Draw Near to God and Receive Wisdom for Your Healing

 

January 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 name of Jesus — and welcome to 2026!

Before I start this teaching letter, Denise and I want to say a big THANK YOU from the depths of our heart for your financial and prayer support in helping us fulfill our God-given vision to spread the message and teaching of “the Gospel both to our nearby world and to the ends of the earth” (see Colossians 1:28). What you’re doing for the Kingdom of God is no small thing — in fact, your giving to RENNER Ministries is the very “fuel in the tank” that keeps this ministry moving, and we are so grateful.

In my letter last month, I wrote to you about how to appropriate the healing and health that Jesus purchased for you on the Cross, and today I am going to continue teaching along those lines.

We have already covered the need to renew our mind to the truth, align our heart and mouth, hold fast to our confession, and let patience do its work. In today’s letter, I want to talk to you about asking God for clarification if you’ve done everything you know to do — and you still have not received the manifestation of healing and health you have been praying to receive. I also want to talk to you about staying in unwavering faith.

In my new book Everything the Bible Says About Healing, I go into detail about the Greek words used in the verses we will study in this letter. But for now, we will focus only on key words that will help you understand just how deeply God desires to give you the wisdom you need for your faith journey to supernatural health and divine healing. So let’s start with the first point.

Asking God for Clarification

As I said last month, anyone who has been waiting a long time for answers to prayer may say something like, “I’ve meticulously followed every suggestion in these letters. Why, then, have I still not received the manifestation of healing and health that I’ve been believing for, confessing, and awaiting?”

For anyone who does not know why his or her faith is not working — and does not seem to be able to find anyone who can help find the answer — James 1:5 gives the best possible advice: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The word “lack” is rooted in the Greek word leipo, and it pictures one who is in need, one who lacks, or one who has an insufficiency of some type. My friend Keith Trump, an American Bible Society scholar, says the word leipo was used by ancient writers to depict a scenario wherein a traveler finds himself on a journey but then realizes something crucial for the trip was left behind. This missing item is essential to the journey, and its absence could mean the difference between reaching the destination or not.

In the context of James 1:5, the use of the word leipo is meant to picture a believer on a faith journey who discovers that he is in “lack” of the wisdom he needs to complete the trip — the traveler has unintentionally left it behind. However, by turning to God, he can easily obtain the wisdom needed — for God bestows to every person the answers needed to enable each one to advance confidently on the journey of faith.

The word “wisdom” in this verse is derived from the Greek word sophia, and it denotes insight or understanding. In James 1:5, it essentially means, “If any of you lack answers and insight about why these principles are not working for you….”

Those in search of answers are told in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God….” The word “ask” is rooted in the Greek word aiteo, which means to petition or to request — always with the expectation to receive what is being sought. This means God desires His children to approach Him believing that if they seek His guidance, He will provide what they need.  

But James 1:5 says God has one requirement: His children must ask “of God.” The word “of” is translated from the Greek word para, which means alongside. It pictures one drawing alongside the heart of God to find the answers he needs. Once in that position alongside God’s heart, he is told to make his heart-felt request.

Next, James 1:5 says that God “giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not….” The original text unmistakably presents God as the giving God who is pleased to answer any question from those who draw near to His side. And the word “upbraideth” is rooted in the Greek word oneididzo, which means to berate, to chastise, to criticize harshly, or to nitpick. This tells us God is not offended by our honest asking, and He will not be harsh with those who seek Him for answers — He will lavishly supply clarity for whatever we need to know.

Then James 1:5 concludes with the promise: “…And it shall be given him.”

So if you are among those who ask, “Why haven’t I received the manifestation of healing and health (or any other blessings) that I’ve been believing for, confessing, and awaiting?” then accept God’s invitation to draw near so He can provide the answers you need.

The RIV (Renner Interpretive Version) of James 1:5 says:

But if — as I’m sure is actually the case — there is anyone among you who lacks insight about why these principles aren’t already working, my advice is that you draw near to the side of the giving God to ask your questions with the full expectation of an answer from the One who always generously responds with an open hand to every person who comes to Him. And when you come to Him with your questions, He will not berate, reprimand, or scold you for asking the questions you put before Him — for answers are always generously given to the person who draws near to God to find them.

Staying in Unwavering Faith

Next, we need to understand what James wrote in the very next verse, James 1:6, which says, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

The word “ask” is the same Greek word we saw in James 1:5, and it depicts a firm and full expectation that God will answer. But according to James 1:6, we must ask “in faith.” The word “faith” is interpreted from a derivative of the Greek word peitho, a word that pictures one who possesses a rock-solid belief, an absolute confidence, an unmovable conviction, or an unwavering confidence. Thus, real faith is not back and forth, up one day and down the next, or indecisive, but it is a rock-solid, unwavering force.

In light of this, I want to ask: How consistent are you in what you are asking and believing God to do in regard to your health?

James 1:6 continues, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering….”

The word “wavering” is a translation of diakrinomenos, a Greek word that depicts habitual vacillation. It pictures one who is back and forth, habitually changing his mind about what he believes, what he confesses, and how he prays. On the contrary, real faith stands still — it knows what it wants, and it doesn’t budge or flinch from its rock-solid position.

James 1:6 goes on to say that real faith does not behave “like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” The words “wave of the sea” are interpreted from the plural form of the Greek word kludon, a word that pictures one wave after another or a succession of rising and falling waves.

James was describing how a person may appear to start in faith, but if he habitually changes his mind and rethinks what he’s asking or believing, he is, in reality, like a wave of the sea — caught in a cycle of doubt and vacillation. He rises to ask, to believe, and to confess, but then, almost as soon as it seems he’s gaining strength, he changes his mind, retracts what he has asked, believed, and confessed — and tumbles back into a state of indecision. This behavior is completely contrary to real faith.

James 1:6 adds, “…He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

The words “driven with the wind” are derived from a form of anemos, a Greek word that depicts fierce winds or turbulence that has the potential to wreak havoc and destruction. The word “tossed” is translated from a form of the Greek word rhipidzo, which pictures raging currents of the sea, but it also pictures a dangerous undercurrent.

By using these words and imagery, James was telling us that those who are easily moved by what they hear and see — and who habitually vacillate in what they believe or say — suffer the threat of being dragged into a state of spiritual bedlam that has the potential to “drown” their faith and make it ineffectual.

The RIV (Renner Interpretive Version) of James 1:6 says:

But this next point is important, so pay close attention. Whoever is asking must do it with an expectation that God will actually answer him. In other words, he must ask, being rooted in faith (with unwavering confidence). The one who doesn’t stick with it, but who habitually changes his mind — who is up one day and down the next, flip-flopping and going back and forth “all over the place” in what he asks or believes — is a lot like the waves of the sea. Just as waves rise, fall, and tumble back into the sea over and over, a doubting person is one who keeps changing his mind again and again. He appears to be making progress, but then, suddenly, he changes his mind again and tumbles back into indecision. He is up and down, back and forth, indecisive, and unstable. And as the waves of the sea are endlessly tossed by ferocious winds, one who doubts is thrown here, there, and all around. A person who can’t make up his mind about what he asks and believes doesn’t realize the dangerous predicament he’s in — for like a dangerous riptide, his doubt and wavering can pull him perpetually into a sea of indecision.

Furthermore, the next verse goes on to say that those who habitually change their minds about what they ask, believe, and confess are unable to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:7 says, “For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

The word “think” is from a form of the Greek word oimai, which means to assume, to imagine, to presume, or to suppose. In this case, it means to wrongly imagine, to wrongly presume, or to wrongly suppose. It pictures fictional thinking. Though this person lives in a state of indecision, he has somehow convinced himself that he will receive what he asks of the Lord. But what he asks is not clear because this person can’t make up his mind. To believe he will receive an answer when he is indecisive in his faith is misguided thinking.

God wants you to have everything you need to think properly about your health and to stand firm in His promises. James 1:6-7 holds important instructions for anyone who needs to receive anything from the Lord — and that includes the healing and health that Jesus obtained in His redemptive work on the Cross. My prayer is that what you have read today will help you know that God will answer your questions, and that it will undergird you to be unwavering until you have finally received what you have requested of the Lord!

If you have further questions about your faith — or just wish you had someone to pray with you — please remember that we are here for you, and we are waiting for your phone call, letter, or email so that we can release our faith with yours for the answer you need! Just call us at 1-800-742-5593 or email us at prayer@renner.org. I assure you that you will really be prayed for with ferocious faith, and we will ask the Lord to do exactly what needs to be done to turn your situation around!

And please pray for us too. Denise and I, our family, and our whole team are committed to do what Jesus has commissioned us to do, but we cherish your prayers for us. Both your financial gifts and prayers are needed, and we thank you in advance for praying and giving as the best partners in the whole world.

Next month, I’m going to pick up right here and continue talking to you about how to appropriate the healing and health that Jesus purchased for you and that He wants you to possess in your life!

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.

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