Two Wonderful Ways You Can Receive Healing
March 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,
Greetings in the powerful name of Jesus!
I am so thankful to be able to write to you today and continue sharing how to appropriate the healing and health that Jesus purchased for you on the Cross. In this letter, we are going to explore two additional points: 1) The Gifts of Healing and the Working of Miracles and 2) Taking Communion for Healing.
Someone wrote and asked, “Is any of the information you have been writing about in this series of letters covered in your new book called EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEALING?” Yes, it is, but only a very tiny part, as this new book is so comprehensive regarding the subject of healing and health. It deals with every aspect that I always wished someone would touch upon concerning this subject. But because I couldn’t find a book that included this wide array of topics connected to healing and health, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to write it. So with His help, I wrote it, and my prayer is that it will be a God-sent answer into your life. You can order it by calling 1-800-742-5593 or going online to renner.org/store (international shipping rates apply for international orders). You may want to order more than one copy — I’m certain this is one you’ll want to not only share with others, but also keep a copy for yourself!
Before I get into today’s letter, I want to express my heartfelt THANK YOU for being connected with this ministry. The Gospel itself is free, but the methods to get it to people are not free. It requires Denise and me, our family, and our team to really stay engaged in our faith to believe for all the finances necessary to do the job. Would you prayerfully consider becoming a partner with us in this work to take the trusted teaching of the Word of God to others who also need it? To learn more about us and what we do, please visit renner.org/partner or call us at 1-800-742-5593.
In recent letters, we’ve covered many points about how to appropriate healing and health for your body and mind. Here are the next two points I want to share with you.
#1: The Gifts of Healing and the Working of Miracles
It is a fact that sometimes healing and health are supernaturally manifested as a result of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so it is important to understand what the Bible says to us about the “gifts of healing” and “the working of miracles.” We read about them in First Corinthians 12:9-10. These verses say that “…to another [is given] the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another [is given] the working of miracles….” I want you to notice that the “gifts of healing” is plural. This lets us know that there are different manifestations of this spiritual gift — or there are various ways that the gift of healing operates. But the mere fact that the “gifts of healing” and “the working of miracles” are listed separately highlights how each gift manifests uniquely in its own remarkable way.
For example, the word “healing” finds its roots in the Greek word iaomai, which means to cure, and it can also refer to receiving treatment from a physician. This is significant because when a doctor treats a patient, the results are rarely immediate; instead, a doctor may begin a course of medication or a suggested procedure that gradually restores the patient’s health. The fact that the Holy Spirit used the word iaomai to describe the gifts of healing informs us that, in the same way medicine works progressively, often a supernatural cure begins with a prayer or with the laying on of hands, but it may take the healing a period of time for its full effect to occur. Although the process remains supernatural, the use of “healing” in this context suggests it may occur in stages over time.
An example of a progressive healing is found in Luke 17 when Jesus entered a certain village and a group of lepers met Him to seek His healing touch. Luke 17:14 says these lepers were cleansed and healed “as they went.” This was a manifestation of a gift of healing — a supernatural touch of the Holy Spirit that ultimately cures a person from his ailment over a period of time. Most people would prefer a miracle, which is usually instantaneous, but the word iaomai is often used in the gospels to describe many whom Jesus healed. This means there were vast scores of people who were recipients of progressive healing, in addition to those who were instantaneously changed. But whether it was instantaneous or progressive, the results were nevertheless supernatural.
I tell you this because when asking for someone to pray for you through the laying on of hands, it is very possible that the touch you receive will be one of a progressive nature. At that moment, it is of utmost importance that you inwardly say, “Regardless of how it manifests — instantly or progressively — right now I receive God’s healing touch in my body. Just as I believe medicine works to reverse a condition, I release my faith right now to believe that from this moment onward, God’s power will work in me to reverse this condition until I am made completely whole and free of this disease, illness, or sickness.”
The apostle Paul went on in First Corinthians 12:10 to list the “working of miracles” as another gift of the Holy Spirit. The King James Version translates it as “the working of miracles,” but the Greek text actually says “the operation of powers.” The word “working” is derived from a form of energema, which is related to the Greek word energeo. The word energeo is the word for energy, but when it becomes energema, as in First Corinthians 12:10, it depicts divine activity, divine energy, divine empowerment, or divine involvement. The word “miracles” is from the Greek word dunameon, the plural form of dunamis, which carries the idea of explosive, superhuman power that comes with enormous energy and produces phenomenal, extraordinary, and unparalleled results. It is the very word used throughout the New Testament to depict mighty deeds that are impressive, incomparable, and beyond human ability to perform. It denotes miraculous power or miraculous manifestations.
So when Paul wrote about the “working of miracles,” he described a divine operation of supernatural power that comes with enormous energy and produces phenomenal, extraordinary, and unparalleled results. This divine operation of power overrides natural laws and quickly or instantaneously does what would never naturally take place or what might normally take place over a long duration. An example would be when a damaged organ or limb is instantly and supernaturally restored. When the gift of working of miracles is in operation, the power of God overrides the laws of nature and enables the impossible to miraculously come to pass.
As you press forward to appropriate the healing and health that Christ purchased for you in His redemptive work on the Cross, do not dismiss the fact that God may choose to release the healing and health you are believing for through the gifts of healing or the working of miracles. Very often these gifts are manifested in corporate church services, and it is possible that you may be sitting in a service when these gifts begin to operate on your behalf to put your body or mind back in order again.
#2: Taking Communion for Healing
There is yet another important way to receive healing — and that is by taking Communion. On the eve of His betrayal, Jesus gathered His disciples for one final meal and served them what we as believers have come to know as Communion. In those sacred moments, Jesus and His disciples entered into covenant with one another. In the same way, when we partake of Communion, we acknowledge our covenant with Christ and, among other important things, we acknowledge what Christ did when His body was broken for us and when He shed His blood.
When Paul wrote of this event in First Corinthians 11, he encouraged us by stating in verse 26 that regularly taking Communion is a way of remembering what Jesus did for us. In Communion, what we drink from the cup represents Jesus’ blood that was shed to purchase us from Satan’s dominion and to give us forgiveness of sin, freedom from guilt and shame, and peace of mind. The broken bread that we share represents Jesus’ body that was broken for our physical and mental healing.
It’s important to note that Second Peter 1:3 says there is not a part of our being that remains untouched by this act of redemption. It says, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” When this verse says that his divine power “hath given” unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, these words are interpreted from the Greek word dureomai, which is past tense in this verse, and means God has amply given, bequeathed, generously donated, or fully supplied. Then the verse goes on to say that He has given us “all things” that pertain to life and godliness. The phrase “all things” is from the Greek word panta, literally meaning all things. It is all encompassing and leaves nothing excluded or untouched.
Peter wrote that God’s divine power has given us all things — that is, absolutely everything that touches any part of our being — or anything which pertains to “life and godliness.” The word “life” is derived from the Greek word zoe, which indicates life of all kinds, but especially spiritual life. The word “godliness” is from a form of the Greek word eusebeia, which particularly describes what is related to godlikeness. This means that Jesus has given us everything we need for this present life and our future life, and that His redemptive work on the Cross has touched every sphere of temporal and eternal existence.
Then Second Peter 1:4 says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The word “given” in this verse is again from a form of the Greek word dureomai, which means God has amply given, bequeathed, generously donated, or fully supplied us with “exceeding great and precious promises.” The words “exceeding great” in Greek describe something impressive, magnificent, and stunning. The word “precious” is derived from the Greek word timios, which means of great value or great worth. The word “promises” is translated from a form of the Greek word epangelma, which describes pronouncements or promises. As a phrase, it means that God has fully supplied impressive, magnificent, and stunning promises in the covenant He made with us through Jesus.
In fact, Second Peter 1:4 goes on to say that we have become “partakers of the divine nature.” The word “partakers” here is koinonos, derived from a form of the Greek word koinos, a word that refers to things that are mutually shared. This word koinos could be used to depict property that jointly belongs to two or more people. The idea of commonality or connectedness is intrinsic to the meaning of this word. But when koinos develops into the word koinonos that is used in Second Peter 1:4, it conveys engagement, fellowship, involvement, participation, or mutual sharing. So when Peter writes that we are “partakers of the divine nature,” it irrefutably means that through Christ’s sacrifice, we have not merely become the sons and daughters of God, but we now are literally partakers of Christ’s nature!
According to these verses, when we are born again, we are infused with Christ’s nature, and it lifts us beyond the reach of the world’s decay and corruption — separating us from the effects of disease, illness, and sickness that afflict the body and mind. God has given us impressive, magnificent, and stunning promises through the covenant He made with us through Jesus, and these divine promises touch every realm of our beings, physically and spiritually. This includes forgiveness of sin, freedom from guilt and shame, peace of mind, and physical and mental healing, along with other things too numerous to mention here.
The reason we diverted from the subject of Communion to Second Peter is I wanted you to really see and understand what has been given to you through the shed blood and broken body of Jesus. If you’ve already been doing what you have been reading in my letters so far, but you still haven’t seen the results you desire in regard to healing and health, then perhaps it is time for you to obey Paul’s admonishment to take Communion. It is a way to remember that Jesus’ shed blood was spilled for your forgiveness, freedom from guilt and shame, and peace of mind — and that His body was broken for the healing of your body and mind.
You can partake of Communion by yourself in the privacy of your own home, with family and friends, or at church when it is offered. But First Corinthians 11:28-29 tells us that before we partake of it, we should examine our hearts to make sure we are in right relationship with others in the Body of Christ. Verse 30 goes on to say that many are sick and have even died because they have unresolved, hidden issues with others. Before you eat the bread and drink the cup, make sure you have laid any issues of this kind at the foot of the Cross and that you have forgiven whomever you need to forgive.
After you have examined yourself and have peace to proceed, reach out to drink of the cup that represents Jesus’ shed blood. Stop to thank God for the forgiveness, freedom from guilt and shame, and peace of mind that is yours because of Christ’s work on the Cross. Then reach out to take the bread that represents Jesus’ body that was broken for the full restoration of your own body and mind. Stop to thank God for the healing and health that is yours because of Christ’s work on the Cross. Let this be your moment to release your faith and allow God’s healing power to invade every part of your being so that you fully receive the healing that is yours in Christ. You are in covenant with Jesus Christ, and all of these things have been purchased for you at the Cross. Jesus has given you His identity, His authority, His power, His name, and His protection — everything He has is now at your disposal.
The act of receiving Communion is powerful, and it is something that you can do daily if needed. Do it now, do it often, and let Communion become a transactional moment when you appropriate the benefits of Christ’s redemptive work on the Cross for you.
As always, I want you to know that we are here to pray for you about anything on your heart or that you are facing in your life. Would you allow us to pray with you? Just call 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org. I promise that when we hear from you, we will pray scripturally, and God will do what needs to be done! We believe it and that is why we want to pray with you!
Also, please pray for us too. Denise and I, our family, and our team, are working nonstop — and I literally mean nonstop around the world in various time zones — to take the Gospel and God’s Word to the ends of the earth. People are responding from everywhere, and we cherish your prayers as God has entrusted us to minister to so many. Next month, I’m going to wrap up this series of letters by talking about one final way to receive healing.
We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,
Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team
P.S. Click here to download the Ministry Update printable pdf flyer.
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