Remaining Steadfast

June Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas and greetings in Jesus’ precious name! Christ came into this world “in the fullness of time” to redeem mankind from sin and to reconcile us to the Heavenly Father (Galatians 4:4,5). And what a great salvation it was and is that God wrought for us in Christ (see Hebrews 2:3-18)! Denise and I and our family wish you a warm and wonderful Christmas season and the best new year of your life in 2022.

Today I want to talk to you about opportunities and adversaries, but first I want to say thank you for being such a faithful partner with our ministry. As I told you in my letter last month, our ministry is bursting at the seams, and I am so humbled that God would use Denise and me, our family, and our team to minister to the many people who are reaching out to us every day.

Every soul is precious, and it is our heartfelt desire to convey that truth to every person God brings to us — that they are precious to Him and to us. And your gifts are so vital to our ability to touch every one of these treasured souls! So today I want to say a special thank you for all you do with us to take the trusted teaching of the Word of God to people in Russia and all over the world. From the depths of our hearts, Denise and I THANK YOU!

This month is the last month of the year — and I know you are probably preparing for Christmas and many different kinds of gatherings. But in addition to Christmas, it’s also almost 2022. As we come to the end of this year and to the beginning of a brand-new year, the Holy Spirit keeps telling me to “stay on track” with the assignments He has given us. I hear Him saying that even if we hit bumps along the way, everything will be all right if we’ll just stay on track and maintain our God-assigned territory — the many opportunities and assignments He has given us to inspire, strengthen, and equip believers with the sound teaching of the Bible.

But I’ve learned over the years that opportunities and adversaries usually go together — and today I want to encourage you to undergird yourself so that you can stay on track with what God has asked you to do this month and in the coming year.

Over the course of our ministry, we’ve had many great, effectual doors open to us to do the work of the Gospel. I’ll never forget when I received an opportunity to minister on television in the former Soviet Union. It was as if a great door had suddenly swung open to an entire vast territory — a door that had never before been opened for anyone else — and I knew I was experiencing something miraculous. By faith, Denise and I stepped through that door and began to preach the Word of God on television in this spiritually starved corner of the world.

Given the former socialist-communist campaigns against the Gospel in this particular region, this opportunity was as miraculous as the Jordan River dividing for Joshua and the children of Israel. But with this great open door also came a slew of adversaries, specifically dispatched by Satan to instill fear and doubt into my heart. The devil desperately wanted to prevent me from touching the lives of spiritually oppressed people, so he positioned evil people with insidious plans to try to block my view of what God had in store for our ministry.

I’m telling you that it was like the children of Israel looking at the Promised Land from the far side of the Jordan River. From that perspective, they saw only the fruitful land of blessing that lay before them. But once they entered the Promised Land, they had to fight giants of every kind before they could possess that land and enjoy the blessing. In much the same way, if Denise and I had taken our eyes off the Lord during that tumultuous period — or if we had focused only on the problems and forgotten about the fruit we were pursuing for God’s Kingdom — I’m sure we would have backpedaled to get out of the situation!

But we knew this was a God-given opportunity and worth the fight, so we fixed our gaze squarely on the Lord. Girded with the armor of God and the power of the Spirit, we pushed through every obstacle and possessed the ground that God called us to take. As a result, millions of souls began to hear the Gospel for the first time. We knew that only God could have opened this door!

In First Corinthians 16:9, the apostle Paul wrote about the strategic doors of opportunity that open for the Gospel and the adversaries that usually accompany them. He said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” Notice that Paul used the words “great,” “door,” “effectual,” and “is opened” to describe the opportunity that had been set before him.

The word “great” in this verse is translated from the Greek word megale, which means gigantic. The word “door” is the Greek word thura, which typically refers to a door, but in this context, denotes a rare opportunity. The word “effectual” is the Greek word energes, and it depicts something that is powerful and ready to be set into motion. Finally, the phrase “is opened” is the Greek word anoigo, which describes something standing wide open. In other words, the door in question couldn’t be any more open! Thus, an alternate translation of Paul’s words in First Corinthians 16:9 could be rendered, “A gigantic, powerful opportunity is already set in motion and standing wide open….”

Paul continued by saying, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me….” You see, Paul knew that the particular door he was referring to had never been opened to anyone else, and he stood in awe of the unprecedented opportunity. Walking through these kinds of doors is impossible without divine assistance, and Paul was fully aware of God’s role in the matter. That is why he specified that this door had been opened “unto me.”

Paul’s prayer request in First Corinthians 16:9 was not for a door to open because it had already opened. His prayer request was to receive God’s wisdom to deal with the numerous adversaries who were trying to come against him. Paul used the Greek word antikeimenoi to describe the vast number of “adversaries” that were sent to attack him. This Greek word describes something that was piled high and lying all around him. In other words, he was dealing with more than a few minor opponents. On the contrary, it felt like opposition was stacked high on every side!

I’ve learned that the enemy will try his best to keep you from stepping through the gigantic doors of opportunity God desires to open for you. Satan is afraid of what will happen when “his” territory is invaded by someone fully equipped with a full arsenal of spiritual weapons. So know this: God will open doors for you — but He needs you to make a determined decision that you will walk through them, no matter the opposition, with the help of His Spirit.

By opening the door, God has already done His part, which would have been impossible without His assistance. Now He beckons you to come, dressed in the whole armor of God and in the power of His Word — and proceed through that effectual door into new territory. It may look like enemies are everywhere, but it is simply a fact that the devil and his forces flee and collapse when they are subjected to a show of strong faith!

As I mentioned earlier, many great and effectual doors have been opened to us over the years to do the work of the Gospel. In each case, we knew these doors were unique to us and had never before been opened for anyone else. And just as Paul experienced opposition, there were plenty of enemies that came against us with each opportunity. But because we obeyed God, the devil was forced to move out of the way, and we walked right into the virgin territory that God had opened for our ministry.

Even if you think your situation looks threatening right now, I want to tell you that God is with you. He wants to supernaturally open new doors for you — doors that have never before been opened for you. He is not beckoning you to walk through these doors so you can fail. He is with you every step of the way, and He will empower you to defeat every foe and bring Him glory in that new territory that is yours to possess in Jesus’ name!

Your open door may be an opportunity to shine the light of God’s Word and God’s love to your family or friends during this holiday season. It may be a door that will open to you in the new year. Regardless of when it is or what it is, the same God who opens doors will empower you to walk through them — and then He’ll be right with you to give you the wisdom and strength needed to overcome any giant that tries to meet you on the other side.

I know this is not a typical December, “Christmas-style” letter, but this is what was on my heart to share with you today. I want you to always know that if we can join you in prayer, we would be delighted to do so. To be honest, we are praying for you anyway, but when we are alerted to know exactly “how” to pray, it increases our effectiveness as we pray for you. So if you have a special need, please either call or write to let us know how we can get in agreement with you for God to show Himself mighty to you according to Jeremiah 33:3, which says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

And please pray for us as we continue marching forward by faith to push back darkness, to shine the light of God’s Word, and to take territory for the Kingdom of God. Together — as partners — we can make a difference in the lives of throngs of people who are crying out to God for help. They are waiting for God to respond to their prayers, and God wants to use us — you and us together — to bring them the answers they desperately need.

But before I close, I want to say we are specifically asking God to do something special for you this month and before the end of the year. I don’t know what it is, but that is what we are praying. We are asking God to do something special that will bless your life! And please, please pray for us as we continue pushing ahead to build our studio in Moscow, to finalize the purchase of our new headquarters in Tulsa, and to continue to minister effectually to every precious soul Jesus brings to us!

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Wow! It’s almost summer, but surprisingly, we just woke up in Moscow to a fresh blanket of snow. When I see it, I think of how the blood of Jesus — like snow — washes away and covers all the sin and blemishes in one’s life. Oh, I am so thankful for the precious blood of Jesus! Aren’t you?

Before I get into today’s letter, I want to remind you that my book Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters, and the World Before the Flood is available on our website for a significant, pre-publication discount. Amazingly, I have a second new book available right now, Renner A to Z, and it covers my comments and quotes on more than 400 Bible topics. I’m excited about both of these books, so please go to our website at RENNER.org to find out more information about these two new releases and order your copies today!

I also want to thank you for being such a faithful friend and partner with our ministry. In last month’s letter, I encouraged you to keep sowing your precious seed for the sake of eternity. The sowing of our finances into churches and ministries is essential, because it puts fuel in the tank so the Gospel and the teaching of God’s Word can get to people who need it. And every time you give to a life-giving church or ministry, you are literally becoming a significant partner in providing help to people who really need it. God thanks you, and I personally thank you for being such a mighty tool in the hands of God. Because of your willingness and obedience, lives are being touched and changed!

I call you a “partner” because you really have an eternal part in what is being accomplished through this ministry. The Lord, Denise and I, our family, and our whole team are thankful for every seed you have sown and will continue to sow into this soil of God’s Kingdom. Together we are making a difference in lives all over the world that are crying out for teaching they can trust. Wow! It is a blessing that God uses all of us together as a team!

But today I am thinking of people who have sown their seed into the soil of their churches and good ministries, and now they are waiting for a return or a harvest on what they have sown. Sometimes people get discouraged during the time of waiting between the seed sown and the harvest reaped. I want to encourage you not to quit before you’ve received what you’ve been expecting. You can rest assured that if you don’t give up, God certainly won’t fail to perform His Word for you!

Galatians 6:9 promises: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” This verse has been a strong encouragement to me personally over many years, so today I want to look at seven key words in this verse that I believe are going to encourage you. Let’s take a closer look at the following words: 1) weary; 2) well; 3) doing; 4) in due season; 5) shall reap; 6) if; and 7) faint.

The word “weary” is the word egkakeo, a compound of the Greek words en and kakos. The word en in this case means to give in, and the word kakeo is a form of kakos, a word fre- quently used to denote something that is evil, destructive, or even unjust. But when these words are compounded, the new word depicts one who is tempted to give up because he feels accosted by an evil, destructive, or unjust person or circumstance. This means God commands you and me not to surrender to the temptation to become weary and give up. He is the One who tells us, “Let us not be weary in well doing.”
The word “well” is the Greek word kalos, which means good, but it would be better trans- lated here as useful. The word “good” itself is too broad a term and leaves one wondering what is included. But when it is more accurately translated as the word “useful,” it gives clarity that a “good” work is a “useful” work. This of course suggests that in addition to useful works, there are also works that are “unuseful,” meaning a lot of energy and time expended on things that have no benefit to anyone. But Paul’s use of the word kalos tells us that we must focus on works that are “useful” with some type of measurable results. This tells us that what is sown is not only financial seeds, but also good deeds. Giving to the Kingdom of God is one of those good deeds that God deems so valuable!
The word “doing” is from the Greek word poieo and refers to any type of activity. It can even carry the idea of creatively doing something when the action doesn’t come easily or naturally. In other words, if we can’t easily see a way to do something that is beneficial, it’s time for us to get creative! But it must be noted that this word, as used here, is also a participle, which means it depicts ongoing, uninterrupted action. In other words, the type of “well doing” that the apostle Paul described here is not a one-time event, but an ongoing action. It is a lifestyle of sowing seeds and deeds.
God promises that “in due season,” we shall reap a harvest for our efforts. The words “due season” are idios and kairos. The word idios means its own, and the word kairos refers to a set season. Thus, each seed has its own set season — a specific, individual time when it will produce a harvest. Even if multiple seeds of different kinds are all planted at one time, each has its own season to be reaped, depending on the nature of the seed. One seed produces during one set season, while another seed is reaped during a different season. Thus, it is a mistake to judge our seed and its particular time of harvest by the harvest time of other seeds, because each seed has its unique set season to mature. We just need to remember God’s promise that if we are consistent — if we steadfastly keep sowing our seed into the ground and refuse to allow weariness to derail us — a time will come when we shall reap.
The words “shall reap” are from the word therismos, a Greek word that describes the reap- ing or harvesting of crops. What is important to note is that the tense describes a future, fixed event. Hence, the harvest is in the future, but it is fixed and guaranteed to happen — if we will do our part and stay on course. This is why Paul continued by saying, “…if we faint not.”
The word “if” tells us that our actions have the power to disrupt a harvest. Paul added the word “if” to help us understand that our consistency and refusal to surrender for any reason is vital in reaching the set season of our seed. If we “faint” at any point along the way, we can jeopardize the long-term harvest of what we have sown.
The word “faint” is the Greek word ekluo, a compound of the words ek and luo. The word ek means out, and the word luo means to loosen or to relax. When compounded, the new word means to loosen out. It is a relaxed mental state that results in loss. It pictures a person who has become so weary that he gives up and forfeits what he had long awaited and was so close to reaping. As a result, the person loses the desired outcome that was so near. Pressures applied against this person have unraveled him, causing his grip to slacken until the answer he was holding on to slips from his hands. The result is loss. In the case of Galatians 6:9, he has lost a harvest. The most common factor that causes us to loosen our grip is when we become “weary.” Thus, Paul urges us not to give in and quit in times of spiritual, physical, or mental exhaustion.

It’s exciting to plant seeds of faith, and it’s really exciting when the harvest finally comes. But to reach that point, you must hold tight to what God has told you and remember that your seed — whether it’s financial seed or seeds of uninterrupted, useful deeds toward others — has a set season when it will produce, if you do not disrupt the process. As long as you stay the course, it is guaranteed that you will reap a harvests from what you have planted.

Often people are tempted to give up and quit because they become tired. Although they are try- ing to be obedient, they may feel unappreciated. Perhaps circumstances out of their control are coming against them, or someone is treating them unjustly. Maybe you have experienced the temptation to give up. But Galatians 6:9 urges you and me not to loosen our grip on our future, fixed harvest!

You see, if you will remain steadfast, the time of waiting will eventually end and your harvests will come! They may not come at the time you were hoping they would — but regardless, don’t give up on your seed too early. The seeds you have sown have a set season, and God promises they will produce — if you don’t do something to disrupt the process!

I don’t know what you’re trusting God for in this present season of your life. Most of us are believing for something, and we are sowing seeds toward it. Perhaps no one knows what you are believing for because you’ve kept it between you and the Lord. Maybe it’s a financial harvest, a break- through in a relationship, a physical healing, or a restoration in some other area. Maybe this harvest is taking longer than you had anticipated.

I want to reassure you that God’s Word and His promises are eternal, and if you just won’t quit, it’s only a matter of time until your long-awaited blessing arrives. God’s Word is absolutely true, so I encourage you to remain steadfast and keep thanking Him for the harvest He has in store that’s been tailor-made just for you!

I appreciate you praying for Denise, me, our whole family, and our team as we do what God has commissioned us to do. The assignment is enormous, and we are giving our best to do what He has assigned to us. But your prayers and finances are a big part, so we ask for your prayers and thank you for your amazing support. Every day when I wake up and every night when I go to bed — and multiple times during each day — I am praying for God to respond to you with His very best!

And if you have a specific prayer request, please let us know so we can pray for you. I think you know by now that we are a ministry that really prays for our partners. It would be our honor to pray specifically for whatever is in your heart or about whatever you are facing. We fully understand the need to have people who will come into agreement with us and pray with us, so we want to pray with you with full faith for God to move mightily on your behalf. You can reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or by emailing us at prayer@renner.org.

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

You Are RICH! God’s Riches for You — in This Life and the One To Come!

June Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Hello, Friend!

Today as I prepare this teaching letter for you, my heart is filled with excitement about the truths we are about to discover together. Every month when I sit down to pen these letters, I ask the Lord to reveal exactly what you need to hear to thrive in your current season of life. It is my prayer that as you read June’s letter, these truths will sink deep into your heart and take root!

I’m speaking to you today from the book of Esther. I’m sure you have read Esther before, and maybe you’ve even gone to great lengths to study the contents of this amazing book.

I was recently studying in the book of Esther, and I couldn’t get past the first chapter! I was absolutely captivated by the lively description of the wealth of King Ahasuerus. Esther 1:4-7 says:

When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all. And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace.

There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king.

As I was reading this, I kept thinking, What kind of wealth do you have to have to be able to show it off for 180 days? That’s six months of celebration! Then I thought about Esther, a young virgin girl who came from a Jewish home. She had never in her life experienced such opulence as was on display in King Ahasuerus’ palace. Yet it was the plan of God for her to live in this palace and, eventually, become the queen!

It’s human nature to be impressed and taken with the things we can see with our eyes in the natural. In Russia, where I live, I have had the great privilege of visiting several beautiful palaces. In Saint Petersburg, the palaces are filled with gold, precious artifacts, silver, jewels, art, and opulence on a measure that is difficult to describe, much less imagine.

But try to picture what King Ahasuerus’ magnificent palace and garden looked like — or his feast of 180 days. King Ahasuerus reigned over 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia. His was a lifestyle that I imagine was very overwhelming for young Esther.

I would love to be able to show you around the amazing places I’ve been blessed to see and to share with you the rich Russian history of Saint Petersburg — the magnificent staircases, world-renowned sculptures and paintings, gold and silver-covered walls and statues, marvelous tapestries, and ancient furnishings. This all sounds amazing, yes?

Unfortunately, I can’t take you to St. Petersburg, but I can bring your attention to a kind of wealth that exceeds beyond anything in that beautiful city or anything King Ahasuerus had in his lavish empire. What I want you to pay attention to is your own future wealth. Revelation 21:10-14;18-21 says:

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.

Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Oh, friend, I just described your future home! Sometimes it’s easy to let yourself become focused on the wealth and riches you can see in this world, but the Bible says that you have unimaginable wealth waiting for you in eternity! There is so much more available to you that is past the limitations of this earth, and God wants your mind to be renewed in His immense power, magnificence, grandeur, wealth, perfection, and intelligence.

The only way you can open your mind to see the full measure of His greatness and refocus on your eternal wealth is by taking in the Word of God. Ephesians 1:19 says:

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.

The word “exceeding” comes from the Greek word huperballo which here means to overshoot. Let’s say you have a target, and in the middle of that target is the bullseye. In the context of huperballo, meaning to overshoot, the bullseye is our expectation of God. According to Ephesians 1:19, God’s ability to provide — to save, deliver, heal, prosper, protect, and bring peace or joy — exceeds our target or our expectation. In other words, God’s provision in our lives “shoots right over the top” of the target and exceeds our expectations — that is the “exceeding greatness” of the power of God extended to you and me!

God’s Word says that we have joy unspeakable and are full of glory (see 1 Peter 1:8,9). That means exceeding, over-the-top, beyond what you need God provision!

We see the word “exceeding” again in Ephesians 2:7!

That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

In this verse, it tells of “…the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness….” Friend, the kindness God has for you is exceeding — it’s “off the charts” — bigger than you could ever imagine!

We’ve talked about the enormous wealth of King Ahasuerus and the riches that fill the palaces in Saint Petersburg. But what we need to look at is the wealth and riches we can’t see with our eyes — the “exceeding” provision of God — in this life and the next!

The Bible says that the things you can see in the natural are temporary, but the spiritual things that are unseen are eternal. Imagining what you can see doesn’t take any imagination at all! But imagining what you can’t see just yet — the blessings God has for you in this life and the powerful, magnificent, grand, rich, perfect provision waiting for you in Heaven — takes serious faith to think about and meditate on these eternal truths. But friend, I promise you that no matter what you’re going through, what you can’t see with your eyes right now is far greater and more real than what you can see.

Let’s look at Ephesians 3:20, where the word “exceeding” is used again to describe the Lord’s provision. It says:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

Here again we see the Holy Spirit expressing through the apostle Paul that God wants to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or even think! It is so important that we open our hearts and minds to look past what’s in front of us and spend time imagining how great our God is! We must take Him out of the small box we may have confined Him to and expect Him to work in us and in our situation to bring about His “exceeding” provision that completely overshoots the target of our highest expectations!

Friend, Scripture makes it clear that God has put no limits on Himself. He didn’t even spare His own Son! But instead, He gave Him up for us all (see Romans 8:32). God has put no limits on what He can do for us or show us about Himself. It’s our own small thinking putting limits on our magnificent, all-powerful God! We have limited Him by being overly captivated by our personal problems and what’s in front of our faces — so much so that we can’t see the One who has every answer to every one of those problems. He has “exceedingly abundantly” supplied us with more than any of us could need, want, or even dream of.

I want to close with a Scripture passage from Second Corinthians 4:7.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Your spirit is a treasure chest! Many times we see people in movies searching for hidden treasure or for the ‘X’ that marks the spot. They search high and low and go on death-defying journeys to obtain the treasure chest filled with jewels — precious stones, silver, gold — and other riches. But did you know that you don’t need to look further than inside? Your spirit is decked out with more riches, more wealth, more jewels, more gold, more power, and more splendor than any hidden treasure! The treasure on this earth is perishable, but what you have on the inside is unperishable!

I encourage you to spend some time this week thinking and meditating on the riches that are inside you. If you are born again and the Holy Spirit lives within you, it doesn’t matter if you were born into natural wealth or not. More than your status or station in this life, it matters that you are the Holy Spirit’s vessel — His treasure chest — into which He has deposited all the riches of God’s grace and blessing that you will ever need.

Dear friend, we are rich! Think about this during the week: I am rich with God! His riches, intelligence, wisdom, power, and perfection are living inside me.

I want to say thank you to those who watch my weekly program TIME With Denise Renner. I really value the time we get to spend encouraging each other in the truth of the Word of God and discussing ways to live a godly life. If you haven’t seen TIME With Denise Renner yet, I encourage you to tune in! You can watch TIME each Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. CT on my Facebook, YouTube channel, deniserenner.org, or by checking your local listings for my broadcast schedule. I hope to see you there next week!

Please let us know how we can pray for you. If you have a special prayer request, one of our prayer partners is just a phone call or email away. Call 1.844.473.6637 or send us an email at prayer@deniserenner.org. We look forward to joining our faith with yours for the answer you need!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

You Can Redeem the Time!

May Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Hello, Friend!

I absolutely love sitting down to write my monthly teaching letters! It brings me so much joy to share the precious Word of God with you. My heart’s desire is for each of these letters to encourage your faith and uplift your spirit with the infallible truths of His Word. What an amazing gift the Bible is!

Before I get into my letter to you this month, I want to wish all mothers a very happy and wonderful Mother’s Day! Motherhood isn’t always easy, but it’s such an incredible blessing and a huge part of so many women’s lives. Being a mother is one of the most joyous, amazing roles you can have in life, and it should never go unnoticed or unappreciated! So don’t forget to hug your mother — and grandmothers if you still have them with you — this Mother’s Day and celebrate her with gratitude and love! And if you’re a mother yourself, if no one else says it to you — I love and appreciate you, and I celebrate what you are doing to take care of your children every day and to influence those young lives for Christ!

This month I am continuing my teaching on walking in God’s will and redeeming the time. In my last letter, you learned how important it is that as Christians, we endeavor in everything we do to adhere to the will of God and redeem the time. In these end times, you need to redeem the time just as it says in Ephesians 5. You also learned what it means to redeem lost time, and we saw that you can lose time in several ways, such as by living in unforgiveness or by living with offense in your heart.

We also covered ways the Bible tells us we can ensure we are walking in the will of God. You learned about the power of knowing who you really are in Christ and of living with a forgiving attitude in your heart.

This month I will discuss three more ways you can know you’re walking in the will of God. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:15-17, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

By taking steps to know and align yourself with the perfect will of God — and by opening yourself to His power to help you do it — He can start helping you redeem any time you might have lost throughout your spiritual walk!

Taking Hold of Your Opportunities

The Lord gives each one of us so many incredible opportunities throughout our lifetime! What we often don’t realize is that every opportunity is a powerful blessing from God, and it’s so important that we not let them pass us by — but that we see the value in them and take hold of them!

The Bible reveals a great example of missing opportunities in the story of the prodigal son. In Luke 15:11-31, Jesus tells the well-known story of the younger, prodigal son who foolishly asked for his inheritance from his father instead of honoring him by waiting until he passed to collect it. By doing this, the younger son was being incredibly disrespectful toward his father. It was just something you didn’t do.

Luke 15:13 says, “And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.” Can you picture this young man? He was traveling with pockets full of money, and he probably thought he ruled the world! But then he spent all his inheritance on prodigal, or wasteful living.

A famine soon plagued the country the young son had traveled to, and he went from thinking he had everything to starving — his life leaving his body like the final flickers of a burning candle. So the younger son came up with a plan. He decided he had no choice but to return home to his father and beg for forgiveness. Luke 5:18 and 19 says, “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me one of your hired servants.’”

So the younger son headed back home to see his father and apologize for his prideful sin. Here we see the tremendous heart of this young son’s father. While the younger son was still a great distance from his father’s home, his father was out looking for him, saw him approaching, and ran to him — hugging his neck and kissing him. The son began to apologize, but his father excitedly instructed his servants to clothe his son and bring the fatted calf and kill it so they could eat, drink, and celebrate the safe return of his youngest son.

Even though the youngest son committed a great sin toward his father and missed an opportunity to honor his father by waiting to receive his inheritance, the father never changed his attitude toward his son. He didn’t even pay a great deal of attention to his son’s apology — his father simply took action and told his servants to provide his son with clothing and food and welcomed him with open arms.

Notice how the father never condemned his son for his wrongdoing and disrespect – he didn’t make him suffer or pay for what he’d done. He simply reinstated his position like he’d never left!

Jesus Christ is the very same way! The Bible tells us that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Friend, I am telling you right now that you may have missed some of your God-given opportunities, but your Father is standing right there, just waiting for you! He won’t condemn you for straying! No! He’s going to receive you with compassion, just like the father received his son in the story of the prodigal son. The Lord loves you, — He adores you, — and He is waiting for you with an open heart!

Friend, let’s not miss our opportunities! God has blessed you and me with so much. And being thankful for your opportunities is an opportunity in itself! Complaining will only keep you stuck in a mental prison, but being thankful will open your heart to be just like your Father.

It’s vitally important to be grateful for every single opportunity you are given — to take hold of those opportunities instead of letting them pass you by. Live in the knowledge that taking hold of your opportunities is powerful, and open your heart to the myriad of possibilities that exist when you’re walking in God’s will. When you’re thankful for and are taking advantage of your opportunities, you’re walking in His will and, therefore, He can start helping you redeem the time!

You Never Know What Can Happen in Just One Day!

Have you ever heard someone use the saying “killing time”? As believers, we really can’t afford to “kill time”! Each second, minute, hour, and day of our lives is filled with an abundance of God-given opportunities, and it’s God’s will that we take advantage of every opportunity given to us without any hindrances or obstacles in our path.

Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Jesus is talking to you and me right now — He is saying not to worry about tomorrow but to take advantage of today. He is telling us, “Don’t miss out by being distracted by worry! The possibilities of today are endless!”

I think it’s amazing that Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow in Matthew 6:34 — because if anyone had a reason to worry about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next week, or the next year, it was Jesus! He could have spent all His time worrying about when and how the Romans would crucify Him. Or He could have worried about His descent into hell and separation from His Father — Jesus knew everything that would happen to Him. But if He had worried, He would have wasted precious minutes and hours of His present day!

I want to draw your attention to John 10:10, which says, “The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Let’s break this down. Life consists of days, and the Lord wants your days to be filled with His abundance, His joy, and His peace — it’s all available to you! All you have to do is reach out and take it by faith. But the fact is, we only have one day at a time, and when you start worrying about tomorrow, it steals your precious today!

Who are we to put a limit on what can happen today? Who are we to put a limit on what God can make happen today? God could make anything happen! So don’t put parameters on your expectations for today. Today is so precious, and Jesus is telling you not to worry your days away, but to live in the abundance of what He has for you in this one day!

Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he….” What we think is what we are! If you’re negative and unexpectant, you can probably assume that nothing spectacular will happen in your day. But if you’re looking up and you’re joyful and have expectant hope in the abundant salvation given to you by God, all kinds of wonderful things can happen! Friend, I’m telling you that absolutely anything can happen today. It all depends on your attitude — and by attitude, I’m talking about your faith. Ask yourself, What do I believe God can do in MY day?

Our God is a daily God. He gives us exactly what we need each and every day. The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:11 tells us, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Jesus is talking about one day — this very day! It’s so important that we develop this kind of attitude toward God. We need to put faith in His Word and believe that He will make every provision available to us every single day without fail.

Let’s see what else the Word of God says about the Lord’s provision for your present day. Exodus 16:4 and 5 reads, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.’” When Moses and the Israelites were wandering through the desert, the Lord provided them with manna to eat. But He didn’t provide it for a week at a time — He provided for the children of Israel one day at a time.

The Lord tested the Israelites by declaring that they should only collect as much manna as they needed to sustain them for one single day. Yet there were people who tried to save manna from one day to the next! What were they trying to do? They were trying to comfort their worry. Even after God proved Himself faithful by supernaturally providing them with manna from Heaven every single day, they were still afraid He wouldn’t provide them with what they needed for the Sabbath when God instructed them to rest.

Through this example, God is telling us, “I’m not giving you what you need for tomorrow. I’m giving you what you need for today, and I want you to trust in Me — that I will take care of you and your needs every single day.”

Friend, isn’t that amazing?!! God can and will provide you with everything you need to successfully and victoriously navigate each day of your life. It’s so powerful when you develop this kind of trust in the Lord and the mindset that you don’t have to worry about a single thing. Just approach each day with an expectant heart and see what amazing things the Lord can do for you today!

Put On an Attitude of Thanksgiving

Philippians 2:14 and 15 says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” This is so amazing because the Bible is telling you in this verse that by being thankful — which is the opposite of complaining — you can shine as lights among the “crooked and perverse generation” of this world! You shine just by being thankful!

When you’re surrounded by people who oppose you or don’t appreciate you, don’t turn your light off! Be thankful for the opportunity to just shine. Be thankful in whatever situation you’re in. Be thankful to God when people are mistreating you. You’re not thanking God for the trouble, but you’re maintaining a grateful heart in the trouble. Just start being thankful and you will shine — isn’t that amazing?

Now I want you to look at Romans 1:20 and 21, which reads, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” If you read the rest of this passage, you will see all the bad things that begin happening because of a root of unthankfulness.

In other words, Romans 1:20 and 21 says that as soon as you start complaining, arguing, and being unthankful, it causes your thoughts to become futile — causing you emptiness inside and wide open to how the world thinks. Maintaining an attitude of thanks, however, is so powerful because it can keep your thoughts from becoming empty and meaningless — it can keep them on the right track!

Isn’t it so refreshing when someone says, “Thank you”? Well, what about God? How do you think it makes God feel when you are thankful? What about when you’re unthankful?

If you’re refreshed when someone shows you gratitude, how much more refreshing is it to God when you show Him your thanks? So give Him your gratitude, remain thankful, and let your thanks pour from your heart and mouth — there is power and stability in doing that!

The Bible offers a perfect example of someone who showed gratitude and someone who did not in the story about the ten cleansed lepers in Luke 17. Verse 12 reads, “Then as He [Jesus] entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.” These lepers called out to Jesus, crying out for mercy. In response to their cries, Jesus said, “‘…Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14).

Verses 15 and 16 continue, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.”

Just look at this leper’s demonstration of thankfulness before Jesus! In response to seeing just one of the lepers returning to give Him thanks, Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (See Luke 17:17-19.)

Something happened to the leper who returned to give thanks to Jesus after receiving his healing. He made quite a display of his gratitude and worshipped Jesus wholeheartedly. Jesus noticed this act of thankfulness and told the man, “‘…Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well’” (see Luke 17:19). Not only was this leper healed, but he was made whole — with nothing missing and nothing broken! This leper walked away totally restored while the other did not — all because of his thankful attitude!

So does Jesus notice when we’re thankful? Yes, He does. Does He notice when we’re not thankful? Yes, He sees that too. Sometimes I think we’re too tempted to keep asking Him for material things and Earthly blessings, and we don’t always take the time to say, “God, thank You! You are great, mighty, and wonderful, and I love You. Thank You for everything You’re doing in my life!” And as we thank Him, He pours into us. I have a saying that goes, “You’ll never outgive the Lord.” You can give Him your thanks all day long, but you will never outgive Him. He always pours back into us.

I want to share one last verse with you. This verse was written by the apostle Paul when he was trapped in a horrible prison, surrounded by death, disease, and decay. The place he was being held in was absolutely terrible. But look at this incredible attitude of thanks in Philippians 4:18-20, which reads, “Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus.”

How on Earth could Paul say, “…I have all and abound…” while he’s being held in such a horrible prison? But look at what that thankful heart did for Paul — in chapter 4 alone, Paul wrote the word “joy” or “joyful” 19 times! Wow!

Paul was in a terrible place with death and suffering surrounding him on every side, but because of his thankful attitude, he was able to produce joy in the midst of his very troubling circumstances. Friend, that’s why we need to know the power of being thankful! Putting on an attitude of thanks, even in your worst moments, can produce joy, wholeness, soundness, and stability in this mixed-up world.

Our key scripture in Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Friend, there is so much wisdom in understanding the will of God for your life. Not just wisdom, but power!

You have learned that there is power in taking advantage of your opportunities, power in knowing the possibilities of today, and power in deciding to put on an attitude of thanksgiving. And by implementing these powerful tools in your life, you can be confident that you are walking in God’s will. And when you’re confidently walking out God’s will in this way, you are positioning yourself to “redeem the time” and bring glory to His name in spite of any of the “lost days” of your past.

Before I close my letter, I want to inform you about our upcoming Mother’s Day sale! Save the date for May 11 and 12 and enjoy a 25% discount on all Denise Renner products — including books, teaching series, study guides, and more! This online-only Mother’s Day sale will begin on Saturday, May 11, and end on Sunday, May 12, so mark your calendars! Simply add your desired products to your cart on RENNER.org during the sale weekend and checkout to receive your 25% discount. You won’t want to miss this incredible sale!

If you’d like to watch my weekly program TIME With Denise Renner, you can do so on my Facebook page or YouTube channel every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. CT!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

Sowing Seed for the Sake of Eternity

May Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus!

I am sitting in our home in Moscow, thanking God for the many amazing reports I heard yesterday — I’m talking about testimonies upon testimonies from people who wrote to let me know how God has worked in their lives through RENNER Ministries.

I can’t express how thankful I am that God would use us to touch lives. It is amazing to me to see what He has done, and I acknowledge it is due to His grace. But it’s also due to you, because your giving is what has enabled us to take this ministry to people around the world. That is why I sincerely mean it when I call you a “partner” with our ministry. You have a real part in what we are doing because your financial gifts put gas in the tank so we can take the Word of God to those who are praying for teaching they can trust.

Since returning from our visit in the United States, I’ve been in the TV studio nearly nonstop to work on several upcoming new series. For example, I did a 15-part series on The Will of God, a 5-part series on The Ministry of the Holy Spirit for the New and Mature Believer, and another 5-part series called Speaking in Tongues: What It Is and Is It Really for Everyone? I truly poured my heart into these series. Please pray with me that God will use them to answer questions and bring strength into people’s lives.

I’m also so thankful that in August we will be releasing my newest book Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters, and the World Before the Flood. I worked very hard on this book — as did several others who worked on it with me — so we could bring you solid insight about events that happened in the world before the Flood.

In Matthew 24:37, Jesus said that what was happening just before the Flood would be replicated before His next coming, so we need to know what was transpiring then and what we can expect to see in the days between now and Jesus’ return. Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters, and the World Before the Flood dives deep into the days of Noah to reveal the urgent message to us today. It is fully illustrated with more than 300 photos and other images. We also included many photos of the actual ruins of Noah’s Ark as it is seen today lying on the lower slopes of the Ararat mountain range.

I believe you are going to love this captivating book! And starting this month through the end of July, this new book is being offered to our ministry friends and partners at a pre-sale discount. If you would like a copy (or several copies) of Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters, and the World Before the Flood, please refer to the enclosed insert for information on how to place your order.

This year, I’ve been writing to you about the prophetic word the Holy Spirit gave me for our friends and partners for the year 2024. Here it is again.

The year 2024 will be visited with turbulent episodes across the entire globe, especially in the realms of finances and politics and in the nations. These episodes will be of a sort that they will potentially cause those who are not rooted in God’s Word to be deeply disturbed. But for those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and to walk in a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory. Yes, those who stay in faith, in peace, in love, in fellowship, and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will be blessed, empowered, joy-filled, and sustained, and they will miraculously thrive even if the world around them is tossed with a tempest.

I want to draw to your attention that the Holy Spirit said this blessing belongs to those who:

stay in faith…
stay in peace…
stay in love…
stay in fellowship…
keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity.

Those who maintain their faith, peace, and love, stay in fellowship with the saints, and continue sowing seed into the Kingdom will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, and well provided for — and they will have a much-needed divine assurance, peace, power, and supernatural victory!

In my first four monthly teaching letters this year, I covered what it means to stay in faith, stay in peace, stay in love, and stay in fellowship. (You can review those teachings on our website at renner.org/article/category/monthly-teaching-letters.) But today I want to focus on the part of this prophetic word that is about the need to “keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity” — especially during turbulent times.

What It Means To Keep Sowing Seed for the Sake of Eternity

Many people struggle in the realm of faith in the area of finances, especially when they’re going through challenging times. Financial stress is one of the most difficult pressures that can be experienced in life. If you’ve ever experienced the stress that comes from financial pressure, you know how difficult it is when you are so strapped that you don’t have enough money to pay your bills. But I want to tell you — God is always faithful! If we will continue to trust Him and His eternal Word as we sow, He will see to it that we reap a harvest from the financial seed we planted.

Not only must we remember that God is always faithful, we must never forget that if we stop sowing our financial seed into ministries that are touching the world, it will affect their ability to do their ministry and reach people with the saving message of Jesus and the trusted teaching of the Word of God. Oh, how vital it is that we never forget that eternity really is eternal. The seed we sow affects the ability to reach those who need to be saved, and if we stop sowing our seed, it may mean the light that has been shining into the lives of some people will stop shining.

But if you are living for God by walking in holiness, doing what the Holy Spirit has told you to do with your life, and sowing your financial seed into the soil of God’s Kingdom — regardless of what is happening in the economy or what kind of turbulence can be felt in the world around you — you are promised a harvest to meet the needs in your own life.

Here is the promise in Galatians 6:7: “…Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” This law of sowing and reaping works for everyone in the world. What you sow is exactly what you are going to reap. It may take a while, but harvest day is coming if you’ve been planting seeds along the way. So if you’re not already a sower, decide to become a sower immediately — and start sowing those seeds today! This is a law of God that always works.

But what should you do if the devil is assailing you in the realm of your finances? I’m talking about times when you’ve done everything you know to do, but you are still being financially hassled.

During times when my family or our ministry experiences a financial shortage, we always evaluate several areas to see if we are doing anything that would hinder us from receiving the resources God wants to give us. In such moments, I always carefully examine my own heart, and I ask myself the following questions:

Am I harboring any unforgiveness that would block me from receiving God’s blessing in my life?
Am I walking in holiness before the Lord, or am I allowing any sinful thoughts or actions to have a place in me that would block me from receiving from the Lord?
Am I doing what God has told me to do with my life, or am I disregarding His instructions and going my own way instead?
Am I being faithful to sow my tithes and offerings into the Kingdom of God, or have I gotten behind in my giving or forgotten to sow a seed that the Spirit of God told me to sow?
Am I under attack because the devil is against my dream or my mission and is therefore trying to turn off the valve of blessing so that I become drained of what I need to fulfill the assignment God gave me?

If I am at peace and sure that I have done nothing to hinder God’s blessings from flowing into my life or ministry, I then proceed to deal with these shortfalls as devilish attacks. I take authority over the devil and tell him to take his hands off my finances. I press deep in prayer until I know inwardly that the blockage has been removed. Often I have literally felt that barrier move out of the way as the Spirit of God shoves it aside and makes an avenue for His blessings to flow into my life and ministry. When this occurs, it is never long before we begin to see a manifestation of God’s blessings.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and tells us that we need to sow an extra, sacrificial financial seed into someone else’s ministry in order to break the stranglehold the devil is trying to put on us. For instance, once when we needed a new building and were desperate to find the money to pay for it, the Holy Spirit instructed us to sow a seed into someone else’s building project. “If you have a need, sow a seed” is the message I always share with our friends and partners.

So at that time when we had a great financial need, we knew it was time for us to sow an extra large gift into someone else’s building program. Although the amount of money was huge to us at the moment, we knew that sowing that seed was essential if we were going to experience the financial breakthrough we needed for our own building. After we sowed that seed, it wasn’t long before doors began to supernaturally open and the facility we needed became available to us.

You see, sometimes you have to do something that requires extra faith in order to break the vice-like grip the devil is trying to put on you. That extra sacrificial gift the Holy Spirit tells you to give may be the very act of faith that releases the power needed to rip the devil’s hands off your situation. Could it be that this is what you need to do right now in order to make a bold stand of faith?

In Galatians 6:9 the apostle Paul continued to say, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Do you see the word “weary” in this verse? It comes from the Greek word egkakao, which is a compound of the words en and kakos. The word en means in, and the word kakos describes something that is evil or bad. When these two words are used together, as in this verse, the new word means to grow weary; to give in to evil; or to let something bad defeat you. It gives the idea of surrendering or giving in to bad circumstances.

This means the apostle Paul was telling the Galatians:

“Don’t let evil get the best of you….”
“Don’t let the bad circumstances wear you down and wear you out….”
“Don’t give in to the evil that intends to defeat you….”

This means when turbulence and hard financial times come, it isn’t time for you to surrender to circumstances — it’s the time for you to put up a fight!

Instead of giving in and surrendering to the attacks that are assailing you, you have to “put up your dukes” — then rare back with all your spiritual might and throw a knockout punch in the face of the devil! Don’t shrink back in fear or worry; instead, make this a critical moment when you sow an extra financial seed. Do something bold that will break that stranglehold the devil has tried to put on you. I am telling you precisely what Denise and I do in our own personal lives!

If you are dealing with turbulence right now, is it possible that this is one of those moments when you need to throw all your spiritual weight against the devil by sowing an extra seed and show him that you’re not going to take any more flak from him?

Do exactly what the Holy Spirit impresses you to do. Once you obey His leading, you must then use your God-given authority and command the devil to take his foul hands off your finances! Boldly declare by faith that God’s blessings are yours. You have every right to expect God’s blessings to come pouring into your life!

Of course, when a person is struggling and feels that he or she has little money to give, that person may find it difficult to give substantial offerings — but a gift of any size sets the law of sowing and reaping into action. God knows when you are doing something sacrificial. Think of the example of the widow who gave two mites (see Luke 21:1-4). Others that day were giving larger gifts, but when Jesus saw her — and knew the sacrifice that was required for her to give those two mites — He stopped everyone to talk about what a powerful thing she had done. The amount she gave may have seemed smaller, but the sacrifice was greater because she had freely given the money she had to live on. Her gift was a sacrifice so great that it got the attention of Jesus!

Ecclesiastes 11:1-3 says, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.”

This passage is so powerful that I will talk about it again in next month’s letter, but notice verse 2, which says we must keep sowing our seed because “thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.” In this verse, we are promised that REGARDLESS of what happens in the earth — in the political realm, financial realm, or any other realm — if we stay faithful to sow our seed for the sake of eternity, God will see to it that we will be blessed, even when we are living in turbulent times. This is why it is so vital that we keep sowing in good times and bad times, for our sowing is the guarantee that in some way, it will come back to us in a time of need. And when it comes back, it will return to us with a harvest of what we planted!

It is very rare that I write an entire letter about giving, but the Holy Spirit clearly told me to tell you that…those who stay in faith, in peace, in love, in fellowship, and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will be blessed, empowered, joy-filled, and sustained, and they will miraculously thrive even if the world around them is tossed with a tempest. I am doing my best to faithfully encourage you to do what is necessary to reach others with the Gospel and make sure you miraculously thrive even if the world around you is storm-tossed!

As I close this letter, I want to remind you that Denise and I and our team are here to pray for you. Jeremiah 33:3 promises that if we call out to God in faith, He will hear, He will answer, and He will show us great and mighty things. It is our GREATEST HONOR to hear how we can pray for you and then to call out to God with you and release our faith for Him to do something magnificent in response to your heartfelt need! You can reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or by emailing us at prayer@renner.org.

Please also remember to see the insert in this teaching letter so you’ll know how you can order my new book Fallen Angels, Giants, Monsters, and the World Before the Flood.

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

The Power of Knowing God’s Will

April Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Hello, Friend!

It is such an honor and privilege to write to you today! I am so thankful for you and that you’re taking the time to read this letter of encouragement and hope that’s coming to you straight from my heart. Every month in my teaching letters, I look forward to sharing important truths from the Word of God with you. I can hardly wait to share what’s on my heart for this month!

Before I share what I have for you today, I want to encourage you to remember God’s mercies as we transition into the spring season. Springtime represents newness — new life is beginning to spring up all around us! God’s mercies are just like spring, except instead of waiting around for the right time of year, you can experience the newness of life in Christ every single day. Lamentations 3:22 and 23 says, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Always remember that God’s mercies, like spring, “spring up” new every morning!

I want to share with you today about the importance of knowing God’s will. What we know is so important because people perish from a lack of knowledge (see Hosea 4:6). And knowing the will of God is vitally important to our lives. When we know and understand God’s will for us, we can start redeeming any time we may have lost along the way in our spiritual walk. It’s crucial that we redeem the time, especially in these last days!

What does it mean to redeem lost time? We can lose time in many ways, such as living in unforgiveness, holding onto bitterness, or living in offense. But the Bible says, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17). There is an abundance of power in knowing the will of God, and when we understand His will, He can start helping us redeem the time as we become open to His power working in our lives!

You Are Holy and Beloved

Friend, isn’t it true that God always makes the first move when He’s calling someone to be born again? You and I didn’t choose God — He chose us! (See John 15:16.) And when you become God’s child, it’s His utmost desire to see you walking out His perfect will for you all the days of your life and to redeem the time according to Ephesians 5:15-17.

A part of doing God’s perfect will is to first know who you are. It is God’s will for you to know who you are. Let’s open the Word of God and see who God says you are because there is power in knowing who you really are!

If you’re born again by the Spirit of God, the Bible says you are holy ground. Exodus 3:2-4 says, “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.’ So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’”

Friend, God is always seeking after us. The Bible says that His eyes search over the earth for those who will worship Him (see 2 Chronicles 16:9; John 4:23). God is in pursuit of us, and we see evidence of this in Exodus 3.

The conversation between God and Moses continues in Exodus 3:5, “Then He said, ‘Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.’” I always thought God said this to Moses because He wanted him to remove his shoes out of respect. I’m sure there’s a real truth to that, but as I meditated, I realized that God has called this place holy, and God wanted Moses to experience all of His holiness. He didn’t want there to be a single thing between Moses and the holiness of God. And it’s the very same with us today!

God doesn’t want anything separating us from Him. He took the greatest measures to come to Earth as a man, die a horrible death on the Cross, and become sin for us. Jesus did all that just so we would come into that holy place — into the place of His presence. It says in the gospels that when Jesus said, “It is finished!,” the veil of the temple was torn. This veil was said to be several feet thick, separating the temple from the Holy of Holies, a place so sacred that only the priest could enter this space once a year! It was a holy, holy place! But when Jesus died, that veil was torn — and at that moment, He opened up that holy place to you and me!

God has invited us into the place of His presence! Isn’t that amazing? We are made holy and we can enter His holy presence through the precious blood of Jesus. Ephesians 4:24 says, “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” If you have been born again, your spirit has been re-created in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, you are righteous and holy on the inside — how fantastic!

Colossians 1:21 reads, “And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” The Bible tells us that we were completely alienated from God, but He reconciled us unto Himself through the body of His own flesh through death! It is through Jesus’ suffering on the Cross that we were reconciled, and we are able to present ourselves before God as holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

In Greek, the word “reconciled” is likened to a court of justice. And as you stand in front of this court of justice, you are found without spot, without blemish, and without accusation. You’re unaccused! But what does that mean? It’s a legal word indicating that there is no legal action that can be brought against you. That is who you are in your born-again spirit. Isn’t that magnificent?

Now let’s look at what we can do when we know who we are. Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, [and] longsuffering.” It doesn’t say we’re holy and beloved just so we can say we’re holy and beloved — it tells us we’re holy and beloved to give us the power to put on mercy and kindness for others! That is the power of God in you! You’re only able to put on these characteristics because of the holiness and righteousness that live inside your born-again spirit.

First Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” Read that again. We are made one spirit with the Lord! It would be impossible to be unholy and unrighteous and share a spirit with the Lord! But the Bible says we are one spirit with Him. We are connected to the Lord and can have communion with Him because in our new birth, we are no longer separated from Him — Jesus bridged that gap with His blood on the Cross! He brought us into communion and oneness with the Lord. He is holy, righteous, and beloved and, therefore, you’re just as holy, righteous, and beloved in your spirit as He is!

What I’m telling you today is amazing, and it’s the truth! It’s so important that in these last days, you redeem the time by knowing the will of God and knowing who you are. You aren’t just a sinner saved by grace! You used to be, but because of your born-again spirit, you are the righteousness of God in Him. Can you see how important it is that you know and believe this? There is so much power in the revelation of who you really are — that you are holy and beloved in Christ Jesus — because it will give you power in these last days.

Your Sins Are Forgiven as You Forgive

You are absolutely holy, righteous, and beloved in your spirit because you share one spirit with the lord. And because you are holy and righteous because of your born-again spirit, you can know how to forgive just as you know you are forgiven. Forgiveness is such a powerful thing — there is power in receiving forgiveness and in giving forgiveness. I’m not talking about only forgiving when someone hurts or wrongs you — I’m talking about having a strong conviction of forgiveness and living with a forgiving attitude in your heart!

There was a time in my life when I struggled with unforgiveness for nearly two years! What people often don’t realize about unforgiveness is that it opens the door for the enemy to wreak havoc in every area of your life, including your mind and body. The Bible says this about unforgiving and combative attitudes in Ephesians 4:31 and 32, which says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

The Bible isn’t giving you a suggestion in this passage — it’s giving you a command! It doesn’t say, “Maybe” or, “Try to.” No! It says, “Let all of these things be put away from you”! The Bible commands you to get rid of all harsh attitudes. When you’re wronged, you decide how you will react and respond. You can either choose to respond in anger, or you can do what the will of God commands you to do and show kindness and forgiveness to that person.

You see, your flesh isn’t kind, but your spirit is. That’s why you have the ability to forgive and be kind! Without the Holy Spirit within you, your flesh would take over every time you’re tempted to react poorly. When you say “no” to your flesh and choose kindness and forgiveness, that is powerful!

I want you to reread Ephesians 4:32 where it says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted….” We are called to have a tender heart. Some people have completely stopped running their race because of offense! You have to learn to speak to your heart and choose to not be offended. When you’re tempted to be offended or respond harshly or angrily, remind yourself that you are commanded to forgive and have a tender heart.

Verse 32 continues, “…Forgiving one another….” When you look up “forgiving one another” in the Greek language, it actually means to grace one another. We are commanded to give to one another the very same grace that we receive from Christ! We need to show grace toward those who offend and wrong us. It’s so important to remember: If you sow mercy, you reap mercy.

Lastly, Mark 11:24-26 says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Jesus told us that offenses would come, but we have to choose to forgive daily. Our sins are forgiven as we forgive!

Take the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35, for example. It tells the story of a servant whose master had great compassion for him and forgave the massive debt he owed him. Then this same servant turned around and had his fellow servant thrown in prison for not being able to pay back a small debt the fellow servant owed. The Bible says in verse 34 that when the master found out, “…His master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.”

Tormentors come into your life when you’re living in unforgiveness, just like in the case of the unforgiving servant. Tormentors can manifest in your life as anxiety, worry, bodily pains, chills, discomfort, etc. When I was living in unforgiveness, I began experiencing a lot of anxiety and discomfort in my body. But the moment I forgave who I needed to forgive, the tormentors left and I haven’t struggled with the tormentors of unforgiveness since!

Friend, when you open that door of forgiveness to whomever you need to forgive, you open the door for Heaven to rule your life, your relationships, your mind, your thoughts, and your emotions. The answer to redeeming the time you’ve lost living in unforgiveness is simple — you have to forgive! It’s God’s will that you forgive and, therefore, when you live a life of forgiveness, you’re walking in God’s will and can redeem the time!

Oh, friend, it is so important for us to walk in God’s will and redeem the time, especially during these end times. And now you know that to redeem the time you’ve lost, wasted, or that has been stolen from you, you must know the will of God! God wants us to know His will because there is so much power available to us when we live in alignment with it. By studying God’s Word, holding fast to your faith in the Lord, and actively integrating the truths of His Word into your life, you will experience the full power of who you are and the full power of forgiveness to affect every area of your life!

As I close my letter to you this month, I want to say thank you to those of you who watch my weekly program TIME With Denise Renner. I am always so encouraged when I receive your powerful testimonies, kind words, and comments about how uplifting this program has been in your lives. Thank you so much for supporting me in this endeavor to reach more and more people with the precious truth of God’s Word. If you’d like to watch TIME With Denise Renner, you can do so on my Facebook page or YouTube channel every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. CT!

Don’t forget to let us know how we can pray for you! If you need healing in your body, are in a difficult season, have a special request, or just need someone to pray with, I encourage you to reach out to one of our prayer partners! Call 1.844.473.6637 or send us an email at prayer@deniserenner.org. We look forward to joining you in faith for your answer!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

The Importance
of Fellowship

April Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Greetings in this new month of 2024! Most people around the world just celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on the very last day of March. Easter Sunday is one of my favorite holidays of the whole year because of what it commemorates. I even wrote a book called Paid in Full about all Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection! In churches everywhere, Easter Sunday is one of the most highly attended services by Christians and non-Christians alike. This thrills my heart because for many, it is their only opportunity to hear the Good News of the Gospel that Christ died and rose again for the sins of mankind — to make all who believe and call on His name “a new creature,” completely forgiven and completely reconciled to God (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

That really is Good News, isn’t it!!! Before I get into my letter this month, I have some more “good news” to share with you…

As you probably know, besides our new international channel (the Good News Channel) that the Lord has blessed us to steward, we have been granted an unprecedented license to have a national channel that can broadcast across Russia in potentially every single home in this nation! And as of last month, it is now officially online — up and running!

This is truly a historical event in this ministry and in Russia. But please keep praying for us as we move forward speedily on this project. It is a huge undertaking, but we are confident we are moving at the Lord’s instruction, and that we will keep expanding to reach as many Russian homes as possible!

Thank you for all your precious prayers and financial gifts that help us do what we could never do alone. It takes all of us, and YOU are a huge part of what we are doing. I don’t mean to sound redundant, but I can never state enough how thankful we are for your partnership with RENNER Ministries as we take the trusted teaching of God’s Word to people who are literally crying out for it!

I’ve been writing to you this year from the prophetic word the Holy Spirit gave to me for our friends and partners for the year 2024. Here it is again.

The year 2024 will be visited with turbulent episodes across the entire globe, especially in the realms of finances and politics and in the nations. These episodes will be of a sort that they will potentially cause those who are not rooted in God’s Word to be deeply disturbed. But for those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and to walk in a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory. Yes, those who stay in faith, in peace, in love, in fellowship, and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will be blessed, empowered, joy-filled, and sustained, and they will miraculously thrive even if the world around them is tossed with a tempest.

I want to draw to your attention that the Holy Spirit said this blessing belongs to those who:

stay in faith…
stay in peace…
stay in love…
stay in fellowship…
keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity…

Those who maintain their faith, peace, love, fellowship with the saints, and their sowing will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, and well provided for — and they will have a much-needed divine assurance, peace, power, and supernatural victory!

In my first three monthly teaching letters of the year, I covered what it means to stay in faith, stay in peace, and stay in love. (You can review those teachings on our website at renner.org/article/category/monthly-teaching-letters.) But today I want to focus on the part of this prophetic word that is about the need to stay in “fellowship” during turbulent times.
What It Means To Stay in Fellowship

In the New Testament, there is primarily one word that is translated as “fellowship,” and it is the Greek word koinonia. This very important word is derived from koinos, which means to have something in common. But when it becomes koinonia, which is primarily how it is used in the New Testament, it conveys the ideas of fellowship, interaction, mutual participation, or partnership.

A great example of koinonia is found in Acts 2:42, where we are told about the early Church: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

The word “fellowship” in this verse is translated from the Greek word koinonia, and it tells us that right from the outset of the Early Church, the believers entered into fellowship, interaction, mutual participation, and partnership with one another. This fellowship and partnership became so strong that it carried them through the turbulent episodes of their time. But to discover the level to which they entered into fellowship and partnership, we need to see another verse where the word koinonia is used very prominently.

A wonderful example of koinonia conveying the idea of partnership is found in Luke 5:7 after Jesus supplied a miraculous catch of fish. After Peter and the others had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side. When they obeyed, they caught such a massive amount of fish that the nets began to break!

Peter knew he couldn’t handle this miraculous catch by himself, so he called to the other fishermen in a nearby boat to come assist him. Luke 5:7 says, “And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

The word “partners” in this verse is from a form of koinonia. But in Luke 5:7 it refers to real, legitimate business partners. One scholar says that this word used in this context lets us know that Peter owned an entire fishing enterprise, and those men in the other boat were his business associates or business partners. Whether these other fishermen were co-owners or employees who worked for Peter, they were all working together on the same job and were focused on a joint venture to catch and sell fish.

The apostle Paul used the word koinonia in Philippians 1:5 when he explained why he was so passionate about those who had so faithfully supported his ministry. He said, “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” The word “fellowship” in this verse is also the Greek word koinonia, which depicts partnership or mutual participation in some project or event and often refers to a partner, a sharer, or a companion.

Paul felt about his supporters the same way Denise and I feel about our partners — that they are actual partners with our ministry. By supporting RENNER Ministries with their finances and prayers, these partners enter into the work of the ministry with us and mutually work side-by-side with us on the front lines!

When Paul wrote to the Philippians and spoke of their “partnership” in the Gospel, he truly meant that they were his partners. He was doing his part — and they were doing theirs — and, together, they made a great team that was having an eternal impact. Everyone was on the same team, moving toward the same goal; they were simply fulfilling different roles to get the job done!

But there is yet another example of this word koinonia found in Philippians 4:14, when Paul wrote to the Philippians and commended them for the generous gift they sent for his ministry. He told them, “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.” The word “communicate” here is another use of the word koinonia.

Over the years, Paul had traveled and preached, raised up churches, worked with leaders, and given his life for the Church. But of all the churches Paul had poured his life into, none of them helped him financially the way they should have. In order to cover his expenses, Paul worked as a tentmaker during the day; then he preached and trained leaders during the evenings. This wasn’t the best plan, but because no one would support him, it was what he had to do. He was pouring his heart and soul into churches that were not financially helping him bear his load.

At the time Paul wrote the Philippian letter, he was in prison in Rome. He had received a special delivery letter from the Philippians, and in that package, he found a sizable offering that the Philippian church had sent to support him during his time of difficulty. In other words, the Philippian church didn’t just say, “We’ll pray for your situation, Brother,” and then forget about Paul. Instead, they understood their responsibility to help him, so they took up an offering to support him and communicate their love for him. In other words, they took responsibility for him. Paul used the Greek word koinonia to convey the meaning of responsibility for others.

Fellowship, Partnership, and Responsibility
All of these various meanings are very important — especially when we are going through turbulent times. Ecclesiastes 4:9 and 10 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

When you are alone and you run into difficult times, it is harder to get through those turbulent times by yourself. But if you are connected in fellowship and real partnership with other believers who feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being, someone will be there to hold you up, strengthen you, and even pick you up if you fall. But the Bible says, “…Woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

I experience koinonia in my own life because I have my family around me, and they are a great source of encouragement and real partners in our ministry. But in addition to my family, I have a tight group of friends — men who surround me with care, devotion, love, and responsibility — to help me do what God has called me to do. Because of this, I never feel alone. And when we hit turbulent times, those who are around me are a source of strength that helps me!

God did not make any of us to live in isolation, so we need to stay rooted in solid fellowship and partnership with other believers who feel a sense of responsibility for our well-being. It is sad that many Christians who go to church every week feel lonely. My friend, if that is you, I really want you to know that we are here for YOU and that you can reach out to us. We’ll do everything we can to help make sure you are loved and cared for, and you can be assured that someone here is really praying for you!

Can you see how important staying in fellowship — or koinonia — really is?

The Early Church was rooted in fellowship and partnership.
The apostle Paul cherished those with whom he was in fellowship and partnership.
Denise and I deeply appreciate and thank God for the relationships of this kind that God has placed in our lives.

If we did everything we have done and faced every challenge we have faced — and did it all alone — it would have been more difficult. But with the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of others around us — people with whom we are really partnered in the Lord — God has enabled us to do the impossible and to overcome every situation that has ever tried to come against us. I am telling you this because I know that if you have such relationships in your life, they will also help you overcome turbulent times!

I remind you again of the word the Lord gave me for 2024. The Holy Spirit told me that those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved…unshaken…well provided for, and they will have a much-needed divine assurance…divine peace…divine power…and divine and supernatural victory.

Do not underestimate the importance of staying in fellowship with those you NEED in your life, because God will use them to help you — and He will likewise use you to help them!

Next month, I’ll move into the next part of this word, which is about those who keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity! Wow, is that ever important! But for now, I want to ask you:

Who are the people who give strength to you?
Who are you giving strength to right now?
Who are your real, legitimate partners in life who feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being?
For whose well-being do you feel a sense of responsibility because of your real, legitimate partnership?

Of course, we all need to be rooted in a good, Bible-believing local church. If you don’t have one, we want to pray with you for the Holy Spirit to lead you to one. If you don’t have anyone to help and strengthen you right now, then let it be US! We are here for you — and you can reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or by emailing us at prayer@renner.org. I promise that if you reach out to us, you’ll be strengthened and encouraged! Thank you for letting me speak to you from my heart today!

As I close, I want to thank you again for being our partner in this work that God has given us. We really mean it when we call you a partner. We do our part, God does His part, and you are doing your part. Together, we are seeing miracles take place as the Gospel goes forth into places where it needs to touch lives that are in darkness!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

Pay the Price to Finish Well!

March Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Hello, Friend!

Have you ever been tempted to just quit? Of course your answer is yes, for discouragement pays a visit to all of us at one time or another. You begin to think, I don’t know if this was a good idea after all. Maybe I’m not equipped for this job. Maybe I don’t have what it takes to do what is in my heart. These kinds of emotions and thoughts are normal, but we are not called to just be normal. We have a supernatural calling from God to do supernatural things. Therefore, we must walk not by our feelings and thoughts, but by our faith.

If God has put it in your heart to do something, and you get discouraged along the way, you have two options: 1) You can press forward with all that is within you — past all your emotions screaming that you are going to fail — until you experience victory, or 2) you can listen to your negative thoughts and emotions, fall out of your race, and fail to complete the assignment God has given to you. That’s why I want to talk to you today about the attitude and commitment that is required in order to finish what God has put in your heart to do at all costs.

Let me bring this teaching to the level of a child. I remember when I was a teenager, I was learning to sew. Oh, I loved to sew! I made so many beautiful outfits for myself. I even considered myself to be quite a good designer. I would lie in bed at night and think to myself, What would that kind of sleeve look like on that dress? What if that sleeve was puffy — puffier than anyone else’s sleeve? I would just lie in bed and imagine.

But one day while I was sewing — I remember this day so well — I messed up and sewed a sleeve onto my dress going the wrong direction. I knew that in order for me to finish that garment, I would have to take out all those stitches by hand and then sew on the sleeve the correct way. So do you know what I did? I put that dress aside, and I never picked it up again. Instead, I started cutting out material for another outfit. At that time in my life, I just didn’t have what it took to finish what I started.

You may say, “But Denise, you were just a child! That is a normal response for a child in that kind of situation.” But here is my point: At that moment, there was a choice to make on my part, and I decided, This situation has gotten too hard, so I will quit.

This is a mindset that often starts in childhood and continues throughout a person’s adult life. But this mindset should not be in the people of God!

Let’s look at a few examples of people in the Bible who were given very specific and difficult assignments, but refused to quit.

What about Noah, who kept building that ark for 100 years?
Think of Moses as he led three million rebellious and complaining Israelites through the wilderness.
What about Esther? What if she had decided, “This job is too hard! I’m not laying down my life for my people”?
Finally, consider Jesus, who suffered all the way through the Crucifixion and then took our punishment upon Himself in hell. What if He had said, “This is getting too hard — I’m going to quit”?

Sadly, this mindset of quitting when things get too hard has made its way into the Church. Too many Christians say, “It can’t be God’s will for me to suffer like this, so I am changing my plan.”

Consider these statistics:

The average pastor in the U.S. stays in one church for only three to five years.
The average marriage in the U.S. lasts only 8.2 years.
In the United States, only 79 percent of youth finish high school.

Something has happened in our modern mindset that has caused us to become unwilling to pay the price and finish the job at hand.

Luke 14:28-30 and 33 has something very important to say along this line:

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?… So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

I have read this passage many times before, and I can honestly say that I really didn’t understand what Jesus meant. I wondered, Why did Jesus talk about finishing a building here? What did that have to do with giving up everything to be His disciple, as it says in verse 33? But after meditating on this passage for a long time, I began to understand that Jesus was talking about surrender and counting the cost. He was asking each one of us, “Are you really serious about what you want to do for God? Are you willing to pay the price that is required in order for you to accomplish this assignment?”

For example, let’s talk about marriage. It is too difficult for couples to build a healthy marriage these days because of their busy schedules and all the temptations that constantly surround them. As a result, a marriage can become anything but “days of Heaven on earth” as God intended (see Deuteronomy 11:21).

What about you? Are you willing to pay the price of loving, forgiving, serving, and correcting your own attitude in your relationship with your spouse? Are you willing to make the changes you need to make rather than focus on trying to change your husband or your wife? Are you willing to pay the price required to have a marriage that is truly like “days of Heaven on earth”? Is it worth it to you to die to your own selfishness so you can have this kind of relationship with your spouse? I know these are hard questions, but they are questions we all need to ask ourselves.

Now consider this subject of finishing what you start in light of your responsibility to raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Do you want to pay the price to the best of your ability to give your children all they need to live fruitful, godly lives? Are you willing to develop your patience and longsuffering — to cook, clean, teach, pray, correct, discipline, and believe in them until they grow to adulthood and are able to finish their course?

Your health is another area you need to consider in light of this principle. We must count the cost in this area as well. Our bodies are not our own. We are bought with a price — the precious blood of Jesus — and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit Himself (see 1 Corinthians 6:19).

Ask yourself, Am I treating my body wisely so that it will carry me to a victorious finish on my life course, or am I mistreating my body in a way that will cause a weakened state of living in my older age?

A few years ago, I visited a room filled with people receiving dialysis and was shocked to find out that most of those receiving treatment were not elderly but between the ages of 30 and 40 years old. There were even children included in the group! Twenty years ago, diabetic kidney failure was diagnosed primarily for the elderly — but now there are thousands of diabetics who are children and youth! No doubt, some of these cases are hereditary or induced by a medical condition that’s not lifestyle-related. But diabetes in young people that’s caused by unhealthy living has become an epidemic!

How are you treating your temple? As you live each day, you must make choices, counting the cost and doing the right things for your body so that sickness cannot rob you of a healthy finish in life.

No matter what assignment God has given you, this is the question you must answer: Do you want to pay the price required in order to see it to the finish?

You see, it’s easy to start something. But it isn’t so much how a person starts that counts — it’s how he or she finishes. For example, it’s very easy for a man and a woman to get together and have a baby, but it is another thing altogether for those parents to raise that child into an adult who obeys God and is a blessing to society.

Here’s another question we must ask ourselves as we count the cost and determine whether or not we are going to finish our race: Am I willing to do whatever it takes to die to the laziness in my life that is stealing from the call of God and His purposes for me? Every effort we make to finish our race is worth whatever price we must pay. There will be a day of reward. Some reward we will receive on this earth. But there will also be an eternal reward waiting for us in Heaven that will last for eternity — and the brilliance, worth, and value of that reward will never fade.

Jesus said in Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” In other words, it’s going to take all that is within us to lay down our lives and finish the things that God has assigned us to do.

The most important ingredient to fulfilling our call in this life is our utter dependence on God. God will never quit. His mercy will never run out for us if we fear Him and humble ourselves before Him. For us to fully finish our course, we must depend wholly on the Lord, for we just don’t have what it takes to finish by ourselves.

I am writing this letter to you because the enemy is pressing on so many believers to try to stop them from finishing their course well. The Bible says that the devil wants to “wear out” the saints so they will become discouraged and quit (see Daniel 7:25). But as we call on the One who is our supreme Example and Intercessor, God will give us His strength and help us press on until we complete the assignment He has given us.

Any price we pay to finish our course is well worth it, for the reward is eternal.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

— 2 Corinthians 4:17,18

Friend, my encouragement to you today is this: Check your heart today and count the cost — the price you must pay in order to fulfill all that God is asking you to do. Make sure you’re committed to staying faithful to the end. Stay willing to go through any and every difficulty in order to finish your God-given assignment. Depend on the Holy Spirit to help you and to teach you how not to just start your “building” but to erect every wall and lay every brick until it’s complete! If you do these things, one day you will hear the words you have longed to hear from the Master: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (see Matthew 25:21).

Thank you for spending this time with me. If you need prayer, please know we are here for you! I invite you to call our prayer team at 1.844.473.6637 or email prayer@deniserenner.org. Our heart is to stand in faith with you and help you reach a flourishing finish in your life!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

The Agape Love of God

March Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

It’s already the month of March!

As I write to you, Denise and I are wrapping up our time of ministry in the United States. She and I are thankful that so many people were able to attend our meetings in various places across the country. We are so grateful for what the Holy Spirit and Word of God did in so many people’s lives during those meetings. But now our trip is coming to an end, and on March 4, we will celebrate the official launch of our newest Russian TV channel that God has put into our hands!

As I told you last month, this new channel (which is in addition to our international satellite channel) is specifically designed to reach across all of Russia and potentially into nearly every home. God has entrusted us to do some amazing things over many years, but this is one of the most important assignments He has ever given us, and we are thankful that He has trusted us to do it. But please pray for us, as we still need finances — especially for this first month of launching the channel. We also need continued divine favor to keep expanding our reach to as many Russian homes as possible!

In my last few letters, I wrote to you from the prophetic word the Holy Spirit gave to me for our friends and partners for the year 2024. Here it is again.

The year 2024 will be visited with turbulent episodes across the entire globe, especially in the realms of finances and politics and in the nations. These episodes will be of a sort that they will potentially cause those who are not rooted in God’s Word to be deeply disturbed. But for those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and to walk in a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory. Yes, those who stay in faith, in peace, in love, in fellowship, and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will be blessed, empowered, joy-filled, and sustained, and they will miraculously thrive even if the world around them is tossed with a tempest.

I want to draw to your attention that the word above says those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and they will have a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory.

One purpose of prophecy is to help us wage a good warfare. I wrote last month that Paul told Timothy, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). So just as Paul told Timothy, we, too, need to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit has specifically spoken to us to help wage a good warfare!

Last month I also wrote to you about what it means to stay in “peace,” and today I am moving to the next part of the prophetic word for 2024, which is about staying in “love.”

What It Means To Stay in Love

In the New Testament, there are primarily two words for “love.” The first is phileo, and the second is agape. Let me give you the meanings of them both and then show you the difference between these two kinds of love.

The word phileo means to love like a friend and describes a reciprocal kind of love that is shared between two or more people. I call it the lowest kind of love because it can be forfeited if it is not reciprocated as expected. This phileo type of love says, “I’ll scratch your back as long as you scratch mine, too, but the day you don’t return the favor by scratching mine is the day I’ll be done sowing into this relationship!” Thus, phileo love has strings attached to it.

Unfortunately, this is the type of love that most people know in many of their relationships, including marital relationships, parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, and relationships with friends. Because this type of love is looking for a response, if the correct response is not returned as expected, it usually leads to disappointment and often even to the end of a relationship.

But there is a higher kind of love that is referred to in the Greek New Testament as agape, which is the highest and finest kind of love that exists.

The Greek word agape describes a divine love that gives and gives, even if it’s never responded to, thanked, or acknowledged. This lets us know that God’s agape love has no strings attached to it, and it can never be offended. God’s agape love occurs when an individual sees, recognizes, understands, or appreciates the value of an object or a person. Furthermore, agape causes a person to have an irresistible love that is so profound it knows no limits or boundaries in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to show that love to its recipient. It is a self-sacrificial love that moves the lover to action. Clearly, agape love is unlike anything we could generate in our own strength.

The word agape describes the highest level of love that exists in the world, and it is the level of love that God wants every believer to walk in. It is a love so completely different from what the world offers that it is the word always used to describe the love of God. Indeed, it is a divine, supernatural kind of love that is both unconditional and sacrificial.

You may be thinking, I just don’t know if I have it in me to love on that level. But the truth is, you do because the Bible says, “…The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5). The word “love” in this verse is the word agape. That means, according to this verse, the agape love of God has been shed abroad in the heart of every believer — including yours if you’ve been born again. The words “shed abroad” describe a pouring forth, a spilling out, or something that is dispersed in abundance. In other words, the moment you surrendered your life to Jesus and made Him your Lord and Savior, God liberally and lavishly poured this agape love into you — and since you have it in you, if you’ll ask, the Holy Spirit will help you tap into and walk in this high-level love in all your relationships.

Let me give you an example of why you need this agape love to be operative in your life. Paul describes why we need it in First Corinthians 13:4 where he says that this kind of agape love “suffereth long.”

The words “suffereth long” are interpreted from the Greek word makrothumia, a compound of the words makros and thumos. The word makros means long and may indicate something that is long or of long duration. The word thumos means anger, but it also embodies the idea of swelling emotions or a strong and growing passion about something. When these two words are compounded to form the word makrothumia, it pictures the patient restraint of anger and, therefore, longsuffering. It can also describe forbearance and patience. Thus, “suffereth long” or “longsuffering” describes something that doesn’t easily give up or bow out.

A good, practical example of the word for “suffereth long” — the Greek word makrothumia — is a candle that has a very long wick. Think about it: A candle with a long wick is equipped to burn a very long time. You might say it is ready to forbear and patiently wait until a person finally comes around and sees the light. Someone who “suffereth long” is forbearing and patient with a person until that person finally grasps what is being communicated or taught.

The illustration of a long-wicked candle helps us see that a person who suffereth long does not easily give up or bow out. Instead, he keeps steadily burning and burning and burning. Spiritually speaking, he has a very long wick and has made the decision to hang in there and not give up — even though the other person is unresponsive and showing no signs of change.

Taking into account the original Greek meaning of this word, here is the Renner Interpretive Version (RIV) of this part of First Corinthians 13:4:

Love patiently and passionately bears with others for as long as patience is needed and does not easily give up or bow out….

Unlike frail, human love, which eventually says, “I’m sick and tired of waiting for this person to change. That’s it — I’m out of here,” God’s agape love never throws in the towel. The longer the struggle, the more committed agape love is for that person. It is totally supernatural! First John 4:16 tells us that “…God is love.” And the word “love” here is the Greek word agape, which means God Himself is pure love — that is, the highest and finest kind of love — and that explains why God has never given up on you even when you failed to reciprocate love back to Him as you should have done! Aren’t you thankful that God’s love has no strings attached!

As we sail through the end times, we may occasionally experience disappointments with others. Maybe we expected more of someone, or we were disappointed by someone’s failure to do something we thought they would do. But it is vital that we do not allow disappointment, hurt, or offense to cause us to move into isolation where the devil can defeat us. We need each other, especially in these times. So if you feel disappointed in someone, I think a wise approach to dealing with it would be to say, “Lord, if I’m backing off from someone because of disappointment, I acknowledge that it means I’m moving in a low level of love…for if I were moving in agape — Your kind of love — I would be more longsuffering. Please teach me to release the high-level agape love of God from my heart into all of my relationships and to love with no strings attached.”

God’s Spirit will speak to your heart and show you how to release bitterness and hurt before it becomes deeply rooted in your soul. This divine pleading is God’s grace trying to help you overcome the situation before it becomes more serious. Don’t ignore that work of grace!

God has shed His love abroad in your heart, and if you’ll tap into it and release it, the Holy Spirit will cause that agape love to rise up and pour out of you and make you more steady in your relationships. But your cooperation is required in order for God’s love to accomplish its full work inside you. God’s grace will set you free from the disappointments that have plagued your past relationships and will produce a divine love inside you that has no strings attached — the highest and finest kind of love — the same kind of love that God has repeatedly demonstrated that He has for you.

Don’t allow the devil to drive you into hurt and isolation because that is a trap that can be very difficult to get out of. If God has placed a relationship in your life, it means you need that person. Of course, the devil will try to bring disappointments to sour it, but God’s grace and love will produce a current of divine love so strong in you that you’ll stay steady in love and be unaffected regardless of what others do.

If we’ll obey the Word of God, we will experience a supernatural power that will cause us to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and to have a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory.

Next month, I’m going to write you about the importance of staying in “fellowship” in hard times. But the first step to staying in fellowship is not allowing disappointments to knock you out of the relationship and drive you into isolation. And to be freed of the temptation to break and run, you’ll need the agape love of God to operate inside your heart and soul.

Let me pray for you:

Father, I pray in Jesus’ name that you will enable my precious friend to release the agape love of God that has been shed abroad in his or her heart by the Holy Spirit. And just as You demonstrate longsuffering with each of us, I ask that this divine agape love will produce in each of us a love that has no strings attached and that is not moved by what others do or do not do. I pray this in Jesus’ name!

Thank you so much for letting me minister to you this month on this important subject that affects all of us. Please look for my letter next month when I will talk to you about what it means to stay in “fellowship” in turbulent times.

Please pray for Denise and me, our family, and our team as we continue doing what Jesus has commissioned us to do. Thank you so much for being the partner you are and for all you do to help us. We are here to do the work, but your prayers and gifts put “fuel” in the tank so we can keep moving forward. We are so thankful for the financial fuel you put into the tank of our ministry. I know it ultimately comes from the Lord, but He uses you, and for that reason, we really want to express our thanks to God and to you!

Please let us know how we can pray for you! We are always here. Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org.

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

Rick and Denise Renner

along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

How To Stay in Peace

February Teaching Letter from Rick Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

Greetings in Jesus’ powerful name!

As you receive this letter, Denise and I are doing meetings across the United States. In February we are speaking in Tennessee, New York, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, and Florida. It’s going to be a very busy month of ministry, and — if you live near any of these places, we would love it if you could attend one of our meetings. You can go to renner.org/speaking-schedule to find details about each event.

This is an important month for RENNER Ministries because we are also preparing for the big launch of our brand-new Russian channel (different from our international channel) that will start airing programs on March 4! Please pray for us as we press forward toward this date. This is God’s channel, and we are trusting Him to provide all the finances needed this month so that we will launch on time with no bumps. This new channel will have the ability to eventually reach every Russian home, and it is a huge development for God’s Word going into people’s lives who are so hungry to receive it!

I want to say thank you for the way you pray for us and support this God-ordained work. When I think of what you and all our God-called partners do, it nearly leaves me speechless. All of what we do is possible because of precious partners like you who have joined hands with God and with us to bring the trusted teaching of the Bible to people around the world. First Corinthians 3:6 tells us that one plants and another waters, but it is God who gives the increase. It takes all of us working together with the Lord for the transformative Truth to change people’s lives. And today I want to especially express how thankful I am for your part in this great Gospel work!

In last month’s letter, I wrote to you about the word the Holy Spirit gave to me for our partners for the year 2024. Here it is again:

Last month I also wrote to you about what it means to stay in faith — but today I want to speak to you about what it means to stay in peace. Remember, the prophetic word says those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and who keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and they will have a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory.

One purpose of prophecy is to wage a good warfare using the sure words of God that you receive from Him. Paul told Timothy, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1 Timothy 1:18). So as Paul told Timothy, we need to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit has spoken and wage a good warfare with it.

What It Means To Stay in Peace

First of all, I want to draw your attention to John 16:33, where Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Notice that Jesus said we can have peace even if we are in the midst of tribulation. I want to go over both of these words so you’ll really understand what kind of peace is available to you when you experience tribulation or turbulence in life!

The word “peace” that Jesus used in this verse is interpreted from the Greek word eirene, which depicts the cessation of war and the putting away of conflict. This remarkably means that when “peace” is ruling a situation, it causes conflict, strife, and warring in relationships (or things that are waging a fight in the soul) to be put away.

But wait…the word “peace” that Jesus used in this verse also pictures a time of rebuilding and reconstruction after war has ceased. This means that when peace is ruling a situation, it becomes possible to start rebuilding instead of tearing down!

But hold on…the word “peace” that Jesus used in this verse also depicts a time when distractions are removed, prosperity is initiated, and a rule of order replaces chaos. This means that when peace is ruling a situation, it supernaturally eliminates what is a distraction, opens the door to prosperity, and is so strong that it brings order into the midst of chaotic situations!

There’s even more! The word “peace” that Jesus used in John 16:33 speaks of a calm inner stability that results in the ability to conduct oneself peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would usually be traumatic or upsetting. This means that when peace is ruling a situation, it doesn’t matter how big the turbulence you’re experiencing is, that divine peace enables you to conduct yourself peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would usually be traumatic or upsetting!

Finally, the word “peace” that Jesus used in this verse is from the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures. This means that when peace is ruling a situation, it brings wholeness to those who would usually be negatively affected. It also brings a dominating and supernatural tranquility to the soul that is unaffected by the outward circumstances or pressures that are trying to shake you up!

Next, I want to bring your attention to the word “tribulation” in John 16:33, which is interpreted from the Greek word thlipsis. It depicts pressure so great it would usually be crushing, and it speaks of a horribly tight squeeze or a situation so difficult it would usually cause one to feel crushed, pressured, squeezed, or stressed.

You see, Jesus said when His peace is ruling your heart or any situation you are in, it supernaturally removes conflict, puts an end to strife, enables you to rebuild, removes distractions, initiates peace and prosperity, and brings order to whatever was chaotic. This peace is so supernatural that it produces a calm inner stability that results in your ability to conduct yourself peacefully, even in the midst of circumstances that would usually be traumatic or upsetting. Indeed, Jesus said this divine peace will fill you with shalom — with such supernatural completeness, wholeness, and tranquility that your soul will be unaffected by circumstances or pressures!

It’s no surprise that Jesus added the words “be of good cheer!”

The original text could be interpreted this way: “In light of this, it’s time for you to cheer yourself up!” This is Jesus’ instruction for times when we hit turbulence in life. Rather than be shaken up by it, we are to grab hold of God’s divine peace and cheer ourselves up because Jesus has “overcome the world.”

The word “overcome” in that phrase is interpreted from the word nikao, which describes a champion, conqueror, master, overcomer, or victor. It depicts an overwhelming, prevailing force! This word is so power-packed that it pictures Jesus and His power as being a phenomenal, walloping, conquering force. That is the kind of power Jesus possessed and the victory He has to offer to us even when we hit turbulence in life!

In fact, Jesus went on to say His power has overcome the “world.” This word is interpreted from the Greek word kosmos, which describes the earthly realm where Satan is the “god of this world” (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). But no matter how powerfully he tries to project himself, because of the resurrection of Jesus, Satan has been stripped bare of his authority to rule over you (see Colossians 2:15). Jesus has completely prevailed over him — and now Jesus gives you His divine peace to rule you, even in situations that would usually be upsetting!

But for that peace to rule your heart and situation, you must decide to yield to it. The apostle Paul referred to this “yielding to peace” in Colossians 3:15, which says, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts….”

I especially want you to notice the word “rule” in this verse. It is from the Greek word brabeuo, which, in ancient times, was used to describe the umpire or referee who moderated and judged the athletic competitions that were so popular in the ancient world.

Paul uses this word to tell us that the peace of God can work like an umpire or referee in our hearts, minds, and emotions. When detrimental emotions attempt to exert control over us or try to throw us into an emotional frenzy, we can stop it from happening by making the choice to let God’s peace rise up from deep inside us and work like an umpire or referee to moderate our emotions. As we do this, we will be kept under the control of that divine peace as it rules in our hearts. When this divine umpire called “peace” steps into the game, it suddenly begins to call the shots and make all the decisions — rather than fretfulness, anxiety, and worry.

Colossians 3:15 could be translated:
“Let the peace of God call the shots in your life….”
“Let the peace of God be the umpire in your life and actions….”
“Let the peace of God act as referee in your emotions and decisions….”

Even though it’s true that everyone runs into turbulent moments from time to time, if you’ll stay in peace — as the Holy Spirit has urged us all to do — you won’t have to surrender to emotions that try to steal your joy, disturb your relationships, and rob you of your victory.

If you feel overwhelmed by problems or emotions that are hitting you from every direction, just stop a moment and deliberately set your heart and mind on Jesus and the Word of God. As you do this, the wonderful, conquering, dominating, supernatural peace of God will rise up from within your spirit and take control — enabling you to stay in peace in 2024!

Wow! I can hardly wait to share with you next month about what it means to “stay in love” as you walk through 2024. But right now, if you are dealing with any kind of turbulence in your life, Jesus’ peace can rule your heart and the situation! So if you would like us to pray with you, we are waiting to hear from you right now. You can call us any weekday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT at 1-800-742-5593 or send us your prayer need at prayer@renner.org. We will get into agreement with you in prayer for God’s divine peace to rise up and, like a mighty umpire, rule your heart and emotions, bringing shalom to you and your situation. So please let us know how to pray for you, and we’ll release our faith with yours for God to move mightily in your situation or in the lives of those you love!

Please pray for us too! We are giving our best to do what Jesus has asked us to do, and obeying Him is our top priority. Your partnership is such a vital part of everything RENNER Ministries is able to accomplish, and we are so thankful for you and our other amazing God-called partners!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team

P.S. Click here to view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer. Click here to read Denise’s February Teaching Letter.

God Has a Miracle for You!

February Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel and their families|Hello, Friend!

In my last several letters, I’ve mentioned how near and dear the subject of healing is to me. So much so that God placed it on my heart to write a book about His desire to heal, and, more importantly, His desire to heal YOU! I’m excited to announce that my new book Jesus Is Your Healer is now available at renner.org.

I’ve shared excerpts from Jesus Is Your Healer with you over the past several months, and I will share even more insights from my book in this very letter. But this Holy Spirit-inspired book contains more information than can fit in just one letter! You will often refer to Jesus Is Your Healer and share the good news of this miracle-working power with your family and friends. It can and will change your life! I pray you will continually be blessed by the wisdom found within the pages of my new book and in my letters.

Be assured, Jesus is your Healer and He has a miracle just for you. Since Jesus was a Miracle Worker 2,000 years ago, He is still a Miracle Worker today. He’s not just the One you read about in the Bible who healed people. Jesus is your Miracle Worker because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8)!

A miracle is something that happens instantly. In one moment, the natural circumstances are what they are — but then something supernatural happens, and everything is completely different in the next moment.

God performed miracles in the Old Testament and Jesus performed many miracles in His 33 years on Earth. Today, you can see all around us how sickness and disease steal from our lives. But Jesus’ miracle-working power reverses sickness and disease and gives us our lives back! Oh, what a wonderful Savior!

Testimonies of the Miracle-Working Power of God

I remember a doctor saying to me, “If you leave that physical issue alone and don’t do anything about it, it will just get worse.” That is the course of nature, but a miracle happens when the power of God interrupts the course of nature!

My own husband Rick experienced a great miracle that interrupted the course of nature when he was just a young teenager and new to the things of the Spirit. Rick was born with his kidneys conjoined (sometimes called “horseshoe kidneys”) and situated on only one side of his body. This was beginning to cause young Rick physical problems. But he went to a church meeting where the Word of God was being preached and the power of God was moving — and everything changed in a moment!

During the meeting, Rick answered the minister’s invitation to come forward and have hands laid on him. Rick didn’t say anything to the minister, but God knew his condition. The minister simply touched him, and immediately the power of God went through his kidneys and recreated them. In an instant, Rick’s kidneys became completely normal! From that moment on, Rick has had two healthy kidneys!

I’ve told you about my testimony about my face many times. For 13 years I suffered with that skin disease, going from doctor to doctor, being rejected and made fun of by my peers, and suffering continual pain and embarrassment. But one night, I went to bed just as I had done for 13 years, and when I woke up the next morning, a miracle had happened in the night and my face was completely healed. That is the miracle-working power of God!

I remember one woman in our church who suffered an injury at birth, and she couldn’t stand straight. During a church meeting, there suddenly came a word of knowledge about God straightening out someone’s legs. At that moment, the Spirit of God touched that woman’s hip, and she was immediately healed! Her life had been one way for 30 years. But in one moment, her life changed to another way as she stood straight and tall and healed, praising the Lord!

I also remember a friend who was really suffering from COVID. The medical staff was about to put him on a ventilator, and he was waiting in his hospital room. Suddenly a cool breeze came into that room, and the power of God touched that man. He went home from the hospital the very next day — miraculously healed!

It’s Time for Your Miracle!

Again, I want to stress to you that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His power is extended to you right now. Jesus walked the earth as the express image of the Father. Everything we see Jesus doing in the gospels was an expression of the Father’s heart.

Through Jesus’ beating, crucifixion, and death, He continued to express the will of the Father. Jesus carried blindness on the Cross. He carried cancer on the Cross. He carried heart problems on the Cross. He carried skin problems on the Cross. He carried every disease known to man on the Cross so that He could bring your miracle to you! That is His will for you right now as you read these words.

What do you need from God? Do you need His healing power to touch your body? His power is right there with you right now. Just put your hand on your body where you need His healing touch and receive it by faith!

Oh, I urge you to reach out to Jesus and receive His power for your healing right now! Believe Him for whatever you need! Healing, peace, freedom — all of this is Jesus’ heart for you. That is His love for you. As He suffered on the Cross, He took upon Himself whatever condition, sickness, or struggle you are dealing with.

You can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus not only can heal you, but He absolutely wants to heal you. He is a miracle-working God, and He has a miracle for you!

My friend, it always thrills my heart that you invite me to spend this time with you. I want to remind you that you can find even more truths about God’s provision of healing in my book Jesus Is Your Healer, which is now available. I also want to let you know I will be in the Tulsa area for a Women’s Meeting on Friday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m. CT. We will meet at the Abiding Harvest Church in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, so be sure to gather your girlfriends and join us for this special evening of ministry and miracles. You can go to RENNER.org and scroll down to Speaking Schedule for more information. I hope I will see you there!

In the meantime, I invite you to join me for my program TIME With Denise Renner on Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. CT on YouTube and Facebook. You can also find me on the following:

• GospelTruth.TV — Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. CT
• PTL — Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. CT
• Spotify, Apple, and Google — Mondays at 5:00 a.m. CT (new audio podcasts)

Please don’t forget that our prayer team is waiting to hear from you! Just call 1.844.473.6637 or send us an email at prayer@deniserenner.org. We look forward to joining our faith with yours for the abundant, miracle-working power of God to be released into your life.

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

Remaining Steadfast

You Are RICH! God’s Riches for You — in This Life and the One To Come!

You Can Redeem the Time!

Sowing Seed for the Sake of Eternity

The Power of Knowing God’s Will

The Importance of Fellowship

Pay the Price to Finish Well!

The Agape Love of God

How To Stay in Peace

God Has a Miracle for You!

The Importance
of Fellowship