The Transforming Power in His Still Small Voice

July Teaching Letter from Denise Renner

Dear Friends,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merry Christmas!

We love you and thank God for you!

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

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

It’s a privilege to write to you today, and I’m honored that you are spending this time with me in the Word of God. I want to share with you about a man who was completely transformed by the power of God. He went from being in a place of deep depression and wanting God to end his life to being a bold and mighty conqueror. This man of God was taken up to Heaven in a fiery chariot, so not only did God never kill him, this man never died and is still alive to this day. Yes, I’m talking about the great prophet Elijah!

Elijah had been sent by God to King Ahab and to the rebellious nation of Israel who was worshiping Baal. To remind these wayward Israelites of Almighty God’s power and might, Elijah had prophesied that it would not rain — and no rain fell for three years. But instead of their hearts returning to the Lord, the people of Israel continued to rebel. In First Kings 18:21, Elijah rebuked them and said, “…How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, follow him.” Verse 21 continues, “But the people answered him not a word.”

Elijah then challenged the prophets of Baal to set up an altar to their god Baal and call out to him, and afterward, Elijah set up an altar to God. Elijah decreed that the god who answered with fire was, and is, the One True God. So the prophets of Baal began worshiping and crying out to their false god, screaming and cutting themselves, but nothing happened; fire did not consume the offering on their altar.

When it was Elijah’s turn, he had people fill four large jars repeatedly with water and pour them on the sacrifice that he had prepared on the altar for the Lord. He then prayed to God, and the Word says, “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” (1 Kings 18:38,39).

The prophets of Baal were then seized and killed, and Elijah prophesied to King Ahab that it was going to rain, which would end the three-year drought. Rain did come just as Elijah had said, but when Ahab returned home, he told his wife Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and she vowed to kill Elijah. In fear for his life, Elijah ran and hid in the wilderness.

First Kings 19:4 says, “But he [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!’” Tired and discouraged, Elijah lay down to sleep.

I want you to think for a moment about how utterly exhausted — physically, mentally, and emotionally — Elijah must have been. He had been obedient and had done everything the Lord had asked him to say and do, but then a vengeful queen sought to kill him, and he was afraid. It was in this place of exhaustion that he cried out to God to kill him.

The Bible says in James 5:17 that “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours….” Those feelings of depression, insecurity, wanting to give up, and utter defeat that Elijah experienced are the very same passions and emotions that we face. And I want you to see that Jesus didn’t come to judge Elijah in those moments of despair; instead He came to bring His compassion to him. It was not time for Elijah to die; it was not time for his race to be finished. And it’s important for us to recognize that in the transforming process of our lives — when we move forward from where we are to the place we need to be in the Lord — the compassion of our God is toward us.

But even if we know God’s attitude toward us, our emotions can lie to us. They can say, This is enough. I can’t do this anymore. In essence, this is what Elijah was doing. He was saying, “I don’t want to prophesy again. I don’t want to kill another false prophet. I don’t want to face another evil king from Israel. I don’t want to depend on God for food anymore.” He was exhausted — done — and he asked God to kill him. The same passions and emotions that we contend with were moving and dictating Elijah’s desires and words.

So how did God show compassion toward Elijah?

In First Kings 19:5-7, we read, “Then as he [Elijah] lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, ‘Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.’” Notice again that God did not judge Elijah; He came to minister to him personally.

It wasn’t time for Elijah to give up, but it was time for Elijah to get away from that tree and hear from God. So Elijah made a very long journey — about 180 miles — that took him 40 days and 40 nights to complete. And although Elijah was discouraged, he did not run from God. He ran to God, and his journey took him to Mount Horeb — the mountain of God.

The Bible passage continues, “And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:9).

And Elijah answered God: “…I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kings 19:10).

First Kings 19 continues, “Then He [God] said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (1 Kings 19:11-13).

Friend, this great prophet of God was so overwhelmed, he needed more than just hot bread, water, and a good night’s sleep. He needed to hear from God.

Sometimes the circumstances surrounding us can be so devastating that we end up believing the wrong voices and embracing the wrong emotions. And instead of moving forward with God, we park ourselves under a tree. But what we really need is to hear that still small voice. Jesus paid a tremendous price to bring His voice, His presence, and His power into our life through the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t want us to remain in the feelings and emotions of our flesh; instead, He desires that we are led by His Spirit who dwells inside us and transformed by His still small voice.

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you….” Even in his discouraged and depressed state, Elijah was still trying to draw near to God. By running to Mount Horeb, Elijah was drawing near to God and God was drawing very near to Elijah. When Elijah heard the still small voice of God, the presence of God was so overwhelming that he covered his face with his mantle. This was the answer that Elijah needed — but he had to get away from that tree to hear the still small voice of God. This was his transforming moment.

In First Kings 19:14 and 15, the conversation between Elijah and God continues. Elijah once again responded to God, “…I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” And the Lord said to Elijah, “…Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.”

Many years ago, my husband Rick and I were involved in the building project of our church in Riga, Latvia. The stress on my husband was overwhelming, and the requests for finances from the building contractors were relentless. God was so faithful, but many times the contractors would say, “OK, now I need X amount of money,” and “I need money for this,” and “I need money for that.” It became overwhelming to Rick.

One night, Rick was up in the middle of the night because he was worried and couldn’t sleep. He had his head on the desk, and he was crying out to the Lord, God, please help me. Where am I going to get the money needed to finish this project? And in the middle of his prayer, Rick felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Joel, our youngest son.

“Dad, what’s wrong? Why are you weeping?” Joel asked.

And Rick said to Joel, “Your dad is worried about the money that is still needed to be able to finish the building on time.”

To this, Joel responded, “Oh, Dad, hasn’t God already proven Himself faithful to you?” It was the tender question of a child that God used to comfort Rick’s heart. Just as God was to Elijah — not condemning or judging him but wanting to lift him up — so God was to my husband. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, came and comforted my husband.

I tell you that story because so many times, like Elijah, when we feel mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted, we begin comparing ourselves with others, and we start to see ourselves as failures. But God does not come to judge or condemn us. He comes with His still small voice to comfort and encourage us; He comes to get us back up on our feet again and get us going in the right direction.

Elijah was transformed that day. In obedience to God’s leading and direction, he returned from Mount Horeb to anoint a new king over Israel and a new king over Syria. Elijah also passed his mantle to his successor Elisha. Then God raptured Elijah into Heaven, and he was taken up by a chariot of fire — never experiencing physical death.

Maybe you’re stuck under a tree like Elijah was and want to give up. Maybe you see yourself as a failure. But God doesn’t. He’s there with the power of the Holy Spirit to comfort you and help you at this very moment.

Romans 8:31-34 speaks of God’s everlasting love for us and His defense of us that we can declare in those moments of weakness or discouragement. It says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Friend, nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. There is no tree that we have to stay under. God has the hot bread and the water and the power to transform us and enable us to get up and get going. And we can hear His still small voice — the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit inside us — that speaks to us and gives us the encouragement and reassurance we need.

Thank you for allowing me to speak into your life. It truly is a privilege and an honor. I want to invite you to join me for my program, TIME With Denise Renner, on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. CT on YouTube and Facebook. You can also find me on Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. CT on GospelTruth.TV and Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. CT on PTL. And you can access my audio podcast on Spotify, Apple, and Google with new episodes every Monday at 5:00 a.m.

Will you let us pray with you? Please reach out to us if you have a prayer request. We are here for you, and our prayer team is ready to stand in faith with you. Just call 1.800.742.5593 or send us an email at prayer@deniserenner.org. We look forward to hearing about God’s transforming power that is working in your life!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

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