Dear Friends,

Greetings in the all-powerful name of Jesus! How I love to ponder on the power that is available to us in that name!

Today I will continue from what I shared in last month’s teaching letter. But first, I want to express my thankfulness to God for the way He sent you to our ministry. I am so very grateful for the opportunity to minister to you, and for your being a friend and partner with our ministry. As I always tell you, Denise and I, our sons, and our team can do our God-given parts, but to carry out the whole ministry takes a family of partners — and YOU are a significant part of that family. For that, I want you to know how truly thankful I am to God for you!

Two monthly letters ago, I shared that there is a difference between depression and oppression. We saw that depression can be both physical and emotional. It can be caused by a disappointment, fatigue, stress, a wrong diet, or a chemical imbalance, and often depression can be remedied by making certain adjustments in our lives or even by medication.

But oppression is different from depression; it is not physical, but spiritual. Oppression originates from an outside spiritual source. In fact, the word “oppression” indicates the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust way. It means to press upon; to press against; to overburden; to weigh down; to overwhelm; and to overpower. It also means to burden, to be cruel or unjust toward, to exercise uncontrollable restraints upon, to treat with severity, to oppress, to afflict, to crush, to put down, to smother, to subdue, or to torment.

Oppression is an exterior spiritual force that tries to quell, smother, and control you. The devil tries to suppress our lives so that we will not become what God desires us to be.

Other synonyms for oppression include: abuse, brutality, coercion, compulsion, control, cruelty, despotism, dictatorship, domination, force, harshness, harassment, hardness, injustice, ruling with an iron hand, maltreatment, overthrowing, repression, suffering, severity, subjugation, torment, and tyranny. These words vividly describe what oppression does in a person’s life.

Then in last month’s letter, I shared the seven levels of oppression. We saw that we can demolish oppression and dismantle it — if need be, piece by piece, to walk free of it. But today, I want you to see the power of God that is available not only to help you personally to walk free of oppression, but, additionally, to minister freedom to others who are experiencing oppression.

Let’s begin in Luke 10:17 where we read the account of Jesus sending the 70 disciples out to minister: “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils [spirits] are subject unto us through thy name.”

Jesus had sent the 70 out with authority to heal the sick and to cast out demons. They were so excited when they returned, and exclaimed, “…Lord, even the spirits, the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” The word “devils” is the Greek word daimonia. This word describes evil spirits, demons, or devils. The ancient world believed demons populated the lower regions of the air and were the primary cause of disasters and suffering — and they were correct. In the New Testament, this word daimonia, or “devils,” also depicts mental illness, oppression, or physical infirmities that are inflicted by evil spirits. The Greek word describes oppression as spirit-inflicted issues in a person’s mind or body.

The Bible says when the 70 returned, they said, “Lord, the demons, these evil spirits (the source of disaster, mental illness, and mental struggling) are subject unto us through Your name.”

The word “subject” is from a form of the Greek word hupotasso, which is a military term. It portrays a soldier who falls in line when a commander gives an order; one who is submitted to authority. These disciples said, “Lord, when we speak, they recognize our voices as the voices of commanders, and they fall in line when we use Your name!”

In the same way, you have the name of Jesus and the authority designated to you by Jesus. When you speak, demon spirits — every foul, evil force — will hear the voice of a commander and fall in line when you use Jesus’ name.

In Luke 10:18 Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven.” The word “beheld” is from a form of the Greek word theoreo, which means to gaze at or to look upon. It is the root word from which we get the word “theater.” Jesus was literally saying, “Guys, I know you’re impressed by what you’ve just experienced, because demons respond to you when you speak, but let me tell you about My experience. I remember when Satan fell from Heaven like lightning.” Jesus used the word “beheld,” which means Jesus said, in effect, “I watched it like I was in a theater. I watched the first act, the second act, and the third act. I saw the entire show; I watched the whole event.”

Portions of that event are recorded in Isaiah 14:12 and Ezekiel 28:16. Isaiah 14:12 says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!” Ezekiel 28:16 says that God told Lucifer, “…Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God.”

Lucifer was cut to the ground, fell from the heavens, and was cast out as profane. He fell so rapidly that Jesus said he fell like lightning — which means he was gone in a flash! But immediately after describing Lucifer’s fall, Jesus says in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy….”

In Greek, the word “behold” is idou, which contains the idea of bewilderment, shock, amazement, and wonder. Jesus was so excited about what He was about to say that He began with the Greek word idou, which means behold. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Hey guys, this is amazing! What I’m about to tell you is phenomenal! Behold, I give you power [authority] to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy….”

The word for “power” is from a form of the Greek word exousia and it describes one who has received delegated authority and power. Jesus said, “I’m giving you authority; I’m delegating this authority to you to tread….” The word “tread” is from a form of the Greek word pateo, meaning to walk on, to trample, to crush, or to advance by setting the foot upon. Jesus said, “I’m giving you power to advance, and along the way, if necessary, you can trample serpents and scorpions.” The word “serpents” is from a form of the Greek word ophis, meaning snake. This word is used in the Scripture to describe Satan when he strikes to kill.

Jesus said, “You have no need to be afraid of the devil or any attack he may wage against you because I have given you authority to move your feet. Just start walking forward. If the devil gets in your way, trample him with no fear of an attack or of him striking you.”

The word “scorpion” is from the Greek word skorpios, which describes a scorpion or a creature with a poisonous sting. Jesus said, “You don’t need to worry about being hurt or being stung because I’ve given you authority to make an advancement. Move your feet and just start marching forward, and if the devil or any stinging situation gets in your way — if anything comes to strike you or sting you — don’t worry. Just move your feet, because I have given you authority to advance and to trample those serpents and scorpions along the way.”

Jesus went on to say, “I’ve given you authority…over all the power of the enemy.” The word “over” is the Greek word epi, which denotes a position of advantage and superiority. Because Jesus has given us authority, we have a position of advantage. We have a position of superiority over all the power of the enemy! Wow!

In this instance, the word “power” depicts an advancing army. The enemy tries to advance on us. It may appear as though Satan’s troops are coming against us, but don’t allow yourself to worry because you have authority, a position of advantage, and superiority over the advancing power of the enemy.

The word “enemy” used in Luke 10:19 is from the Greek word echthros, which describes someone who is openly hostile, one with deep-seated animosity and hatred, an irreconcilable hostility, or one who is bent on inflicting harm. Jesus said, “Don’t worry about him. I’ve given you authority over anything he can ever wage against you.” That is why Jesus began by saying “Behold…” in Luke 10:19. Jesus was saying, “Wow! The authority I’ve given you is amazing!”

And that, my friend, means you have been given authority over ALL the works of the enemy!

But in Acts 10:38, we also read, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power….” The word “power” is from a form of the Greek word dunamis. It describes explosive, superhuman power that comes with extraordinary, unparalleled results. It’s the same Greek word that describes the full might of an advancing army.

When Jesus was anointed, He had amazing, supernatural power with unparalleled results. When that power worked in Jesus, it was like the heavenly armies were unleashed. The power of God was moving forward to drive back the forces of evil, and that is why He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.

We saw in an earlier teaching letter that the word “oppressed” is from a compound of two Greek words kata and dunamis. In this particular case, the word kata caries the idea of domination. The word dunamis depicts a domineering tyrant. It is a picture of the oppressive power of a wicked tyrant, one who rules cruelly and tyrannizes his subjects — one who is a cruel bully, dictator, or oppressive tyrant.

The word “devil,” as mentioned previously, is from the Greek word diabolos, describing one who repetitiously strikes until successfully penetrating an object to ruin it, affect it, or take it captive. It also means to slander, to accuse, to defame, to penetrate by continuous assault, or to ensnare with a net.

Here, we see a picture of how the devil wants to dominate your life, how he wants to control your mind and your emotions. He begins repeatedly striking the mind and the emotions until he finally moves in like a wicked tyrant and begins to tyrannize and rule over you like a wicked king. But Jesus came with an anointing and with power to set at liberty all who are being tyrannized by the devil.

If you know others who are subject to the cruel, oppressive treatment of the devil in their mind and emotions, pray for them, lay hands on them, and release the power of God because according to Luke 10:19, He gave us power over all the works of the enemy. You have a position of advantage and superiority, and if you will use your voice of authority and release the power of God through your hands, God will use you to bring freedom to those who are bound and oppressed of the devil.

According to Acts 10:38, Jesus was anointed, and when the anointing came upon Him, the power of God began to work through Him to set people free. But speaking of believers — that’s you and me — we read in First John 2:20, “But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy One….”

That word “unction” is from the Greek word chrisma, which means anointing. If YOU are in Christ, the same anointing belongs to you; you are covered from head to toe with the same anointing that was upon Jesus! That means you have the same dynamic power, and just as Jesus “set at liberty them that were bruised,” you can also deliver those who are oppressed by the devil. Yes, it means YOU can be used by God to speak a word of deliverance to people who are bound.

I want you to understand that God wants to use YOU to help dismantle those strongholds and vain imaginations in their minds. God has given you a voice and hands to release power just like Jesus. First John 2:20 says you have received an unction, or chrisma. You are anointed from top to bottom, from head to toe, with the very anointing that will bring freedom to anyone who is oppressed of the devil.

• If you are oppressed, you can be set free.
• If you know someone who is subject to the tyrannizing voice of the enemy, it is time for that person to be set free.
• Jesus may want to use you to minister liberty to that person, and you can do it because you have an unction from the Holy One.
• The same anointing that was on Jesus is on you!
• You can do it!

Wow…that makes me want to shout!

As I come to the close of this letter today, I want to remind you that we are here to pray for YOU and we would cherish the opportunity to pray with you for whatever is on your heart or for anything you are facing right now. If this letter has touched you in a special way, we’d love to pray with you about that as well. Simply call us at 1-800-742-5593 or email us at prayer@renner.com, and we promise to put our faith to work for Jesus to do something magnificent — and God promises that He will hear us and do it!

Thank you for being among the best partners on the planet!

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