Wow — I’m hearing from so many people who are responding to what I’ve been teaching recently, and I’m nearly speechless to see how God is touching so many lives. How can I be anything but grateful that He has allowed us to be a part of His great big plan to strengthen His people in these last days?

We’re also so thankful that our partners are helping us do it. In fact, we wouldn’t be doing all that we do if it weren’t for the faithful, consistent giving of partners. I say that our ministry is like a well-prepared automobile that is ready to go, but it needs fuel to operate. In a real sense, when our partners give, they put the gas in the tank to keep us moving and doing what God has called us to do! We count every one of our partners as a true participant and sharer in this work of God. For this, we simply can’t say it enough: THANK YOU!

I also want to express my heartfelt thanks to each person who has given toward the purchase of the new office space in Moscow that is so desperately needed. We haven’t yet reached the amount we need in order to proceed, but with our partners’ help, we have made significant progress. If God moves on your heart to help us financially with this project, please do whatever He tells you to do. I am convinced this is God’s will, and I know He will provide what is needed. And I am praying for Him to mightily bless those who give especially for this project.

In this month’s letter, I want to especially encourage you about defeating the negative forces that come to assault your mind and your life. I’ll start by referring you to the real-life story of David and Goliath.

In First Samuel 17, we can see how the devil used the giant Goliath to intimidate the armies of Israel. Goliath’s outlandish, arrogant, and disdainful declarations of what he would do and what would become of the Israelites were so effective that not one soldier from the Hebrew camp was willing to stand up to this aggressor. In fact, the Israelite armies were rendered paralyzed for 40 days — until a courageous young man named David came along with the power of God to challenge those lies!

The Bible says, “And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was SIX CUBITS AND A SPAN” (1 Samuel 17:3,4). In today’s measurements, we could say that Goliath was up to 9 feet, 9 inches tall!

In addition, First Samuel 17:5-7 says, “…He had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.”

In today’s weight, that “coat of mail” would be the equivalent of 125 pounds! But we know he also had greaves of brass and a target (javelin) of brass slung between his shoulders! The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam — which means the long staff of his spear weighed at least 17 pounds. The Scripture also specifically says that the spear’s head weighed 600 shekels of iron — which is the equivalent of 16 pounds. One scholar has speculated that the weight of all these pieces of weaponry together — Goliath’s helmet, breastplate, greaves, brass javelin, spear, and shield — may have weighed in excess of 700 pounds!

In every respect imaginable, Goliath was a very frightful sight! How would you feel if you were challenged by a monster who stood about 9 feet, 9 inches tall and carried 700 pounds of weaponry? And imagine how much the giant himself must have weighed! Yet it wasn’t just Goliath’s size or weaponry that caused the Israelites to shrink in fear. It was the constant threats and mental bombardment that the giant hit them with every single day. This mental harassment “crippled” the Hebrew soldiers so that they lost sight of the awesome ability of God.

The Bible says: “And he [Goliath] stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Samuel 17:8-10)

These threats were so emotionally overpowering that it shut down Israel’s entire armies. Verse 11 declares, “When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.”

Goliath mentally and emotionally immobilized the armies of Israel without ever using a sword or spear! With words alone, he incapacitated, disabled, stunned, and “disarmed” the Israelites. The giant’s flagrant and preposterous distortion of his own greatness was so outrageous that his words bewitched the Israelite armies until they were spellbound under his verbal control.

In effect, Goliath said to them:

Isn’t this what the devil tries to do to you? He is a slanderer and an accuser! By speaking to minds and emotions, he seeks to incapacitate, disable, stun, numb, and disarm believers the same way he paralyzed the Israelite armies through Goliath. This conduct is the primary tool the devil uses to assault the minds of believers — bombarding God’s people with thoughts, such as:

Throwing one slanderous accusation after another at your mind, the devil will do everything he can to slander and belittle you. He will defame, malign, revile, and smear you and your faith in order to drive you back into the ditch of self-preservation where you never do anything significant for the Kingdom of God.

If you listen to the devil’s threats long enough, you will become “dismayed and greatly afraid,” just like the children of Israel who listened to the words of Goliath and became functionally paralyzed. You’ll find yourself living on the low side of victory — unwilling to take on any new challenges for fear you might fail, for fear of what others might say, for fear of potential catastrophe, etc.

The devil wants to take you captive and destroy you with the same tools Goliath used against the Israelites. Satan wants to ruin your effectiveness with deceptive suggestions and lying allegations!

DON’T LISTEN TO THE ENEMY —
SPEAK GOD’S WORD!

But if you learn how to conquer all the lying emotions, slanderous accusations, and deceptive suggestions the devil uses to try to neutralize you, you will be able to keep the enemy in a subordinate position for the rest of your life. Once you pull the plug on Satan’s intimidating threats and lies, he will no longer be able to hold your mind captive. If you’ll take charge of your mind — learning how to SPEAK God’s truth rather than LISTEN to the enemy’s lies — the devil will lose his ability to use lying emotions and illusions to manipulate, dominate, and control your life!

When David heard Goliath’s threats, he decided to stand against the giant and to forever remove his ugly words against the armies of Israel. David said concerning Goliath, “…Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:32). Then First Samuel 17:40 tells us that David “…took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

David charged a giant — who was wearing 700 pounds of weaponry — with nothing in his hands to kill him but a sling and five stones! David was not naturally equipped to fight this kind of foe, but he declared to Goliath, “…Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied” (v. 45).

David continued, “This day will the Lord deliver you into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and He WILL give you into our hands” (vv. 46,47).

The story continues: “And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him…” (vv. 49,50).

But wait — David wasn’t finished yet! While Goliath lay with his face to the ground, stunned by the small stone that had been hurled from his young opponent’s sling, David seized the opportunity to make sure the job was finished! The verse continues to tell us that David “…stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith…” (v. 51).

Are you tired of being mentally harassed and emotionally tormented by the lying insinuations and slanderous accusations of the adversary? How would you like to sling a stone of faith into the head of accusing thoughts and drop them to the ground, stunned — and then “cut off their heads” so that they can never harass you again?

You do not have to listen to harassing thoughts that enslave you mentally and emotionally! You can shut them up and eliminate them! If you don’t know how to do it or you need help, call us, and we’ll pray with you! God wants to liberate your mind from every paralyzing lie of the devil!

Oh, it has been so good to share this word with you today! I know this letter is a little longer than usual, but this is what was in my heart for you this month, so I needed to get all of it to you. Thank you for letting me share it. I pray it has given you strength to stand up in faith against the enemy’s mental and emotional onslaught against your life!

Thank you, too, for your prayers and your partnership. Please let us know how we can pray for you. We’re already praying, but when we hear from you, it helps us get more specific in our praying! We bless you in Jesus’ wonderful name!

And 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

As I write to you today, I want to begin by telling you that Denise and I are so thrilled about everything God is doing in our lives and through our ministry. This is absolutely the most exciting time of our lives! All over Russia — and across the rest of the world — we are seeing people respond to the teaching of God’s Word. This is what we live for, so it simply thrills us.

Of course, we are willing to do the work — God’s calling on our lives is deeply embedded in our hearts. But fulfilling the assignment is not possible without partners who empower us to do it with their financial gifts and their prayers.

For this, we want to say THANK YOU for every gift you have given, are giving, and will give in the future. What we do is vitally connected to what you do, and we never forget what you are doing to support this ministry. As our partner in this work, you can be assured that we are using your gifts as wisely as we know how, and we are fervently praying for you on a daily basis.

Thank you for taking the extra time to read in last month’s letter about our recent opportunity to purchase a much-needed facility adjacent to our Moscow offices. This new building will expand our ministry effectiveness to those who are responding to the TV broadcasts in the former Soviet Union, the United States, and all over the world. We are grateful for those who have generously responded to this opportunity, but we still have a distance to go, and we cherish your prayers. Denise and I are so deeply touched and are grateful for your support of this additional step in God’s plan for RENNER MINISTRIES. Thank you!

This month, I want to talk to you about the effect that God’s miraculous power has on people’s lives!

It is sad that many people think Jesus’ miracle-working power is only a thing of the past because He is the same today as when He walked the earth some 2,000 years ago. Jesus hasn’t changed. He still wants to touch, heal, and restore people. That’s why I want to encourage you to make room in your life for Jesus to perform His miracle-working, life-changing ministry through you!

God has always used miracles to attract people to Jesus Christ. Many examples can be found in Scripture, but one I especially love is found in John 6:2. It says, “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.”

May I take a few minutes to focus on this verse with you today?

Why was this massive multitude following Jesus? The verse tells us: “…because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The word “because” is the word hoti, and it points to the reason the crowds were following Jesus. It says they were following Him “…because they saw his miracles….”

Just as one would sit and watch a play from a seat in the theater, those crowds watched to see every miracle Jesus was performing. Like spectators in a theater who are mesmerized by an amazing show, they didn’t want to miss one “act” in this supernatural performance — so they followed Jesus to get a close-up look at the miracles that were constantly occurring in His ministry.

The verse goes on to say, “…They saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The word “miracles” comes from the Greek word semeion. In the Greek world, this word semeion signified the official written notice that announced the final verdict of a court; the signature or seal applied to documents to guarantee their authenticity; or a sign that marked key locations in a city.

Taking that into account, it means these miracles were the final verdict or proof that God was with Jesus. When those crowds saw the miracles, they knew those supernatural acts were God’s stamp of approval on Jesus’ ministry. These superhuman deeds were the guarantee that Jesus was anointed by God. The miracles Jesus performed were like signs that declared, “God is here! You are in the right place!” They were comparable to a signature or a seal that authenticated and guaranteed God was with Him. That’s why those followers didn’t want to be away from Jesus for a moment. They knew Jesus bore the stamp of God’s approval!

John 6:2 even gives us an idea of what kind of miracles primarily caught the attention of the crowds. It says, “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” The words “he did” come from the Greek word poieo, which often conveys the idea of creativity. The use of this Greek word implies that miracles of a creative nature were regularly occurring and that these miracles in particular were catching the attention of the crowds.

John recorded that Jesus was healing those who were “diseased.” The word “diseased” in Greek is astheneo, and it depicts people who are physically feeble due to some bodily condition. Their physical condition is so serious that it has rendered them unable to move about freely.

These were feeble, frail, broken people. But when Jesus walked the earth, He carried the anointing to heal the sick — and He regularly healed people who were feeble due to some bodily condition. The health of these people had deteriorated to the point they had become weak and frail — but once Jesus touched them, they were restored to health!

Taking all these words into consideration,
the RIV (Renner’s Interpretive Version) of John 6:2 reads:

A massive multitude continually followed Jesus because they were constantly seeing the mighty signs He was performing on those who were sick. Those whose health was so deteriorated that they were physically frail were recipients of these mighty deeds that authenticated the fact that God was with Jesus!

Those who followed Jesus during His ministry knew something wonderful was always happening because God was with Him. People’s lives were being changed; their health was being restored; and their purpose in life was being renewed. Jesus was the best thing that had ever happened to any person who came in contact with Him!

Jesus is still the best thing that has ever happened to any person who comes in contact with Him! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8). So if you have need of healing or a manifestation of miraculous power, go ahead and believe for a miracle to start working in your life! Just think of the profound effect a single miracle would have on your life — and in the lives of those in your circle of friends and the people you know.

And never forget that God may want to perform a miracle through you! As a believer, you are anointed to lay hands on the sick, and you have the right to expect to see those sick people get well. That’s God’s promise in Mark 16:18, so boldly claim it by faith and reach out to let His power operate through you to others!

Having witnessed many miracles in our own ministry, I want to encourage you to believe for miracles in your life and in the lives of those around you. When people see and experience the power of God, it makes them want to follow Jesus, just like the crowds who followed Him in John 6:2. Miracles are God’s way of shouting, “I am here, and I love you!”

It’s sad that many people think Jesus’ miracle-working power is only a thing of the past, because He is both able and willing to do now the same things He did when He walked on the earth 2,000 years ago. Jesus hasn’t changed. He wants to touch, heal, and restore people. That’s why I want to encourage you to make room in your life for Jesus to perform His miracle-working, life-changing ministry through you!

Whatever your particular need is today, Jesus has the power to touch it and change it. Whether it’s a need concerning your physical or emotional health and well-being, your finances, or your relationships — whatever your need — Jesus Christ’s power is present right now. If you don’t know how to lay hold of that power, call us at 1-800-742-5593, and our prayer team will lay hold with you so God’s miraculous power can be released to change everything!

Please pray for Denise and me too. We are pushing forward by faith to touch as many lives in Russia and around the world as possible. The Word of God has the power to change the lives of all who believe it. But they have to hear it in order to believe it (see Romans 10:14-17), so we are doing our part to take the Good News to them. For that to happen through this ministry the way God wants it to happen, we need a lot of prayer support!

Let us hear from you so we’ll know how to pray for you!

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
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families

This month, I sense the Holy Spirit encouraging me to exhort people to open their minds and hearts to do whatever God is asking them to do. So today I feel led to ask you: Do you find it easy to step out in faith to obey God, or is acting on what you know to do a challenge for you? Do you struggle to get in line with God’s will for your life — or are you sold out to do whatever He may ask you to do? Be honest as you ponder your answer, because locating yourself in these matters is the first step toward aligning yourself with God’s perfect plan and His dreams for your life.

Before I get into my teaching this month, I’d first like to tell you about an opportunity presented to us that we feel we need to act on. Right now, our TV outreach is growing, and we are touching people all over the world in both the Russian and English languages. The fact is, many people are responding to our TV broadcasts, and we need more space for staff to help us effectively minister to them. This means we need more space for expansion — and the land and building next door to our offices in Russia have just become available for purchase. We could use the property fairly quickly with a little fixing up. The cost for this property is about $500,000, which for Moscow is a very reasonable price. We sense a green light from the Lord to proceed, but we need the finances to take this step of faith.

We know that God is our Provider, and our eyes are on Him. But would you please pray to see if the Lord would have you do something extra right now to help us move on this opportunity? I am letting you know about this need because I believe you would want to be informed about it. If many people could do a little, it wouldn’t take much for us to get this project done — but it will require as many people as possible to make it happen. I rarely ask for help in this way, but because you are our partner, I felt I should present this in faith to you. Will you please pray and believe with us about this amazing opportunity and important step of faith?

Now I want to encourage you on the subject God has put on my heart to teach about this month. God has a specific plan and purpose for the life of every single person on the planet. And the Bible is filled with people who heard and knew the will of God, but who experienced a prolonged “in-between” time while everything came into alignment so His plan could be realized in their lives.

Abraham is an example of someone who experienced a prolonged time between his dream and its fulfillment. He had heard from God, but it took him decades to fully experience what God had promised him. Or how about Joseph, who had a dream from the Lord about rising to a place of great position and authority, but it took him more than a decade to step into and begin walking out that call on his life.

Likewise, David was anointed of God to be the king of Israel. But he spent many years first working for King Saul — and then running for his life from the king — before his calling to actually be the king became a reality. Each of these men — Abraham, Joseph, and David — experienced times of confusion, discouragement, and frustration as they went through the process of getting fully aligned with God’s will for their lives.

THE PATH TO YOUR DESIRED OUTCOME

The same can be true in each of our lives. Sometimes it takes a while to really understand what God is saying to us. We discern His leading in our hearts, but for various reasons, we don’t understand with our intellects what He’s actually saying to us. Sometimes the timing doesn’t seem right; at other times, our own selfish preferences can hinder our understanding or cause us to misinterpret what God is saying.

Perhaps we hear His voice in our hearts, but our emotions don’t want to accept what He is saying. As a result, we rationalize that God couldn’t really be saying what we think we’re hearing. At other times, there may be a blockage inside us that hinders our progress — a wrong mindset or a stubborn will — and before we can proceed, that hindrance has to be eliminated by the power of the Spirit.

Another reason it takes people time to fully connect with doing God’s will is the comfort factor in their lives. Most of us like to be where we feel comfortable, and our flesh naturally gravitates to what is easy. It seems so effortless to take the path of least resistance. We are drawn to what is familiar and will usually shy away from anything that will “rock our boat.”

But if God is asking you to do something that is totally out of your comfort zone and contrary to your way of thinking, He can change your thoughts to become agreeable to His will. You’ll find the path to this desired outcome in Proverbs 16:3 (AMPC):

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

What a powerful promise from God — He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and your plans shall succeed! But it isn’t automatic — there is something you must do first. You must commit your way wholly and completely to Him.

You may have found that settling into your divine calling is a process and even a struggle at times. I have struggled with it in the past — and so have many others. Don’t feel condemned or discouraged — just join the crowd! Our minds are finite, and sometimes it’s difficult for us to comprehend and assimilate what God is saying to us, even if we know it in our hearts.

The truth is, God may call you to a people, a place, or a job that you would not naturally choose. He may call you to a church filled with people of a different race and culture — an unfamiliar situation you would normally avoid. He may call you to a different city or a different part of the country or to another part of the world, as He called me. Regardless, you can rest assured of this truth: Wherever God calls you is the best place for you to be!

So I want to ask you:

Today I want to encourage you to surrender yourself afresh to do the will of God, no matter what. If your will is strong and it is closed or opposed to God’s will, it may take time for you to come to a place of surrender and total understanding. If that’s true about you, just be real with Him and pray this from your heart:

“Lord, I ask You for Your grace to embrace the place where You have called me. As I do what You are asking me to do, I release my faith to believe I’ll experience joy and victory and that my steps will be fruitful for Your glory. Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Never forget that God has a great plan for your life. He is just waiting for you to say yes and to jump in the race He has designed for you. Also, never forget that if you need someone to pray with you about anything, we are here for you, ready to go to God on your behalf. Simply write us a letter, email us, or call us, and Denise and I and our team will pray for you!

Oh, how I pray that this letter has been an encouragement to you this month. Please remember to pray for us too. And, as always, we want to say THANK YOU for your prayers and your gifts to our ministry. You are making a tremendous difference in so many lives!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

This month, people around the world are focused on Easter, so I’d like to take a moment to share from my heart about the cross of Jesus Christ and what exactly it means for you and me.

The cross of Christ is a precious emblem to those of us who call Jesus the Lord of our lives. We love that cross and cherish it because of the price that was paid some 2,000 years ago when Jesus died for our sins.

Christ’s death on the Cross purchased our forgiveness, our redemption, our freedom, our fellowship with God, and our eternal well-being. But we need to remember that when the Lamb of God hung on that cross we deem so precious, He hung there naked, beaten, and bleeding profusely before a watching world — and it was a ghastly sight.

Blood drenched Jesus’ body, pouring from His head and brow, running like rivers from the deeply torn flesh in His hands and feet. The effect of the scourging Jesus received in Pilate’s palace had begun to take its toll as His body swelled up and became horribly discolored and disfigured. His eyes were matted with the blood that poured from the wounds in His brow — wounds caused by the crown of thorns that bore into His skull as soldiers pushed it down hard upon His head. The whole scene was ugly, unsightly, repulsive, sickening, vile, foul, and revolting.

Isaiah 53:3-5 vividly described Jesus’ sacrifice this way: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

According to this verse, when Jesus died on that hideous cross:

‘IT IS FINISHED!’

As Jesus breathed His last breath, He cried out and said, “It is FINISHED!” These words are a translation of the important Greek word tetelestai (see John 19:30). There were many nuances to this word, but precisely four of them have great significance for you and me.

First, this word was used when a servant was sent on a mission and later returned to his master. Upon finishing his assignment, the servant would say, “Tetelestai,” which meant, “I have done exactly what you requested” or, “The mission is now accomplished.” The use of this word means that in the exact moment Jesus cried out, He was exclaiming to the entire universe that He had faithfully fulfilled the Father’s will and that the mission was now accomplished.

No wonder Jesus shouted, “It is finished!” This was the greatest victory in the history of the human race! He had been faithful to His assignment even in the face of unfathomable challenges. But then the fight was over, and Jesus could finally cry out to the Father, “I have done exactly what You asked Me to do!” or, “The mission is ACCOMPLISHED!”

Second, the word tetelestai was the equivalent of the Hebrew word spoken by the high priest when he presented a sacrificial lamb without spot or blemish. Annually, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, where he poured the blood of that sacrificial, spotless lamb on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. The moment that blood touched the mercy seat, atonement was made for the people’s sins for one more year — at which time, once again, the high priest would enter beyond the veil of that sacred room to offer blood. This was done year after year to obtain the annual, temporary forgiveness of sin.

But when Jesus hung on the cross, He was both Lamb and High Priest. In that holy moment as our Great High Priest, Jesus offered His own blood for the permanent removal of sin. He offered up the perfect sacrifice of which every Mosaic sacrifice was a type and symbol. In that instant, there remained no more need for an offering for sin. Jesus entered into the Holy Place and offered His own blood — a sacrifice so complete that God never again required the blood of lambs or other animals for granting forgiveness. Hebrews 9:12 says, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his [Jesus’] own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Thus, when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He was declaring the end of all those sacrifices, because the ultimate Sacrifice had finally been made! Atonement was completed, perfected, and fully accomplished. It was done once and for all — finished forever!

Third, in a secular sense, the word tetelestai was used in the business world to signify the full payment of a debt. When a debt had been fully paid off, the parchment on which the debt was recorded was stamped with tetelestai, which meant the debt had been paid in full. This means that once a person calls Jesus the Lord of his life and personally accepts His sacrifice, no debt of sin exists for that person any longer. The debt is wiped out because Jesus paid the price for sin that no sinner could ever pay.

Jesus took our place. He paid the debt of sin we owed. And when we by faith repent and receive Him as Lord, we are set free! This is why Paul wrote, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14).

When Jesus uttered those words, “It is finished,” it was His declaration that the debt for the sins of mankind was fully satisfied, fulfilled, and complete. His blood utterly and completely cleansed us forever. It was far-reaching and all-embracing for all who put their faith in Him.

Fourth, the word tetelestai was used to depict a turning point when one period ended and another period began. When Jesus exclaimed, “It is finished,” it was indeed a turning point in the entire history of mankind, for at that moment, the Old Testament came to an end — it was finished and closed — and the New Testament began. The Cross was “the Great Divide” in human history. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” He was shouting that the Old Covenant had ended and the New Covenant had begun!

In that divine moment when Jesus cried, “It is finished,” all the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus’ earthly ministry were fulfilled. The justice of God had been fully satisfied by the Lamb of God. At that moment, the sacrifices of the Old Testament could permanently cease, for the perfect Sacrifice had laid down His life for the salvation of mankind. Jesus’ mission was accomplished. Thus, He could cry out that His task was complete!

YOUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL

Never forget that because Jesus was willing to offer His own blood for the full payment of our sinful debt, we are forgiven and utterly debt-free. “PAID IN FULL” has been stamped on our past, sinful record because Jesus paid the price for our redemption with His own blood.

Think of all that Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished for you and me. It leaves me nearly speechless to think of it. It makes me stop for a few moments just to thank Him for what He has done.

Doesn’t it affect you this way too? Where would you be today if Jesus had not died on the cross for you? Why not take a few minutes right now to express your heartfelt thanksgiving to Him for paying the debt you could never have paid? Because of Jesus and His great love for you and me, the debt for sin has been PAID IN FULL, and we are truly redeemed. What victory was won at that hideous place of the cross!

As I close my letter this month, I want to ask you to pray for us as we reach out to even more people with the teaching of the Word of God. We need your prayers, and we are thankful for every financial gift you give to help us do this vital ministry. You are so important to us. If there’s any specific way we can be praying for you, please be sure to let us know, and we will pray eagerly. We are always waiting to hear from our friends and partners!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Can you believe it’s already March? The days of this year seem to be flying by, and there is so much for us to accomplish between now and the end of 2019. But with God’s grace, we can do it!

Before I get into my teaching today, I want to say thank you for helping us do this ministry that God has assigned to us. With your prayers and partnership, we are making such significant progress in reaching people that really need to be reached. Denise and I and our team are giving our all on the frontlines, but what you provide financially and in prayer is empowering us in practical ways so that we can actually do it. For this, we are so very thankful.

It’s crucial that we know exactly what God wants us to do in life and not just expend energy in a random or scattershot way. To do that, it means we’ll have to discover where God wants us to be and then stay put in that place in faith. That’s what I want to talk to you about in this month’s letter: staying in a place of faith! I’ll be sharing a slightly different aspect of a familiar verse to show you the importance of the obedience of faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says about God, “But without faith it is impossible to please him….” Today I want to do a brief word study with you on the word “without” in this verse. It comes from the Greek word choris, which means to be outside of something, and it pictures someone who lives outside the perimeters of a city. It presents a comparison between being outside or inside something — for example, in the house or out of the house; in the yard or out of the yard; or in the car or out of the car.

The word choris — “without” — depicts someone who is out of, not in, a specific location. Because this word is used in connection with faith, the writer of Hebrews lets us know that we can live in or out of faith.

ARE YOU LIVING ‘IN’ FAITH OR ‘OUT OF’ FAITH?

This also means that faith must be a real place with borders, perimeters, and boundaries. Just as you can live in the city or out of the city, you can live inside faith or outside of faith. The determining factor is your obedience to the assignment God has given you! God wants you to be located at this address of faith — for this is the location He deems the most valuable and profitable for your life. So residing at a place of faith for you means being exactly where God told you to be and staying right there, resolutely, in that place of faith.

Hebrews 11:6 could be accurately rendered:

When you live outside of faith, living beyond its boundaries and perimeters,
it is impossible to please Him….

Have you ever had a moment when you absolutely knew where God told you to be, what He told you to do — and you stuck with it, regardless of how difficult it was? If so, did you see God do the impossible for you as a result?

On the other hand, have you ever moved “out” from where God told you to be and from what He told you to do? If you’ve ever done this, you already personally know how disastrous it can be to surrender the place where God told you to be and to walk away from what He told you to do. The price for moving “out of” a place of faith is so costly.

I encourage you to stay put and not abandon the place where God called you to be. Don’t walk away from what He told you to do. It may be temporarily hard as you wait, but if you’ll hang on and stay put in faith, the Bible promises that you’ll eventually see God move miraculously for you!

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU IDENTIFY
WHETHER YOU ARE ‘IN’ OR ‘OUT OF’ FAITH

To determine if you are in or out of faith, you must answer honestly the following questions:

As long as you stay in that place where God told you to be, you are residing at that address of faith and you therefore please God. But the day you give up and move out of that place of faith, you will be moving into cheaper territory that God doesn’t value as highly — a location where you will experience the hardships and inconveniences of poor choices and defeat.

As you read on in Hebrews, you’ll see that the entire eleventh chapter is about men and women who lived inside the perimeters faith. They each received a word from God for their own lives or for their generation. Although it was difficult to do, they held tightly to their mandate from Heaven. As a result, they changed their generations and pleased God. Faith was the location where they lived — and because they stayed in that place where God had called them, they brought great pleasure to Him.

A REWARD FOR THE PERSISTENT

The devil will try to discourage you from being steadfast and faithful. He’ll orchestrate situations designed to fill you with worry and fear. If you let the enemy’s plan work, it won’t be long before your bags will be packed and you’ll be changing locations — moving out of faith to low-level areas of defeat where you will not please God.

But for those who stay in faith, there is a reward. That is why Hebrews 11:6 says that God is a Rewarder. For those who refuse to be moved by circumstances; who adamantly reject any inclination to throw in the towel and quit; and who rebuff any temptation to let go of the word God gave them — it is just a matter of time until their faith is rewarded. They will receive the FULL manifestation of what they believe!

Hebrews 11:6 says God “…is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” You see, it takes diligence to stay in faith! It will require you to be focused, concentrated, and committed till the end. When circumstances try to knock you out of faith, you must have a fierce, unwavering commitment that you are not going to leave the place where God has called you.

Make the decision that there is no turning back from where God has called you. God promises that if you stay in faith, there is a glorious reward awaiting you in the near future. It’s only a matter of time until the full manifestation of what you are believing will come into view!

So make every effort to stay at your address of faith! Inside that place, with its borders, perimeters, and boundaries, you are living in the most valuable, beneficial location for your life. You are living where God can really bless you!

Writing this letter today has encouraged me to stay in the place of faith where God has called me. I pray it has had the same effect on you. We must dig in our heels, resist the enemy, and determine to be unmoved until we receive the full manifestation we are waiting for from Heaven!

As you stay in your place of faith, it helps to have others praying for you. So how can we be praying for you right now? We have a whole team of people who pray with Denise and me for the needs of our partners. Please let us know how to specifically pray for you, and we’ll get busy calling out to God on your behalf. I promise this to you!

As I close, I want to say thank you again for every financial gift you send to our ministry. We do what we do because you do what you do. Together we are truly partners affecting the world with the Word of God.

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Welcome to 2019! I realize we’re entering the second month of the calendar year, but I just want to encourage you that this year is going to be the best year of your life. I declare it to you in Jesus’ name!

But to make sure you have a solid start for the year, I feel the need to urge you to do all you can to keep every door shut to the enemy so that he is unable to find access to your life. There are practical, biblical ways to ensure you give him no opening, or entry point, into your affairs.

I’ll never forget the time a stranger tried to find entry into our home. It was a horrible moment. Although one of our employees eventually escorted that person off the property, the would-be intruder lingered a long time behind our home, waiting for our attention to drop and for another opportunity to get back onto the property and inside our home!

But Denise and I stayed alert and didn’t relax our guard until that intruder was long gone. Had we not been diligent to stay alert on that occasion, it would have been only a short time before the person would have tried to find entrance into our home again. However, a locked door and an alert attitude kept our home from being penetrated by this unwanted guest.

That may seem like a simplistic example, but an “open door” is exactly what the devil is looking for in each of our lives. If we are diligent to keep the doors shut and locked, it is much more difficult for him to find access to us. This is one reason the apostle Paul wrote, “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). This short verse is full of insight about how the devil operates, and it explicitly tells us what our part is in keeping him from finding a way into our lives.

Let’s look at this verse more closely and see what it tells us. First, when Paul wrote, “Neither give place to the devil,” it was not a suggestion; it was a command. If you’ve ever come under spiritual assault and found the devil in the middle of your affairs, you understand the value of stopping the enemy at the doorway rather than finding a way to extract him once he has found an access point to worm his way into some area of your life.

That’s why Paul so urgently warned you to give the devil no place. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul told you to stay alert so that the enemy can’t freely access your life. Believe me, just like the stranger who lingered behind our property, waiting for us to drop our guard and relax our level of alertness, the devil will linger a long time to see if you are truly serious about keeping him out of your life.

That word “place” in Ephesians 4:27 is from the Greek word topos. It describes a specific, marked-off location. But rather than a physical location that we use a map to identify, this “place” may refer to a rough spot in our relationships, our finances, our thoughts, our personal habits, or to lingering areas of disobedience. Whatever it is, it’s an identifiable location that the devil seeks to find and use as an open door into our lives.

If the doors to your life are closed to the best of your knowledge, you’re already in good condition. If they’re closed because you’re deliberately living a life of holiness and obedience, you’re in an even better condition. But if you’re living loosely, you need to know that some door to your life is not only unlocked — it is likely standing wide open, literally inviting the enemy to come in and wreak havoc in your life! This is why you must be so circumspect in answering the question: Are there any open doors I need to close that will allow the enemy access to my life?

We need to be serious about our lives because the devil is always looking for a door, a window, or a crack — any entry point — through which he can access us. We must circumspectly look at our lives to see if there’s any area we’ve left open or unguarded that has allowed the devil to find a way to attack us. These types of “places” are the open doors he seeks.

The word “devil” in Ephesians 4:27 leaves no question about his intention to attack us as believers. It is the Greek word diabolos, which is a compound of dia and ballo. The word dia means through, as in all the way through an object. The second part of the word “devil” is from the word ballo, which means to throw, to hurl, to inject, or even to beat. When these two words are compounded to form the word diabolos, the new word categorically means that the devil is one who strikes repetitiously — trying to find a way to break through into our worlds and mess up our lives.

IS THE DEVIL MORE COMMITTED TO ATTACK YOU
THAN YOU ARE TO WITHSTAND HIM ?

This word diabolos vividly reveals the devil’s tenacity. He is so committed to our destruction that if he doesn’t easily find his way into our lives, he will linger and wait for us to drop our guard so he can try again, perhaps from another vantage point. The Greek emphatically means he’ll even try to beat his way inside if that is what is required.

In many cases, the devil is more committed to attacking us than most of us are committed to withstanding him. That’s why he is often so successful in the warfare he wages against us. And that is why the apostle Paul commands us to resist him and to give him no place!

Since we know the devil is trying to find a way to gain entry into our lives, we must use the weapons of warfare God has given us to resist him (see Ephesians 6:10-18). But it is likewise essential that we diligently keep watch over our lives on a sustained and continual basis, looking for any doors we may have left open that would make it easier for the enemy to find entrance.

One thing is certain: Living a life of obedience shuts doors and makes it more difficult for the devil to find entry into our lives. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge that if we are living in disobedience in any area, those areas may become the very entry points by which the devil gains access to disturb our peace and to try to stop our forward momentum and even bring destruction in our lives.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HELP YOU CLOSE
DOORS TO THE DEVIL AND KEEP THEM CLOSED!

In light of this, let’s do all we can to find the access point and STOP him at the door! I realize that many attacks we experience can be attributed to the devil as he beats on the door trying to attack us from the outside. But the truth is, many times we have left a door open that has allowed the enemy to find his way into our lives and launch his fiery darts from an inside position. It’s up to us to do all we can to shut every door and to make sure those doors stay shut. And during those times we are under attack, it would behoove us to ask: “Holy Spirit, is there any area in my life where I’ve left a door open and allowed this intruder to find his way in?”

As you’re getting started in this new year, I want you to know that you can stand strong in the Lord, confident that the weapons of warfare given to you will enable you to successfully repel the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ. But if you have knowingly, negligently, or ignorantly left a door open that allows the enemy access, there is always the possibility of a successful attack against your life. So I urge you to close the door so that no demonic attack will find its way into your affairs!

If you find the devil has already found entrance into some area of your life, it’s not too late. Using the Word of God and the authority of Jesus’ name, you can drive him back out. And if you need someone to pray with you to do it, we are here to pray the prayer of faith with you. Just let us know, and we’ll add our faith to yours. Jesus has a mighty victory for you in every area of your life!

Oh, we are so thankful for you! We are grateful for your friendship and partnership in the Gospel, for your prayers, and for your financial contributions that help us do this amazing work God has entrusted to us!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Happy New Year — WELCOME TO 2019! This month marks a brand-new year with the fresh opportunity for each of us to set new goals or to “polish” and adjust some of our previously set goals. Whatever plans, dreams, or visions that are before us, those that God places in our hearts are goals He wants us to achieve!

Today I have a special message on my heart that I believe will really encourage you! But before I get into it, I want to remind you that we are here for you and would love to pray with you for the things that are on your heart or that you are facing right now. Just this week, I’ve been reviewing praise reports from people who have received answers to prayers. It is so encouraging to hear how God is answering our prayers for our friends and partners! We pray for you every day, but if we can specially pray for you, PLEASE let us know, and we’ll release our faith with yours for an answer!

So often in life, problems in our lives can seem overwhelming. But have you ever noticed that the more you focus on a problem, the bigger and more intense it seems to become? In fact, if you don’t get a grip on your emotions in these kinds of situations, your mind will blow that problem far out of proportion. Even if you’re facing a real crisis, you have the power to get your mind under control with help from the Holy Spirit. However, if you let your emotions have their way, they will play the worst-case scenario over and over in your mind until that “worst case” finally manifests as a reality in your life.

DECISIONS YOU MAKE NOW
CAN AFFECT YOUR OUTCOMES

That’s why it is so important to decide beforehand how you’re going to respond to negative situations. Instead of blowing them out of proportion, you can make the decision now — before anything bad or negative even happens — that you and the Holy Spirit are bigger and stronger than any problem that will ever come your way. The two of you together, armed with the all-powerful name of Jesus, can tackle and overcome anything that comes against you! Plus, if you’re blessed to have one or two friends who can encourage you in the Word or in agreement with you in prayer, you have a lot to praise God about!

This principle of gaining control of your thoughts and emotions is precisely the same when dealing with temptation. All temptations begin as thoughts in the mind. They might appeal to your flesh, but each one of them first takes form in the mind and emotions. In the beginning, those thoughts are manageable — conquerable and even rejectable. If you’ll just change your focus, get out of the situation, and minimize those thoughts in your mind by refusing to think on them, you can leave that temptation in the dust.

Or if you feel that you’re losing the battle alone, you can open your heart to a faithful friend or let our ministry know how to pray for you — but ask for help! With the power of the Holy Spirit and dear friends at your side, every temptation really can be minimized and I like how the apostle Paul taught about this in First Corinthians 10:13. He said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…” The word “temptation” is very fierce in the Greek language. It’s the word peirasmos, and it depicts that moment when we feel seized, and squeezed, by external or internal forces designed to take us down. But these feelings are momentary and relatively powerless according to Paul. It’s all a masquerade of flesh merely trying to act powerful. Paul described these seemingly overwhelming feelings and temptations as being “common to man.”

The phrase “common to man” is a translation of the Greek word anthropinos, which describes things that are normally experienced by human beings and are therefore not exceptional. Rather than blow these temptations out of proportion, Paul downplayed them as being commonplace. Furthermore, he continued by saying that God “will with the temptation also make a way to escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). If these temptations were truly overpowering, they would be inescapable. However, Paul clearly stated that we can escape them.

HOW TO ‘STEP OUT OF’ A TEMPTATION

The word “escape” is the Greek word ekbasis, which is a compound of the words ek and basis. The word ek simply means out, and the word basis means to step. When these two words are compounded, the new word ekbasis means to step out. In other words, you can walk away from or step out of a temptation just as easily as you walked into one.

It’s all a matter of what you believe.

The devil will always try to convince you that you are a tiny, powerless being with no authority to withstand his lies. If you take his bait, you’ll have a very difficult time walking away from the temptations that assail your mind. Instead, you can choose to think like Paul and say, “These silly temptations are nothing special that human beings haven’t faced many times. There is nothing powerful or special about them, and I will walk away from these feelings and emotions.” As you do, you’ll find your authority in Christ has increased in strength, and the mental drama you used to experience from negative thoughts will become negligible!

I want to urge you to decide beforehand how you’re going to respond to negative thoughts and situations. You have to make the decision to believe that you and the Holy Spirit are bigger and stronger than any temptation or problem that will ever come your way.

With Jesus on your side, you can look at those temptations and declare, “You do not have authority over me! You are nothing more than a simple human temptation that has affected millions of people throughout history before me, and there are legions of people who have resisted and defeated you! Today I am being added to that number of those who have said NO to you! I refuse to let this temptation become a drama. I am picking up my feet and walking away from your voice. In the name of Jesus, you have no more authority over me!”

Oh, the Word of God is so powerful, and I pray that it has ministered to you today! This month the Holy Spirit has impressed me to really emphasize the fact that you  can overcome any temptation and any type of evil that tries to assail you. But to maintain a victorious position, you have to make a decision to be an overcomer. You can do it, because an overcomer is exactly who Jesus has made you to be!

Thank you so much for taking time to let me minister to you through this letter. Thank you, too, for your friendship and partnership with us. Together we are making a difference in the lives of believers and new Christians all around the world.

Whether it’s a negative circumstance or a temptation — a temptation to fear or lie or do something else that’s wrong — you have been equipped to stand against it effectively by standing guard over your mind. By the power of God’s Word
and His Spirit, He has made a way for you to withstand any onslaught that assails you. How can Denise and I and our team pray for you this month? Whatever you’re facing, we want to face it with you in prayer. Praying for you is one of our highest joys in the ministry!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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