Remaining Thankful in Troubling Times

September 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 such an honor and a privilege to write to you each month. Thank you for spending this time with me as I share what the Lord has put on my heart. I also want to thank those of you who watch my weekly program TIME With Denise Renner. Your responses and kind comments are so encouraging. If you haven’t seen my program yet, I invite you to watch it on Facebook or YouTube every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. CT. We are living in a time when we need the kind of encouragement that can only come from the Word of God every single day, and that’s what is on my heart every time I write or speak to you in my letters and programs.
 
I am writing to you today to talk about staying desperate and not letting go. When I say “desperate,” I’m not talking about the kind of desperation that puts you in a state of despair and causes rash or extreme behavior, but rather desperation in the sense of being willing to do anything and everything to walk in faith and stick with the Lord, clinging to the promises He makes in His Word. When you have this kind of desperation, you can be unstoppable! One thing that these kinds of desperate people do in times of trouble is remain thankful and refuse to complain.

You may be wondering, Why is it so important to remain thankful and avoid complaining? People who complain are often so involved with themselves and overcome by their own problems that it becomes extremely difficult for them to receive from the Lord and His Word. Complaining people are also often stuck in that place of difficulty because they can’t move on. But people who are desperate to follow the Lord have an attitude that says, “I’m not staying here. I’m moving forward.” When you have this never-giving-up attitude, you’re able to keep going and going — and when you keep going, you will receive your prize!

The Ultimate Example of Maintaining
An Attitude of Thanks and Refusing to Complain
in the Midst of Troubling Times

As I was preparing this letter for you, I got to thinking about figures in the Bible who could have complained about their situation but refused to give in to the temptation. The most obvious and perfect example of this can be found in Jesus. He could have complained His whole life! He could have complained about the disciples and their unbelief, the Romans and how they mistreated the Jews, the Pharisees and Sadducees for constantly ridiculing and trying to trap Him, or even for just being tired! Jesus could have complained and murmured about so much during his lifetime, but He chose not to.

Keeping An Attitude of Thanks
Delivers Us From Complaining

If you’re in a desperate position, you must refuse to complain because complaining won’t get you anything or anywhere. Another great example of someone in the Bible who was desperate and could have complained but kept an unstoppable attitude was the apostle Paul. Philippians 1:3 says, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

At the time he wrote the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul was stuck in a truly desperate situation, imprisoned and chained in horrific conditions. Yet while in the midst of this terrible prison, Paul began his letter to the Philippians by saying, “I thank my God” (see Philippians 1:3). It is by giving thanks that delivers us from complaining.

Now look at Philippians 2:14-16, which reads:

Do all things without complaining or 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.

It is the will of God for us to shine as lights in the world, but if we’re complaining, we can’t shine. And if we’re complaining, we’re certainly not being thankful! You can’t be thankful and complain at the same time — it’s either one or the other.

The apostle Paul had so many reasons to complain, yet he began his letter to the Philippians with thanksgiving. Even in these horrible prison conditions, he told the Philippian Church to do all things without complaining or disputing.

I studied this concept of complaining and disputing, and it’s more than just verbal dissatisfaction. It’s a murmuring — a complaint rooted in the heart. This murmuring manifests as grumbling or muttering in a low voice. One commentator described complaining as an internal grumble. In other words, it is an action that fosters ill will rather than harmony and goodwill. It involves inward questioning, disputes, discussion, skepticism, or criticism — an intellectual rebellion against God.

Reading this passage in Philippians 2:14-16 makes me want to repent and flee from any dissatisfaction or grumbling within myself. The Holy Spirit has been dealing with me about this in recent months, and when I came upon these verses and studied the words, I prayed, “Oh, Lord, let this not be in my heart.” Dissatisfaction, grumbling, criticism, unhappiness, discontent, muttering, and murmuring — all these should be banished from within us.

Banish Dissatisfaction From Your Life

Circle back to verse 15, which says, “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.”

Pay attention to the language used in this verse: “…blameless and harmless, children of God without fault…” (Philippians 2:15). This language means to be pure on the inside — unblemished, unmixed, unadulterated, and sincere. These words were also used to describe pure wine or unalloyed metal.

Let me give you an example from my own life. Many years ago, Rick gave me a beautiful ring that I loved very much and wore all the time. However, the ring kept breaking, and I found myself repeatedly taking it to the jeweler for repairs. Each time it would get fixed and I would wear it with joy, but soon, it would break again.

Finally, I asked the jeweler what was wrong with the ring. She explained, “Denise, this ring has alloy in it — it’s impure. The gold is in an impure state, and that’s why it keeps breaking.”

When I saw this language in Philippians 2:15 and thought of that example, I realized that when we’re grumbling and complaining, we’re putting ourselves in a place where we can be easily broken. Just like the alloy in the ring made it impure and fragile, constant complaining makes us impure and easily broken.

Scripture teaches us that in order to shine as lights in the world, we need to be blameless, pure, and sincere on the inside (see Philippians 2:15). Just like grumbling, feeling dissatisfaction in our hearts stops us from shining. And when we aren’t shining, we aren’t ready to witness to someone who needs it, to love someone, or to even let the power of God flow out of us! But when we remain thankful, we’re blameless! A person who is blameless is free — free in their attitude, free in their mind, free to give out of their hearts because they’re not complaining, they’re thankful. Isn’t that powerful?!

The Word of God touches our hearts so deeply. Hebrews 4:12 says it’s like a sharp, double-edged sword. When you hear the Word, a word from your pastor, or while reading the Bible yourself, the Word of God pierces between your soul and spirit and between joints and marrow. Joints and marrow are so close together! How crucial is it that the Word of God has that place in your heart where it can literally separate between soul and spirit and joints and marrow?  One of the most precious places in your body is in your bones, where the blood that gives us life is created, showing us just how vital the Word of God is to our survival.

So don’t complain! Don’t be disgruntled or dissatisfied. Give thanks and be blameless. That is how powerful the Word of God is, and that’s why it should be in our eyes, ears, and hearts. When we are harmless and blameless, we shine. And when we shine as lights in this dark world, we can be a beacon of brightness to others.

The Holy Spirit Living Inside You Helps You
Abstain From Complaint and Ungratefulness

Jesus could have complained about so much, but He didn’t — He gave thanks! The apostle Paul could have murmured and complained, especially in that horrible Roman prison. Scholars say that the prison contained collected sewage, and was packed with prisoners chained from wall to wall, each with no choice but to just stand in that filth. Paul had every reason to complain but chose to give thanks instead. How powerful is that?!

You may be thinking, But I’m not Jesus! I’m not the apostle Paul! But the Bible says in Second Corinthians 13:5:

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?

And First Corinthians 6:19 says:

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Our lives are not more difficult than Jesus’ or the apostle Paul’s. Paul chose to give thanks while in the most dismal of circumstances, and we have Jesus Christ living on the inside of us! Therefore, we can put a stop to complaining and choose to give thanks because the Holy Spirit resides within us.

Desperate people must choose not to complain because complaining leads nowhere, but giving thanks propels us forward. The apostle Paul eventually got out of that horrible prison and continued to live his life, and simply giving thanks was a huge part of his breakthrough. If you’re in a desperate situation, giving thanks can help you get out of it. It’s all about changing your attitude!

If you’re a desperate person, and you want to get out of your desperate situation, be thankful. Start thanking God right now! It’s going to do more for you than complaining, and thanksgiving has a certain power that can deliver you out of any desperate situation.

Friend, as we come to a close today, I want to remind you that desperation isn’t something that should cause you to panic. Next time you’re tempted to act with extreme behavior or complain in a tricky situation, remember this letter and choose to give thanks instead. I also want to remind you about our Partner Care team. If you ever have a prayer request you need to share, please reach out to our prayer team. Each member is full of faith and devoted to seeing the Lord move mightily in your life! Connect with our team today by calling 1.844.473.6637 or emailing prayer@deniserenner.org. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

We are moving forward together,

Denise Renner

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