The Importance
of Fellowship

April 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 this new month of 2024! Most people around the world just celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on the very last day of March. Easter Sunday is one of my favorite holidays of the whole year because of what it commemorates. I even wrote a book called Paid in Full about all Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection! In churches everywhere, Easter Sunday is one of the most highly attended services by Christians and non-Christians alike. This thrills my heart because for many, it is their only opportunity to hear the Good News of the Gospel that Christ died and rose again for the sins of mankind — to make all who believe and call on His name “a new creature,” completely forgiven and completely reconciled to God (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
      
That really is Good News, isn’t it!!! Before I get into my letter this month, I have some more “good news” to share with you…
 
As you probably know, besides our new international channel (the Good News Channel) that the Lord has blessed us to steward, we have been granted an unprecedented license to have a national channel that can broadcast across Russia in potentially every single home in this nation! And as of last month, it is now officially online — up and running!
 
This is truly a historical event in this ministry and in Russia. But please keep praying for us as we move forward speedily on this project. It is a huge undertaking, but we are confident we are moving at the Lord’s instruction, and that we will keep expanding to reach as many Russian homes as possible!
 
Thank you for all your precious prayers and financial gifts that help us do what we could never do alone. It takes all of us, and YOU are a huge part of what we are doing. I don’t mean to sound redundant, but I can never state enough how thankful we are for your partnership with RENNER Ministries as we take the trusted teaching of God’s Word to people who are literally crying out for it!
 
I’ve been writing to you this year from the prophetic word the Holy Spirit gave to me for our friends and partners for the year 2024. Here it is again.
 
The year 2024 will be visited with turbulent episodes across the entire globe, especially in the realms of finances and politics and in the nations. These episodes will be of a sort that they will potentially cause those who are not rooted in God’s Word to be deeply disturbed. But for those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and to walk in a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory. Yes, those who stay in faith, in peace, in love, in fellowship, and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will be blessed, empowered, joy-filled, and sustained, and they will miraculously thrive even if the world around them is tossed with a tempest.

I want to draw to your attention that the Holy Spirit said this blessing belongs to those who:

• stay in faith…
• stay in peace…
• stay in love…
• stay in fellowship…
• keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity…  

Those who maintain their faith, peace, love, fellowship with the saints, and their sowing will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, and well provided for — and they will have a much-needed divine assurance, peace, power, and supernatural victory!
 
In my first three monthly teaching letters of the year, I covered what it means to stay in faith, stay in peace, and stay in love. (You can review those teachings on our website at renner.org/article/category/monthly-teaching-letters.) But today I want to focus on the part of this prophetic word that is about the need to stay in “fellowship” during turbulent times.
What It Means To Stay in Fellowship
 
In the New Testament, there is primarily one word that is translated as “fellowship,” and it is the Greek word koinonia. This very important word is derived from koinos, which means to have something in common. But when it becomes koinonia, which is primarily how it is used in the New Testament, it conveys the ideas of fellowship, interaction, mutual participation, or partnership.
 
A great example of koinonia is found in Acts 2:42, where we are told about the early Church: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
 
The word “fellowship” in this verse is translated from the Greek word koinonia, and it tells us that right from the outset of the Early Church, the believers entered into fellowship, interaction, mutual participation, and partnership with one another. This fellowship and partnership became so strong that it carried them through the turbulent episodes of their time. But to discover the level to which they entered into fellowship and partnership, we need to see another verse where the word koinonia is used very prominently.
 
A wonderful example of koinonia conveying the idea of partnership is found in Luke 5:7 after Jesus supplied a miraculous catch of fish. After Peter and the others had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side. When they obeyed, they caught such a massive amount of fish that the nets began to break!
 
Peter knew he couldn’t handle this miraculous catch by himself, so he called to the other fishermen in a nearby boat to come assist him. Luke 5:7 says, “And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”
 
The word “partners” in this verse is from a form of koinonia. But in Luke 5:7 it refers to real, legitimate business partners. One scholar says that this word used in this context lets us know that Peter owned an entire fishing enterprise, and those men in the other boat were his business associates or business partners. Whether these other fishermen were co-owners or employees who worked for Peter, they were all working together on the same job and were focused on a joint venture to catch and sell fish.
 
The apostle Paul used the word koinonia in Philippians 1:5 when he explained why he was so passionate about those who had so faithfully supported his ministry. He said, “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” The word “fellowship” in this verse is also the Greek word koinonia, which depicts partnership or mutual participation in some project or event and often refers to a partner, a sharer, or a companion.
 
Paul felt about his supporters the same way Denise and I feel about our partners — that they are actual partners with our ministry. By supporting RENNER Ministries with their finances and prayers, these partners enter into the work of the ministry with us and mutually work side-by-side with us on the front lines!
 
When Paul wrote to the Philippians and spoke of their “partnership” in the Gospel, he truly meant that they were his partners. He was doing his part — and they were doing theirs — and, together, they made a great team that was having an eternal impact. Everyone was on the same team, moving toward the same goal; they were simply fulfilling different roles to get the job done!
 
But there is yet another example of this word koinonia found in Philippians 4:14, when Paul wrote to the Philippians and commended them for the generous gift they sent for his ministry. He told them, “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.” The word “communicate” here is another use of the word koinonia.
 
Over the years, Paul had traveled and preached, raised up churches, worked with leaders, and given his life for the Church. But of all the churches Paul had poured his life into, none of them helped him financially the way they should have. In order to cover his expenses, Paul worked as a tentmaker during the day; then he preached and trained leaders during the evenings. This wasn’t the best plan, but because no one would support him, it was what he had to do. He was pouring his heart and soul into churches that were not financially helping him bear his load.
 
At the time Paul wrote the Philippian letter, he was in prison in Rome. He had received a special delivery letter from the Philippians, and in that package, he found a sizable offering that the Philippian church had sent to support him during his time of difficulty. In other words, the Philippian church didn’t just say, “We’ll pray for your situation, Brother,” and then forget about Paul. Instead, they understood their responsibility to help him, so they took up an offering to support him and communicate their love for him. In other words, they took responsibility for him. Paul used the Greek word koinonia to convey the meaning of responsibility for others.

 
Fellowship, Partnership, and Responsibility
All of these various meanings are very important — especially when we are going through turbulent times. Ecclesiastes 4:9 and 10 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
 
When you are alone and you run into difficult times, it is harder to get through those turbulent times by yourself. But if you are connected in fellowship and real partnership with other believers who feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being, someone will be there to hold you up, strengthen you, and even pick you up if you fall. But the Bible says, “…Woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
 
I experience koinonia in my own life because I have my family around me, and they are a great source of encouragement and real partners in our ministry. But in addition to my family, I have a tight group of friends — men who surround me with care, devotion, love, and responsibility — to help me do what God has called me to do. Because of this, I never feel alone. And when we hit turbulent times, those who are around me are a source of strength that helps me!
      
God did not make any of us to live in isolation, so we need to stay rooted in solid fellowship and partnership with other believers who feel a sense of responsibility for our well-being. It is sad that many Christians who go to church every week feel lonely. My friend, if that is you, I really want you to know that we are here for YOU and that you can reach out to us. We’ll do everything we can to help make sure you are loved and cared for, and you can be assured that someone here is really praying for you!
 
Can you see how important staying in fellowship — or koinonia — really is?

• The Early Church was rooted in fellowship and partnership.
• The apostle Paul cherished those with whom he was in fellowship and partnership.
• Denise and I deeply appreciate and thank God for the relationships of this kind that God has placed in our lives.

If we did everything we have done and faced every challenge we have faced — and did it all alone — it would have been more difficult. But with the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of others around us — people with whom we are really partnered in the Lord — God has enabled us to do the impossible and to overcome every situation that has ever tried to come against us. I am telling you this because I know that if you have such relationships in your life, they will also help you overcome turbulent times!
 
I remind you again of the word the Lord gave me for 2024. The Holy Spirit told me that those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved…unshaken…well provided for, and they will have a much-needed divine assurance…divine peace…divine power…and divine and supernatural victory.
 
Do not underestimate the importance of staying in fellowship with those you NEED in your life, because God will use them to help you — and He will likewise use you to help them!
 
Next month, I’ll move into the next part of this word, which is about those who keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity! Wow, is that ever important! But for now, I want to ask you:

• Who are the people who give strength to you?
• Who are you giving strength to right now?
• Who are your real, legitimate partners in life who feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being?
• For whose well-being do you feel a sense of responsibility because of your real, legitimate partnership? 

Of course, we all need to be rooted in a good, Bible-believing local church. If you don’t have one, we want to pray with you for the Holy Spirit to lead you to one. If you don’t have anyone to help and strengthen you right now, then let it be US! We are here for you — and you can reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or by emailing us at prayer@renner.org. I promise that if you reach out to us, you’ll be strengthened and encouraged! Thank you for letting me speak to you from my heart today!
 
As I close, I want to thank you again for being our partner in this work that God has given us. We really mean it when we call you a partner. We do our part, God does His part, and you are doing your part. Together, we are seeing miracles take place as the Gospel goes forth into places where it needs to touch lives that are in darkness!

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 view the new interactive Ministry Update page or click here to download the printable pdf flyer.

|