Grateful Hearts Please God

 

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,

It is my joy to greet you today in Jesus’ wonderful name!

Recently, I’ve been deeply pondering the miraculous works of Jesus, and today I want to share something new for me — and I believe it will be new and wonderful for you too. I would love to hear from you to know how these insights touched your heart!

But before I get into my letter, I want to express my heartfelt thanks for your amazing friendship and partnership with our ministry. Denise and I and our team are doing the work required to fulfill our mandate from Heaven, but it is our friends and partners who give financially and put the financial fuel in the tank so that we can take the message to people around the world. And when I say “around the world,” I really mean all over the world. Please understand that what you are doing is affecting people both near and far — you are a mighty instrument that God is using! I wanted to begin by saying thank you!

Today I want to speak to you about the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. Luke 17:11 says, “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.”

This verse pictures Jesus journeying straight through the heart of Samaria and Galilee on His way to Jerusalem. Interestingly, we know from John 4 that Jesus had already made a profound impact in Samaria earlier when He spoke with the woman at the well. John 4:40-42 tells us of the profound moment when the woman at the well returned to a Samaritan village to testify to them about Jesus. So moved were they by this interaction that the Samaritans pleaded with Him to remain with them a little longer, and He agreed, staying for two full days. As described in verses 41-42, many more came to believe, affirming to the woman, “…Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

Having already deeply impacted the Samaritans through the testimony of the woman at the well, Jesus would, not surprisingly, revisit a place and people who had welcomed Him so warmly. This serves as a reminder that Jesus repeatedly returns to those hearts and places that are open and receptive to His presence.

But when Jesus was en route to Jerusalem, he entered a village along the way. Luke 17:12 says, “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.” The words “certain village” are derived from the Greek words tina komen, which is the word tina, meaning a certain, and a form of the Greek word kome, indicating a town or village. The particularity of the word tina makes one wonder whether this is a reference to the same village that earlier so warmly welcomed Him. But while He was there, Luke 17:12 says “there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.”

The word “met” is derived from a variant of the Greek word apantao, suggesting a deliberate meeting. It appears these ten lepers had heard rumors that Jesus was either approaching or had already arrived in the village, which prompted them to devise a plan to meet Him in person. The narrative states that these ten individuals were “lepers,” originating from the plural form of the Greek term lepros, which describes individuals who are stricken with leprosy.

Leprosy was a devastating disease that slowly consumed the flesh, disfiguring its victims by gnawing away at fingers, toes, and limbs, leaving terrible patches of raw flesh in its wake. The very sight of leprosy was not just horrid to see, but it was considered to be highly contagious, and people were terrified of coming near anyone with leprosy. Those afflicted with leprosy were burdened with societal rejection and were relegated to the confines of leper colonies.

But here, we see a band of ten lepers, huddled together, possibly seeking protection in their collective presence against a world that shunned them. But Luke 17:12 tells us that they “stood afar off.” The words “afar off” stem from the Greek word porrothen, signifying from a distance. By law, lepers were required to stay at least 100 paces — or roughly 250 feet — from other people. Seeing even one leper was a rarity since lepers lived in leper colonies. But to see a whole group of ten, who courageously left the confines of their seclusion, was enough to rattle the townspeople. These ten lepers ventured boldly into the heart of the village to appeal to Jesus to heal them.

Luke 17:13 says that from a distance, “…they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” The words “lifted up” are derived from a form of the Greek word airo, which means to lift or to raise, and the word “voices” comes from a plural form of the Greek word phone, which means not only voices, but loud voices. As a phrase, it tells us that from a distance these ten lepers corporately raised their voices and loudly said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

The word “said” is used in a continuous tense, illustrating that this was an ongoing action as they were repeatedly vocalizing their plea. The word “Master” is derived from the Greek word epistata, which is a compound of the word epi, meaning on, and the word histemi, meaning to stand. Together, the word epistata captures the image of one who possesses tremendous authority and who is onsite at the moment. By using this term, the lepers acknowledged Jesus’ powerful presence as they persistently implored Him to have “mercy” on them.

The word “mercy” comes from a form of the Greek word eleeo, which is variously translated throughout Scripture as compassion, mercy, or pity. It denotes a powerful and unsettling surge of emotion that arises in response to the sights and sounds of human suffering. However, it transcends mere feelings of pity and embodies a profound inner compulsion that cries out for action. This is not simply a request for empathy for someone’s predicament; it is a heartfelt plea for intervention through concrete, merciful action that can change, relieve, or transform the circumstances at hand. In other words, they were not asking for mere pity, but for a compassion and mercy that would do something to change their afflicted condition.

Luke 17:14 says, “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” The word “saw” is derived from a form of the Greek word horao, and it goes beyond a simple glance; it conveys a profound recognition and understanding of their plight.

The word “shew” is derived from a form of the Greek word epideiknumi, which is a compound of the words epi and deiknumi. The prefix epi conveys a sense of over or upon, while deiknumi means to show. Together this compound signifies a thorough display or a complete demonstration. In this narrative, Jesus instructed the ten lepers to present themselves visibly to the “priests.” This word is derived from the Greek word hiereus, referring specifically to the Jewish priests residing in Jerusalem

Leviticus 14 gave a detailed set of guidelines that those cleansed of leprosy were to follow before priests could pronounce them ceremonially clean and re-admit them to the community. The priests had no power to heal lepers, but they were responsible for enforcing purification rites that were intricate, that lasted several days, and that were the most detailed of all cleansing rituals. The initial requirement to start the lengthy process of being declared “cleansed” was for a cleansed leper to present himself to a priest outside the city limits. This is what Jesus referred to when He told them to “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”

At the moment Jesus told them to go to show themselves to the priests, there was no evidence that they had been cleansed. But Jesus told them to go, and this required faith on the part of the lepers. Luke 17:14 tells us, “…And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

The phrase “it came to pass” is the Greek word egeneto, which here indicates a gradual unfolding over time. This progression is echoed in the phrase “as they went.” The lepers took Jesus’ word, submitted to it, and followed His directive to go show themselves to the priest. As they journeyed, they were “cleansed,” which is derived from a form of the Greek word katharidzo, meaning to cleanse or to purify.

With each step toward the priests, the ten lepers witnessed transformation. They saw their diseased skin healing and consumed flesh regenerating into a soft, new layer of fresh skin. At long last, when the ten lepers stood before the priests, their affliction had vanished entirely, and they were no longer lepers.

Luke 17:15 says, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God….” The word “saw” is derived from a form of the Greek word horao, which depicts observation and full comprehension. A more fitting interpretation might be, “Having perceived and thoroughly grasped that he was healed.” The word “healed” is interestingly translated from a form of the Greek word iaomai, which means to cure or to heal, and it frequently pictures a healing that incrementally alleviates an ailment over time, contrasting with sudden recovery. Here, it precisely captures the journey of the ten lepers who were healed progressively as they followed Jesus’ command to present themselves to the priests.

Upon witnessing his own miraculous healing, this leper “turned back” and retraced his steps to Jesus. The words “turned back” are derived from a form of a Greek word signifying a physical turn. This particular leper literally turned around to head back to Jesus and “with a loud voice glorified God.” The words “loud voice” mean the leper lifted his voice with a thunderous intensity — so filled with gratitude that he began to “glorify” God. Notably, the tense implies that the leper offered continual, unwavering praise to God for the incredible cleansing he had received.

Luke 17:16 says that the healed leper “fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” The words “fell down” tell us that in this moment when the leper encountered Jesus, he was so overwhelmed with gratitude for His miraculous healing that he quite literally buckled, crumpling onto the ground with his face on the earth with his entire being laid “at his feet.” Previously, this leper was bound by the rule to remain at least 100 paces away from others, but now he sprawled on the ground, clinging to Jesus’ feet while “giving him thanks.” The words “giving…thanks” paint a poignant picture of the leper’s overflowing gratitude. His heart was so filled with thankfulness that he lay prostrate at Jesus’ feet as he freely poured out appropriate thankfulness from the very core of his being.

Luke 17:16 then tells us that the healed leper was “a Samaritan.” Historically, the general Jewish perception of Samaritans was that they were uneducated and lacked piety, but it was the Samaritan among them who returned to express his gratitude to God for the miraculous healing he received.

Luke 17:17 says, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” The word “where” is translated from an interrogative pronoun that sets the scene for Jesus’ intense questioning of the healed leper with the words, “Were there not ten cleansed?” With full knowledge that all ten lepers had been wholly cleansed, purified, and freed from the ravaging disease that once consumed them, Jesus sought to understand why only one among them returned to express gratitude.

Luke 17:18 says, “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” The word “found” conveys the essence of earnest inquiry. This insight allows us to envision Jesus scanning the horizon as He searched for the other nine lepers He had healed only this “stranger” returned to give God glory.

The word “stranger” hails from a Greek word that speaks of an individual perceived as an outsider or who was an alien to the people of Israel. Here, it is implied that the other nine lepers who were healed were likely Jews — but after they received the healing they had sought, their minds quickly set aside any thoughts of gratitude. In their eagerness to be restored to ordinary life, they rushed to the priests to secure their clean bills of health and resume the lives they knew before leprosy struck them. They, too, should have returned to glorify God. But Jesus observed that it was a Samaritan — the quintessential outsider — who was so moved by gratitude that he turned back to glorify God. From this, we learn that showing gratitude for the wonders Jesus has performed in our lives holds great significance for Him. Let us remember to always voice our thanks to Jesus for all His blessings and not fall into the trap of neglecting this expression of our heartfelt appreciation.

Luke 17:19 says, “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” The words “go thy way” are interpreted from a Greek word that means to move from one place to another, and it evokes the image of one who embarks on a new journey. It was the equivalent of saying, “You can move beyond your past existence and move forward into a fresh chapter of life.”

When Satan has ravaged people’s lives, it is always God’s will to free them and set them on a new trajectory toward a better life. Because of Christ’s work on the Cross, every person can be set free and made whole. After God has touched us and changed our lives, we must remember how important it is to express our gratitude to God for what He has done in our lives. Let’s not be guilty of being among the nine lepers who forget to return to say thanks to Jesus!

I pray this letter has blessed you today. If you have any prayer needs, we want to know about them, so we can pray with you. We are promised in First John 5:14-15 that if we pray scripturally, God will hear us and answer us. It is our honor to pray biblically based prayers with you, and we are confident that God will hear us and do what needs to be done! Please either call us at 1-800-742-5593 or write to us at prayer@renner.org to let us know how we can join our faith with yours for God to do a special work in any situation you are facing. Also please pray for Denise and me and our team. We need lots of prayer power behind us, as what we are doing requires the supernatural strength and anointing of God. People need the Word of God, and we are giving our all to see that it gets to them

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 Renner and our entire ministry team

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