by my own will, I receive Your help to live this day to the fullest and not worry about tomorrow as Jesus commanded. It’s in His name I pray. Amen.

Please let us know how we can specifically pray for you. And if God has done something special in your life, please let us know that too. Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, or you can send us your prayer request at prayer@renner.org.

Thank you for spending this time with me. I am hearing from many who have read my new book Unstoppable, and I am so thankful for each and every response and comment. I also want to invite you to watch my program TIME With Denise Renner on YouTube, Facebook, or Telegram! Let’s live each day one day at a time!

Moving forward together,

Denise Renner

And of Some Have Compassion

June Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

 

Dear Friends,

Before I get into my teaching today, I want to thank you for signing up to receive your first teaching letter from me. Welcome! I’m so glad you decided to join our family of deeper readers. I spend hours writing these letters each month, sharing my heart and the insights gleaned from my studies in God’s Word. I pray that this letter, and every letter I write in the future, truly ministers to your heart and strengthens your walk with God.

Greetings in Jesus’ precious name!

How can I proceed with my letter without first thanking our generous friends who are responding so quickly and selflessly to our call for help? So many have sown seed into the emergency-relief effort that we are continually able to provide assistance to the precious people whose lives have been shaken by the turmoil in this region. As you know, the situation is volatile and changes hour by hour, but we have boots on the ground and are making a difference in many lives. God is multiplying the resources and protecting the people who are delivering these much-needed provisions to those desperate for them. THANK YOU for your compassionate giving and continued prayers for protection, provision, and boldness.

Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for those who have given so generously to the Ministry Expansion Project. Together, we have successfully completed Phase One and Two of this expansion project! In Tulsa, the papers were signed on our new ministry offices, we have moved in, and we are settling into our new facility. We are now ready for Phase Three of this project, which is to pay off the Tulsa facilities. Please pray about joining us in this effort to finish strong as we ready ourselves for all God wants to do in this season of expansion to take the Good News of the Gospel and the sound teaching of the Bible around the world. Follow this link to see photos of our progress or to give: renner.org/expansion.

This month sparks a special memory for us. It was 30 years ago this month that God brought Denise and me our first staff in the former USSR. Oh, I’ll never forget that moment — it was truly a historical time in our lives when God supernaturally brought us a group of young people who would literally risk their lives to help us spread the Gospel in the lands of the former USSR. I tell all about it in my autobiography UNLIKELY, which can be ordered at renner.org. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Because we are living in the very last season of the last days, most of us know or are familiar with believers or spiritual leaders who have been led astray by seducing spirits and, as a result, have fallen into sin and unbiblical lifestyles or have embraced strange, unscriptural beliefs. There is nothing more heartrending than to watch a person begin to abandon his or her scriptural foundations. It is especially grievous to see family, friends, or fellow believers lay aside sound doctrine and godly morals as they embrace beliefs and practices that will produce negative results.

But even though some have gone astray, it is important to remember that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance (see Romans 11:29). These individuals may have been seduced to go in a wrong direction or pursue a wrong course, but if they repent, they can get back on track. The call of God is still on them, and they can be used by Him once again.

Today I want to encourage you from Jude 22 and 23. It says, “And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

Often when someone we know and love — perhaps even someone we have trusted in the past — falls into error or sin, we may be tempted to feel betrayed and angry toward that person. We may wonder how he or she could have ever veered off track into such deep moral or spiritual foolishness. But holding a hostile attitude against those who are walking in error or living in blatant sin will not set them free — and it won’t help our heart condition either.

In these cases, Jude 22 says, “And of some have compassion….” The word “compassion” is a translation of the Greek word eleeo, which in this case refers to the deep-seated and unsettling emotions a person feels when he has seen or heard something that is terribly sad or upsetting. These are emotions that may arise, for example, when you see a starving child whose stomach is bloated from malnutrition. You may also feel such emotions if you see an emaciated person dying of terminal cancer or if you encounter a family who is living in such destitute conditions that they are forced to live on the streets with little money or food and with bare necessities.

Jude’s use of the Greek word “compassion” — the Greek word eleeo — lets us know that he was trying to graphically help us understand the serious plight of those who had embraced error or who had compromised their walk of faith. But because Jude used the word “compassion,” he was also telling us that the spiritual condition of wayward believers is just as real and serious as the plight of a starving child, a dying man or woman, or a destitute family.

But as we allow the love of God to operate in us, compassion for errant believers will begin to flow from us to them, and that stream of divine compassion will move us into prayer on their behalf and away from a judgmental attitude against them. God’s compassion within us will compel us to do all we can to see these believers set free from the deception that has gripped them.

These individuals have ingested the poison of spiritual error and, as a result, they have become sickened with spiritual toxins. As such, they are spiritually ill people whose situations are grave. You may be upset with them for laying aside Scripture — and to be truthful, this should be upsetting. But harboring anger against those who have taken a wayward path won’t remedy their spiritual condition — and it will harm yours for taking a wrong stance in your heart against those who err!

In such cases, we must learn to let the compassion of Christ flow from our hearts toward those who have become infected with spiritual error. Compassion is a mighty force that releases astonishing amounts of spiritual power. The tremendous flow of God’s power, released as you pray from His heart of compassion, has the ability to break the chains that came to bind their souls and minds. Their condition may be so grave that only intervention by God will open their eyes and enable them to see their way out of the dark place they are in right now. This was the reason Jude urged, “And of some have compassion.…”

But then Jude 22 added, “And of some have compassion, making a difference….” This phrase “making a difference” is translated from the Greek word diakrinos, which is a compound of the words dia and krino. The word dia carries the idea of dividing or separating, and krino means to judge or to determine. But when these two words are compounded, in this verse, the new word pictures an individual who has lost his ability to separate right from wrong, and it can even depict those who are unable to tell the difference between the truth and a lie.

The Greek word here translated as “making a difference” is translated as “doubt” elsewhere. Believers who have gone astray develop a chronic instability in what they believe — and, ultimately, they begin to doubt God’s Word altogether, even questioning the most basic fundamentals of scriptural truth. They sink deeper and deeper into deception and become so spiritually unstable that they begin to chronically question and doubt important Bible truths they once believed and embraced. By using diakrinos — translated “making a difference” in Jude 22 — Jude informs us that individuals who are deceived are unable to reach accurate spiritual conclusions and therefore often embrace what they would have once deemed to be spiritual error or morally wrong.

But Jude 23 goes on to say, “And others save with fear….” The word “save” comes from the Greek word sodzo. In this verse, it is used in the present active imperative tense, which means the Greek calls for immediate, fast, and continuous or steadfast action. Furthermore, this was not a suggestion from Jude; this was a command.

The word “fear” is from the word phobos, and it refers to a fear that results from a threatening or alarming circumstance. The fact that Jude would use this word indicates that erring believers were on the brink of some type of destruction. This explains why Jude commands us to act fast and immediately. These deceived believers are on the edge of imminent disaster, and if someone doesn’t act fast and do something to rescue them, they could suffer catastrophe.

This reminds me of Lot — an Old Testament believer who was living on the brink of disaster and didn’t understand the seriousness of his plight. But because Abraham acted quickly to stand in the prayer gap and intercede for his deliverance, Lot’s life was spared.

In the same way, Jude commands us to be moved to act immediately because the circumstances of those who are in error are so serious. We must do everything we know to do. A crucial ingredient of that saving process includes intercession, just as Abraham interceded for Lot. And as we pray and stay sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will show us what other steps we might need to take to see deliverance come to those who have been led astray. The Holy Spirit has the key to every person’s heart, and He is ready to give us that key if we will hear Him speak to us.

Jude went on in verse 23 to say when we see other Christians headed down a dangerous path of spiritual deception, we must engage in “…pulling them out of the fire….” The word “pulling” is from the Greek word harpadzo and conveys the picture of laying hold of and snatching someone out of a dangerous situation. We must obey this command by doing everything within our ability — through prayer empowered by divine compassion — to lay hold of and to snatch people out of their spiritually dangerous predicaments. Although wayward believers may not feel the heat of the fire or realize the seriousness of their spiritual condition, Scripture shows that they will experience a negative consequence of some kind if intervention is not made on their behalf.

We are not to just sit by and watch erring Christians sink deeper and deeper into deception. When we see people lured off track, we must pray and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He will show us how to pray and whether we are to be further involved in helping them wake up to the reality of their situation so they can be delivered from the judgment they are about to bring upon themselves.

The following is an interpretive expansion of Jude 22 and 23:

And for some, it is essential that you be moved with compassion that does more than simply feel sorry about their plight; you must let compassion move you to take action — to do what you can — to make a difference for those who are uncertain, doubtful, and even vacillating back and forth in their faith. Indeed, there are some in such serious condition that there is no choice but for you to urgently swing into action to deliver, rescue, and save them. You should be so alarmed by their condition that you are willing to do whatever is necessary to snatch them out of the fire….

I realize this letter has been a little long, but this is what was on my heart to share this month. I know that many serious Christians are concerned about people they love, and if this describes you, I pray this letter encourages you to really fire up your prayer life to intercede for them. If you specifically need someone to pray with you for someone on your heart, let us know, and we’ll pray with you. In fact, please contact us about any need on your heart by giving us a call or sending an email or letter, and we’ll gladly pray with you and believe for a powerful result to our prayers of faith.

I pray this letter has encouraged you and given you some guidance today!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner

A Woman of Canaan

May Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

 

Dear Friend,

This month I have been meditating a lot on personal encounters with Jesus — meeting with Him one on one — because the Bible says in First Corinthians 6:17 that “…He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” We are one with Him! And today I want to talk to you about a woman who had a very personal one-on-one encounter with Jesus — the Canaanite woman. We find her story in Matthew 15:22-28:

And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

The first thing we notice from this passage is she was “a woman of Canaan.” That means her relatives in the past had been enemies of Israel, who were God’s chosen people. The Canaanites were known for offering human sacrifices and worshipping idols. So this woman from a terrible background came to Jesus, and the Bible says she “cried out to Him.” She cried over and over again, yelling out to Jesus, “…Have mercy on me, Oh Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed” (v. 22).

As you can see, this woman had intense desire. As a Canaanite, she knew who she was and who her ancestors were, but she didn’t care because she wanted something from Jesus. She was desperate to receive this deliverance for her daughter. She went to Jesus and made a great effort to get Him to notice her. And then in her crying out — which wasn’t just once — Jesus still didn’t give her any attention. But that was not going to stop her. She was desperate to get help for her daughter, and she wasn’t about to give up.

When you and I come to a difficult situation — and it could be a life-or-death situation — our desire matters. Is our desire to just believe God for a little while, maybe asking for a week or two for God to move in our situation before becoming disappointed? Look at this Canaanite woman. She was crying out so much, and she kept on crying out. And verse 23 tells us that Jesus didn’t even answer her. It says, “But He answered her not a word.”

However, that didn’t stop her. This woman kept crying out until, finally, the disciples asked Jesus to send her away — but she would not be moved!

Then Jesus does answer her. In verse 24, He says, “…‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” Does this stop the woman? No! Verse 25 continues, “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” Her desire had not changed. And she knew that Jesus was her only hope.

How many of us, when we need or want something from God and we know He is our only answer, give up just because we don’t get our answer fast enough? Maybe we are not desperate like this Canaanite woman, or maybe we aren’t focused on Him as intently as she was.

Do we cry out for Jesus and not care what others think or say about us? That’s what this woman did. She cried out to Jesus for the answer she needed, and she didn’t let anything stop her. Then she worshiped Jesus. What did her worship look like? Did she fall on her face? Did she put her face on the ground and weep and say, “Lord, You are Lord. Please help me!”?

We really don’t know how she worshiped, but we can learn from her example. When you’re faced with an impossible situation, you can worship Jesus and recognize Him as your only answer!

The Canaanite woman was not letting go of the possibility that her daughter would be free. No one else was crying out to Jesus for her daughter. It was just her and Jesus. And this was her opportunity — her one-on-one encounter with Him! She didn’t care about the disciples’ or anyone else’s opinion. She came to Jesus for one reason and one reason only — for the deliverance of her daughter.

Have you been in a situation like that? Where it was just you and Jesus and there was no one else there to encourage you? When at the midnight hour, it seemed so dark and lonely? Or when it was only you and Jesus, and you desperately needed Him to act?

I was at that place in my life once, and there was no other answer for me. My body was screaming at me with pain, and my mind was screaming at me. At that time, I was even having panic attacks because I was so filled with fear. In that moment, when I did not know how I was going to get out of that situation, I only knew that Jesus was my answer and He was my only answer. I remember taking hold of the sink one night while everyone else was sleeping and saying, “Lord, I don’t know what’s going on, but I am not letting go of You.” It was just a few weeks later that my deliverance, healing, and answer came. I can identify with the Canaanite woman because Jesus was her only answer and she determined not to let Him go.

Perhaps you have been in that place before, where you knew that Jesus was your only answer and you were not letting go until you got your answer. It is when we come to this deep place of worship and say in our heart, I do not know what I have to do or how long it is going to take to get my answer, but I am not letting go of You. You are my only hope.

There is something so holy about recognizing that Jesus is Lord of your life, and you can trust Him and Him alone. That is worship! And out of that deep place of worship from this woman came a very simple prayer: Lord, help me!

Friend, maybe you are at that place right now, where you know that Jesus is your only answer. Maybe you have become tired and you are tempted to give up. I want to encourage you that as you seek Him and worship Him, there is something that will happen inside you when you come to that place. You get a very simple answer. This is what happened to the Canaanite woman. She said three words to Jesus — Lord, help me!

Those three simple words drew that woman into a conversation with Jesus, where He said, “…It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” (Matthew 15:26). That bread represented healing, and because she was a Canaanite woman, she, in the eyes of Jews, was considered a little dog. But that did not discourage this woman. She said to herself, Great. Crumbs fall from the table. I will take those crumbs. Then she said to Jesus, “…Even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (v. 27). When she said this, Jesus said, “Great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire…” (v. 28). And her little girl was delivered!

Dear friend, Jesus said that in this world, we would have tribulation — but to cheer up, for He has overcome the world (see John 16:33). The midnight hour will come to all of us at some time. So what are we going to do? What a great example we see in this woman who refused to give up and who pressed through her terrible background and difficult situation — first being ignored by Jesus, then being pushed away by the disciples, and, finally, being called a dog. But she continued to press through to get her answer.

Don’t let go of your desire, and don’t let go of the fact that Jesus is your only answer. Press through the obstacles and roadblocks that come because Jesus is with you, and He will see you to the other side of this trouble.

Thank you so much for spending this time with me. If God is doing something special in your life, please let us know. And if you have any prayer requests, we are here for you. We would love to lift your needs before the Lord and believe with you for your answer. Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, or you can send us your prayer request at prayer@renner.org.

And I am so grateful for all the comments I’ve received in response to my new TV program Time With Denise Renner. I read all of them! If you haven’t done so yet, I invite you to join us for the next program on YouTube, Facebook, or Telegram! And I also want to let you know that my new book Unstoppable will be officially released this month. Be sure to get your copy of this powerful and encouraging word that can help you overcome hindrances and push past obstacles to receive God’s supply and position yourself to fulfill your divine destiny!

Let’s keep pressing forward together,

Denise Renner

Follow After Peace

May Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

 

Dear Friends,

Before I get into my teaching today, I want to thank you for signing up to receive your first teaching letter from me. Welcome! I’m so glad you decided to join our family of deeper readers. I spend hours writing these letters each month, sharing my heart and the insights gleaned from my studies in God’s Word. I pray that this letter, and every letter I write in the future, truly ministers to your heart and strengthens your walk with God.

Greetings in Jesus’ name!

Before I get into what’s on my heart to share with you today, I want to express how thankful we are for your prayers for the countless number of precious adults and children who have been displaced from their homes due to the volatile situation in this region. Because of your generosity and willingness to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we have been able to provide immediate relief in the form of packages filled with food, personal-care essentials, blankets, and the Word of God. Your prayers and financial gifts are an instrumental part of placing hope directly into the hands of those who so desperately need hope in this hour. If you would like to see the most current photos of this emergency-relief effort, please use the following link: renner.org/article/relief-photos.

Denise and I would also like to thank those who are continually praying for us and RENNER Ministries as we move forward on our Ministry Expansion Project (you can read more about it at renner.org). We are making significant progress, but please continue praying with us to reach our goal as we grow our capacity to minister to those God has sent to us to impact with the Gospel. We are SO THANKFUL to every person who has become a part of the giving team to help us so we can better minister to people in our nearby world and to the far reaches of the earth. Thank you from the depths of our hearts!       

As I was reflecting on our 30 years in the former USSR this week, I found myself remembering a time when the devil tried to hijack our ministry by planting seeds of bitterness in my soul toward a difficult pastor who lived near us in the former USSR. I had so many legitimate reasons to be upset with him, but one day the Lord said to me, “Rick, do you want revival in your life and ministry?” I said, “Lord, You know how much I long for it.”

Then I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Then you have to repent for your attitude toward that man and ask him for forgiveness for your attitude.” The whole story — which is actually quite funny in retrospect — is in my new autobiography, UNLIKELY — Our Faith-Filled Journey to the Ends of the Earth, and it can be ordered at renner.org.

As I was remembering how the Holy Spirit helped me uproot that bitterness from my soul and make peace with that difficult man 30 years ago, I felt I should ask you: “Do you have a difficult relationship in your life that has been poisoned by offense, bitterness, or misunderstanding and need to take action to uproot those toxic things from your soul?”

If you have encountered a difficult relationship or difficulty in a relationship — maybe with your spouse or other relative, a friend, an employer, employee, a co-worker, or a member of your church — I know you will find vital keys to help you navigate that situation in Hebrews 12:14, where the verse begins by saying, “Follow peace with all men….”

That word “follow” is the Greek word dioko. This word was an old hunting term that meant to follow the tracks of the animal or to follow the scent of the animal.

Just imagine a hunter decked out in all his hunting gear, and he’s following the tracks of his prey. He’s following the scent of the beast, and he’s looking for every little branch that the animal may have broken so he can better track its whereabouts. The hunter is hunting, following, and searching for that animal — and he is not going to stop until he finally gets his prey.

Now the Holy Spirit uses this word in Hebrews 12:14 to say, “Follow after peace with all men….” That means sometimes peace doesn’t just come to us. In fact, most of the time, peace does not come to us. We have to do something to find peace with people. We have to follow after peace. And God is the author of peace, so He knows how you can obtain it with every person!

Like a hunter, God instructs you and me to put on our “hunting gear” and make a firm decision to do something about that relationship according to His love that has been shed abroad in our hearts (see Romans 5:5). You need to remind yourself: “I can’t be responsible for what that person does, but I am responsible for what I do — and God has required me to do everything I can do to obtain peace in this relationship.” Of course, sometimes, even when you do everything you can do, the other person doesn’t respond. You can’t answer for the other person, but you are going to answer for yourself.

Why is it so important that we follow after peace? The Bible goes on to tell us in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.”

That word “see” tells us that a lack of peace in relationships becomes a blocker that stops us from enjoying and experiencing the presence of God. Think how many times you’ve been in a service where God’s anointing is present and people are being blessed, but you can’t enter into it because you are so inwardly upset about someone or something. You see, these attitudes are blockers, and that is why the writer of Hebrews says that without peace — or in the presence of strife — you will not be able to be admitted into the life-changing presence of God.

Strife is a blocker. It will stop you from entering into the anointing. It will stop you from entering into blessing of any kind.

Hebrews 12:14 goes on to tell us to “follow after peace and holiness.” The word “holiness” is from the word hagias. It means to be separate or to be different. In this particular case, the writer of Hebrews is telling us that we don’t have the privilege of acting or thinking like the world. God calls us to a higher standard. The Holy Spirit lives in us, giving us the power we need to walk in forgiveness on a much higher level than the world. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to walk in freedom rather than the bondage the world walks in. We are called to follow after peace — to hunt it, seek it, pursue it — with all men. And we’re called to walk in holiness, to behave differently than lost people behave and to walk in forgiveness, free from offense. If we fail to pursue that kind of spiritual walk and remain in strife and bitterness, it can block us from experiencing the tangible presence of God.

I urge you to take a moment to look at your life. Think about those times when you’ve harbored bitterness and offense and allowed your heart to grow hard toward a person. It was very difficult for you to experience the sweet presence of the Lord during those times, wasn’t it? That’s exactly what this verse is talking about.

God is calling each one of us to a higher level, and — like it or not — this verse tells us what we have to do when we’re dealing with difficult people in our lives who have hurt or offended us. If we’re serious about being disciples of Jesus, we must determine to forgive every person and every offense. We have to respond differently than the world would respond. Then as much as is possible with us, we must actively follow after obtaining peace with every person.

And let me tell you — the only way you’re going to be able to do this is by spending time with Jesus. Ask Him what path you’re to follow to obtain peace. No one understands this better than Jesus. He had enemies all around Him, yet He walked in peace with all men. Talk to Jesus, and He’ll get you on the right track that leads to freedom from strife and offense and to an abiding sense of His presence every day of your life.

I realize my subject today is a little unusual. But because I was reflecting on that situation from 30 years ago — a time when the devil tried to hijack our ministry by planting seeds of bitterness in my soul toward a difficult pastor — I just felt I needed to encourage you to get before the Lord to make your heart right with Him concerning any person who has wronged or hurt you. If you don’t have my book UNLIKELY, I encourage you to get it. I really believe by reading the whole story of my tangle with bitterness, it will give you direction and help to set you free. As you read it, you can laugh your way into freedom!

God has so much in store for you — and don’t let the devil hijack God’s good plan by allowing the enemy to fill you with toxic feelings of bitterness or unforgiveness. God wants to help you keep moving into freedom so you can fulfill every good plan He has designed for your life!

As I close, I ask you to please let us know how we can pray with you. Denise and I, along with our prayer team, will put our faith together with yours for God to move in your life. We always pray better for you when we know your specific needs. And I promise that when you reach out to us by phone, email, or letter, we will really pray for you!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner

The Woman at the Well

April Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

 

Dear Friend,

There is so much treasure packed away in the Word of God just waiting for us to discover. As we meditate on His Word, the wonderful Holy Spirit inside us speaks to our heart. I want to share with you a nugget I received this month from just a few words Jesus spoke to one woman that I believe can help us all.

We find this woman and her story in John 4:7-26 — the woman at the well. It is a very familiar story to most believers, and in our church in Moscow, we even have a painting that depicts this woman and Jesus and their marvelous encounter that day.

When you read these verses, you find out that this woman was not a very nice woman. She was probably hated by some and talked about by others. She and her reputation may have been the topic of many people’s conversations. She’d had five husbands, and the man she was living with was not her husband. This woman was adulterous. Some might even ask, “What kind of woman could be married five times?” Or, “What’s wrong with this woman? But there she was — talking to Jesus.

Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and you were just taken aback by that person’s behavior? You almost couldn’t believe he or she would act like that! Most of us have probably experienced such a conversation, and we were stunned that someone could actually do such horrible things.

But I want us to look at one verse. John 4:10 says, “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’”

As I was meditating on this verse, I saw the first thing that Jesus said to her — “If you knew the gift of God.” That was her number-one problem! She did not know the gift of God and who it was who was talking to her!

So, what was her real problem? Was it that she had been married five times and was now living with a man she was not married to? Was it that half the town talked about her behind her back?

If you only looked on the outside, you would think that was her real problem: She was an adulterous woman and had hurt many people in her life, and she should get what she deserved.

But, no. That was not her real problem. Her real problem was that she did not know the gift of God. She didn’t know Jesus.

So what is the difference between us and her? God has blessed us, and we probably have had some success in our lives. Maybe we have seen God heal our body, save our mind, touch our children, or provide money for us when we desperately needed it. Maybe by His Spirit, He has delivered us out of trouble and bondage in our life. So what is the difference between us and this woman? One difference is that we know the Gift of God and she didn’t.

In other words, I’m asking, “How can we judge others because we don’t agree with their decisions and their lifestyle when, just like the woman at the well, we had the same problem at one time? We didn’t know Him. Her number-one problem was that she didn’t know Him. The big difference between you and me and others we are sure to encounter is that we know Him, and they don’t.

Even on the Cross, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing” (see Luke 23:34). Again, we see that the world didn’t know the real problem. Can we really justify ourselves if we judge others and stand and say, “I would never do that,” when the person we are tempted to judge just has one big problem — that they don’t know Him?

I am not saying the horrible things people do are justified and that their actions are okay. God hates evil, but God loves the sinner. Jesus hung on that cross for our sins and took the punishment for our sins. And He took the punishment because He loves us.

John 3:16 will never change. It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God loves the sinner, but He hates the sin. The sin is not okay, but if we have judgmental attitudes, we stop the compassion of God from flowing through us. We stop the Perfect Love that casts out fear and conquers judgmental attitudes.

Jesus did not reject this woman — He offered her the answer. Is there someone in your life or even someone you do not really know that you need to give more compassion to because that person doesn’t know Him? Wasn’t that our problem at one time? Or have we ever been in a position where we’ve done wrong and couldn’t see it?

I want to challenge us as we read this letter to give more compassion to those who don’t know Him. Maybe it’s a spouse that acts in a certain way — or a boss, an in-law, a brother or sister, or someone in authority who has a lot of influence over others, and you are appalled at that person’s actions. Did Jesus give us compassion when we didn’t know? He absolutely did! So shouldn’t we give that same compassion to others when we don’t understand their actions?

If Jesus had judged the woman at the well and refused to talk to her in her mess, she would have never received the living water — forgiveness and restoration through knowing Him — He was lovingly offering her. Who around you needs some of that living water you have flowing inside of you? That is what I wanted to share with you.

Jesus knew He had the answer for this woman, and you and I have the answers inside us for people who don’t know Him. Let’s freely give this living water to others.

Thank you for spending this time with me as I share my heart. And as always, if you have any prayer needs, please let us know. We are here for you, and we want to pray for you. And we would love to hear what God is doing in your life! Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, or you can send us your prayer request at prayer@renner.org.

And thank you to those who have responded to my new program TIME With Denise Renner. I invite you to join us on YouTube, Facebook, and Renner.org.

Let’s keep having compassion in our hearts for others.

Denise Renner

Jesus Is Lord of All

April Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

 

Dear Friends,

This month, I want to talk to you about the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ and what that means to you and me. In the midst of current difficult, trying times in the world, the message of Christ’s victory over Satan and the kingdom of darkness — in our stead and on our behalf — is a message we need to hear and hear again!

Not only is the Church worldwide celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ this month, this month also marks the 30-year anniversary of the first legal celebration in decades of Easter in the former USSR. And the Renner family was right there for the reviving of that holiday celebration! We moved to the former Soviet Union 30 years ago, and on Sunday, April 26, 1992 — in Latvia, where we lived at that time — the first LEGAL EASTER in approximately five decades was celebrated in that nation!

Can you imagine living in a world where people don’t know about Easter? That was the socialist-communist world we moved into with our family 30 years ago. I tell all about that first legal celebration of Easter — and more — in my new autobiography called, UNLIKELY. (If you don’t already have this book, it can be ordered at renner.org.)

This month, I would normally write to you from traditional verses about Easter, but this year, I wanted to write to you from Ephesians 1:22, where Paul wrote that after Jesus was raised from the dead, He was gloriously exalted above all. That verse says, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.”

Paul’s choice of words in this statement is very powerful, so today I want to take a moment to unlock the original Greek language for you to fully understand this amazing verse.

The first part of this verse says, “And hath put all things under his feet.…” The word “under” is a translation of the Greek word hupotasso, which is a military term meaning to subjugate or to dominate. It described forcibly subduing a conquered people and putting them in their place, but Paul’s use of this word in Ephesians 1:22 tells us that through Christ’s death on the Cross, His subsequent resurrection, and His ultimate ascension on High — God literally put every foe that ever existed UNDER Jesus’ feet.

Paul elaborated on this in Philippians 2:9-11, saying, “Wherefore God hath highly exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above every name: that at the name

of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” Nothing in the universe is more highly exalted than Jesus Christ. His throne rules above all — above all human authorities, military authorities, and spiritual authorities. There is simply no one who rules higher or more majestically than Jesus.

Jesus is so exalted “above all” that Revelation 1:5 declares He is “the prince of the kings of the earth.” This means He rules above all the affairs of mankind. It means that no matter what political party, president, or ruler holds power — or what verdicts the courts mete out — Jesus Christ’s ultimate authority over the kings of the earth remains uncontested. Others may command an earthly sphere of influence for a limited time, but Christ’s rule supersedes and outlasts them all.

But notice Revelation 1:5 says Jesus is “the prince of the kings of the earth.” The word “prince” is the word archon, a Greek word that denotes one who holds the highest and most exalted position. That emphatically means Jesus is truly Lord over all. The word “kings” is a form of the Greek word basileuo, which means to rule or to reign. However, the form of the word used in Revelation 1:5 not only refers to human kings or rulers, but also to governments, which tells us Jesus’ power is greater than any human government. Human governments may think they are in control, but Jesus is exalted far above them, and He is the One who ultimately calls the shots. And in time, every opposing force will be eliminated, and Jesus will remain high and lifted up!

Revelation 1:5 boldly proclaims that Jesus is the most highly exalted King and that He possesses supreme power and authority — more than any ruler or government that will ever exist in the earthly sphere. Even in the darkest hours or the bleakest situations, evil will always be thwarted by the prevailing power of Jesus Christ. Approximately 2,000 years of Church history have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that darkness doesn’t have the power or authority to silence the voice of Jesus Christ and His Church. As the King of kings, Jesus holds the highest seat of power, and He possesses dominion over all. Human kings and governments come and go, but Jesus’ Kingdom is everlasting and supersedes all others.

As I reflect on our family’s experiencing the collapse of socialistic-communism — a form of atheistic government that tries to outlaw and eliminate God — I remember that it came and went, proving once again that evil forces may try to blow in, but they surely always blow out. And when they are gone, Jesus remains seated in His highly exalted position, establishing that His Kingdom is completely without end! Because of His resurrection, He is above all; all things are under His feet; and He truly is the Prince of the kings of the earth!

THIS is the One we serve! Say amen!

And Jesus is Lord over any situation you may be facing right now! Even if it seems like a bad circumstance is trying to hover over your life, it will eventually go. But please let us know how to pray for you, and we’ll agree in prayer for that situation to submit to the name of Jesus and to change quickly for your sake and to the glory of God! That situation will bow its knee to the lordship of Jesus Christ! So please…let us know how we can pray for you.

Never forget that we are here for you — and we are so thankful for you and your partnership with our ministry. Together we are shining the light of God’s Word to dispel

darkness in people’s lives. What you are doing as a partner is more important than I know how to express. We are so thankful to God for you!

Before I close, I encourage you to take time to pray about who you can take to church with you this Easter to celebrate Christ’s glorious resurrection. This is a perfect opportunity to tell a friend, “Hey, come with me to church to celebrate Easter.” This may be the very moment that person repents or rededicates his or her life to Christ — and perhaps finds a church home with you — amen?

We really do love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner

Jesus Wants To Heal You

March Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

 

Dear Friend,

Thank you in advance for reading this letter and spending this time with me today. It is such an honor and a privilege to be able to share my heart with you. Proverbs 3:5 and 6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths.” How important it is for us to read and hear this passage again and again and to really “see” it. But the power is in the doing, and that is what I want to talk to you about today.

Recently, I was praying with someone for her healing, and every word she said indicated she really believed God. Then she said, “I really believe God, so why am I still sick?”

Have you ever asked that question? I think many of us have asked that question from time to time.

As I talked to this woman a little longer, I understood that there was something in her soul that did not want to let go of that sickness. You may be thinking, But how can anyone not want to let go of sickness!

This woman had been abused by various people growing up, and in her adulthood, she was mistreated by an abusive husband. There was so much pain and hurt attached to this woman’s precious heart. Through all this abuse, she tried to be strong and to save herself, and it had become ingrained in her as a lifestyle to try to save herself — actually, to fix herself and everyone else around her. There was so much pain deep in her soul, and to feel better about herself inside and to erase her shame, she was habitually trying to work more than she should work and to try to rid those around her of their pain. She desperately wanted to be free, yet as much as she tried to heal her own soul, the sickness in her body would not move.

God didn’t send Jesus through His horrifying death for us to heal ourselves — He did it for us to trust in Him to heal us. And in the case of this precious woman, whether she realized it or not, she was saying inside, Lord, I believe what You did for me, but it is not enough — I have to pay some of this debt.

That is where the problem is. Jesus paid the whole sum for our debt, and anything we try to do does not and cannot release us from the debt. Instead, our aggressive activity to heal ourselves actually plugs up and hinders His merciful redeeming power from manifesting in our lives. Only His blood and sacrifice and resurrection can provide our freedom — that was this woman’s only freedom. In our flesh, we might try to pay, but it doesn’t work. There is only One who paid the whole debt. He was the only One who could pay it — and He did it! Jesus paid it all!

Jesus said a house divided against itself cannot stand (see Mark 3:25). There is no agreement where there is such “division.” For example, if we say, “Yes, Jesus paid my debt, but in this tiny area of my life, I’m trying to work it out on my own,” then we are divided. If we’re trying to work on ourselves in our own strength, we are leaning on our own power. But our total power and freedom are in what Jesus did, not in what we can do. And if we want to see the victory, we have to wholeheartedly believe and agree with what He did for us and then receive His power.

Friend, it is so important that you see that as a believer, you did not start this salvation that is flowing through your spirit — and you are not the one who is going to finish it. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith….” So, you see, He started it, and He, by His power, will be the One to finish it.

When we, somewhere in our thoughts, think, I’ve got this, and I know how I can fix this problem, we are leaning on our own strength and understanding and not His. And we are going to miss something very needed along the way, because whether it is our intention or not, we are showing that we are not in agreement with what Jesus did — all that He accomplished in His horrific death and His powerful, mighty resurrection.

In closing, this is what I want to say to you: This month marks the beginning of spring, and in many parts of the world, new life is beginning to come forth. So let’s think deeply and gratefully about what Jesus did — and is doing — more than about what we can do for ourselves. He wants the answers to our prayers to spring forth and bear fruit like a tree in spring!

In the Gospels, Jesus often said we have to be like a little child to enter and to receive and experience the Kingdom of God. Is there anyone more trusting than a little child? No, because children simply trust. That’s why I started this letter with Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” It is in the trusting — with complete faith and trust like that of a little child — that we experience His love, peace, direction, healing, and freedom.

I pray the message in this letter encourages you to trust Him more deeply and to not lean on your own power or understanding. I believe more than ever that God is waiting for us to completely trust Him so that He can show His mighty power to us in every area of our lives, especially in these very unsettling times.

Thank you again for spending this time with me. If you have any prayer needs, please let us know. Our prayer team is so willing to join with you in faith and prayer. And if God has done something special for you, please let us know — we love to hear these testimonies!

Also, I hope you are enjoying my new program Time With Denise Renner on YouTube, Facebook, and Renner.org. I have already heard from so many viewers, and I appreciate those responses so very much.

Let’s keep trusting in Him with all our heart. Call or write to our team at 1-800-742-5593 or email us at prayer@renner.org.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

God Has More in Store for You!

March Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

 

Dear Friends,

Here we are in the month of March with the first day of spring approaching. Depending on where you live, the weather will be turning warmer soon, and vegetation that has been browned by winter frost will be turning green and blooming once again. That’s what I love about spring! Although landscapes can appear dead in winter, they are usually only dormant — but when spring comes, the fruitfulness of grass, trees, flowers, gardens, and crops becomes apparent. I liken it to a “manifestation” of what wasn’t seen but is now very visible to the eye.

Something so similar is happening to RENNER Ministries that I want to share with you for a moment. I also want to THANK YOU for what you have done to help make this transformation from unseen to seen a living reality for us and for the many souls God has called us to partner with, to reach, and to teach and strengthen all over the world, especially in the former Soviet Union.

As you know, we began to seriously outgrow our ministry offices in Tulsa in the last couple of years, and we’ve had to be very creative in the way we’ve utilized our space. Some team members have found themselves working in unusual spots to perform their tasks, and after places in our hallways were utilized to the max for storage, we’ve had to rent on-site storage to be able to keep up with the volume of ministry that God is allowing to take place from our U.S. headquarters. So we recently acquired a new building in the Tulsa area, fully furnished to meet our ministry needs!

Also, as the online participation in our Internet Good News Church exploded exponentially from 30,000 members to more than 200,000 — along with millions of new viewers we have onboard since our acquisition of the CNL-GNC (Good News Channel) satellite network — Denise and I and our team are filming up to seven programs every day in Moscow! Our current studio space has become too small to accommodate all this growth, and we knew we needed to build a new studio where we could perform the functions of TV, Internet, and satellite ministry with greater effectiveness and expediency.

We are in the middle of this miracle right now! We’re seeing the “temperatures warming” and signs of new growth appearing — we are blossoming and flourishing in this new season at RENNER Ministries! God gives the increase and brings forth the promise of His Word — but this has largely happened because our partners believed in the vision He gave us and continued to water the seed we boldly planted in His name. Denise and I and our team thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

I want to let you know that we’ll be moving the entire ministry in Tulsa soon, and the entire exterior of the Moscow studio is completely in place, including the roof, walls, windows, and doors. We are now in PHASE 2 of the Moscow project, as we need to finish the interior with flooring, drywall, paint, and everything else necessary to equip the studio for our rigorous filming schedule. If you’re not already a part of this expansion-project giving team and you feel led to join us, please participate with us so, together, we can finish PHASE 2 of this project.

Finally, PHASE 3 will entail paying off our new U.S. facility, which we are believing God we’ll be able to do quickly. He is truly building this “ministry house” (see Psalm 127:1). We know He has entrusted this assignment to us, and He is working with us to see it through to its full manifestation — “…first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (see Mark 4:28). We are thankful to Him and to all our friends and partners who have prayed for us and have sown finances into this work. Your seed is producing something bigger than any one of us can do on his or her own. THANK YOU!

And now to the part of this letter that I study to produce for you each month, which I believe will be a blessing to you today. Just as a farmer examines the productivity of his crops at harvesttime, every once in a while, Denise and I take time to seriously and thoughtfully review what we are accomplishing and what we are not accomplishing in our lives and ministry. We do our best to be very honest with ourselves and with each other about these questions as we dive deep for solid answers.

Taking this kind of look at ourselves and our work is not always pleasant. Sometimes we find areas of glaring failure or areas where we know the Lord expected more of us. But in order to see the truth about our lives the way God sees it, He requires us to lay down our pride and be honest with ourselves. In the end, we’re always glad we did the review because it helps us repent — turn ourselves around — for the times we failed; rejoice over what God helped us successfully accomplish; and make sure we’re on the right course now, where we will be the most focused and effective in the future.

When other people say, “Wow, you accomplish so much!” we are always glad that they can see fruit and growth in our lives. God is always on the move, and He is indeed the God of increase. However, the most important question to us is not what other people think, but what the Lord thinks of us and our accomplishments. Maybe it’s true that we accomplished a lot compared to what others have done. But how we compare to other people and ministries is not the measuring stick any of us should use to determine how we are doing.

When Denise and I do an honest evaluation of where we are in our obedience, we remind ourselves of Second Corinthians 10:12 (AMPC), where the apostle Paul wrote that when people “…measure themselves with themselves and compare themselves with one another, they…behave unwisely.”

This means our measuring stick should never be how we measure up to other human beings or to other ministries. The real issue is how we “measure up” to the vision and goals the Lord gave us. When we stand before Jesus, He isn’t going to judge us by how we did in comparison to others. He will judge us for how we did with the assignments He gave us to do.

Therefore, we have learned to ask ourselves on a regular basis:

• Are we accomplishing the goals the Lord has given us?
• Can we stand before Him with a heart free of condemnation, knowing that we gave our very best effort, work, and faith to achieve His will?
• What changes, if any, do we need to make in our lives — in our schedule, commitment, and financial resources — to truly partner with Jesus and do exactly what He has told us to do?

Learning to be honest about ourselves — including our successes and our failures — is important. We can learn from our past mistakes. If we see we have not done something as well as it should have been done, we ask the Lord to forgive us and then we turn our eyes to the present to make corrections — recalibrate — and start doing better!

I think of when Paul was imprisoned in Rome. He had a lot of time to think, so he reflected on his life and achievements. He thought about what he had done, what he hadn’t done, and what he still needed to do. I’m sure that, like all of us, Paul was tempted to look at his life in comparison to others. And compared to others, he had done a great deal.

Paul could have rightfully told himself, I’ve done more than most men will ever dream of doing. I’ve done more than anyone else I know! But rather than revel in his accomplishments, Paul used that time in prison to truthfully assess his life. Then he wrote these famous words in Philippians 3:13 and 14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Notice Paul said, “I count not myself to have apprehended.…”  The words “count not” give us insight into the way Paul looked at his life. Paul borrowed these words from the bookkeeping profession. It is the Greek word logidzomai, which originally meant to mathematically count, calculate, or tabulate or to make a conclusion. This word was primarily used in the bookkeeping world to portray the idea of a balance sheet or a profit-and-loss statement that a bookkeeper prepared at the end of the month or year.

For example, a business owner might assume his or her business is doing well, but when the bookkeeper adds up all the numbers and hands the owner the profit-and-loss statement to read, that’s the moment that person finds out how well his or her business is really doing. You wouldn’t have to guess anymore about your situation, because the numbers tell the real story.

So rather than guess about how well he had done, Paul decided to carefully review the original goals God had given him. It is almost as if Paul had written God’s plan for his life on one side of the page and what he had actually accomplished on the other side of the page. After looking at the original goal and truthfully assessing how much of that goal he had accomplished, he wrote, “I count not myself to have apprehended….”

Although Paul had accomplished a great deal in his ministry, he knew he hadn’t done everything he was supposed to do. That is one reason he knew it was not time for him to die. His prison situation was dreadful, and the legal prognosis didn’t look good. But Paul knew it wasn’t time for him to leave this world because he still had so much work to do.

I’m sure Paul was thankful for everything he had seen and all that God had already accomplished through him. This is why Paul went on to say, “…But this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13). But I want you to stop and think about what Paul was choosing to forget and put behind him.

Some say Paul was forgetting his past life of sin, but he had put that behind him long before that. Instead, he was choosing to put his past successes and accomplishments behind him. Stopping at past victories is what keeps most people from moving into future victories. Often people get so stuck on what they have already done that they lose sight of what they still need to do — and that keeps them from moving forward to possess new territory in God’s plan for their lives.

Paul knew there were still huge parts of his vision that were unfinished. Even though the past had been great and he was thankful to God for every victory he had experienced, it was now time for him to begin reaching forth unto those things which were still before him.

We all need to rejoice over what God has done in our lives, but we must continue to work with Him, focusing on what we haven’t seen fulfilled. Thinking of the past victories encourages and reminds us of God’s faithfulness, but eventually we have to leave the past behind and turn our eyes to the present and the future. We can’t go forward while constantly looking backward.

• Yesterday’s victories were for yesterday.
• Yesterday’s good reports were for yesterday.
• Yesterday’s accomplishments were for yesterday.

I want to tell you that all our futures are important, so we must look at our lives, appraise our status, and let the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts as we remain willing to keep moving forward by faith. Thank God for every victory, but keep your eyes fixed on the future so you can keep marching forward to fulfill every detail of the vision God has put into your heart!

I pray this letter has encouraged you as much as it has encouraged me to write it! God has so much more in store for you — and He wants to help you keep moving ahead by faith to fulfill the very good plan He has designed for your life. Don’t be satisfied to stop with past victories when new victories are awaiting you!

Oh, friend, please make time to let us know how we can pray with you. Denise and I, along with our anointed prayer team, seriously put our faith forward for every person who reaches out to us. But we can pray better when we’re alerted to your specific needs. And I promise that when you reach out to us by phone, by email, by letter, or online, we will really pray for you!

We truly love you and thank God for you.

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

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