| Dear
Saints,
As the New Year begins,
our heart is overwhelmed with thankfulness for the love
and support of all of you. The personal growth we’ve experienced
and the doors of service God has opened to us continue
to thrill and excite us. We are building quite a team
here in CFF, and it’s going to take a team effort to move
God’s Word over the world.
The completion of Introducing
God’s Power and the presentation of the Marvelous Mystery
Tour at Family Camp last summer have been milestones.
We see them having significant impact on our outreach
efforts. We anticipate our home fellowships being built,
strengthened and multiplied as our wonderful servant-leaders
begin to use these outreach tools to reach their world
with God’s Word.
I never got into the Bible for knowledge’s
sake. People with a lot of Bible knowledge never impressed
me, especially those with know-it-all, condescending attitudes.
What impressed me were people who walked with God… people
who knew Who God was and manifested His power in their
lives… people who really helped others get closer to God…
people who were on a personal quest to know their loving
heavenly Father more intimately.
That’s all I really ever
wanted from the scriptures. I wanted to know my heavenly
Father. I thought if the scriptures were authored by Him
to communicate Himself to man, I would find what I needed
in them. I so longed to know my heavenly Father. I so
wanted the kind of relationship that I read about men
and women having in the Bible. I wanted the Book to be
personal communication with the Author, my loving heavenly
Father.
I still hunger and
thirst as much today as I ever have to fellowship with
God and to enjoy the pleasure of His company in my life.
I get so electrified and thrilled as God makes Himself
known to me… when He lets me know His will and asks me
to labor together with Him to bring it to pass.
I’ve enjoyed a friendship
with my heavenly Father that just keeps getting sweeter
every day. Like any true, godly friendship, it has been
a catalyst for my growth providing a safe, secure environment
where I learn things about myself that I need to change
without threat or compulsion.
That’s why I wanted to personally
thank you, on behalf of all the staff here in Tipp City,
all for all that you do to make this opportunity available.
Your encouraging words, your support in prayer, and your
love offerings are ever so appreciated. And please don’t
ever think they are insignificant. We’re required by the
government to send out letters acknowledging contributions
of $250.00 or more, but the faithful support of you all
on a regular basis allows us to do so much for God’s people.
We still send out about 850 CD’s per week even though
more and more of you (not wanting to wait on the U.S.
Post Office) are listening on-line and saving us the expense
of materials and postage.
II Corinthians 8 deals with
giving and receiving. Throughout this whole section Paul
talks about giving as “grace.” You may need to take some
time to really think that through. God refers to the believers’
love offerings as “the grace of God.” The effect of the
grace of God on their lives was evidenced in their giving.
Paul speaks in the initial verses of how their hearts
were so pure and so into it. Paul said they “gave themselves
to the Lord and to us.”
The context of giving and
receiving continues through the entire chapter.
Let’s pick it up in verse
16:
II Corinthians 8:16:
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care
[spoude; diligence, effort] into the heart of Titus
for you.
How thankful Paul was to
God for Titus, for someone who labored with him to bear
the burden of the care of the churches. Paul was so blessed
because Titus also responded to God’s call to serve. Look
at how he said it: God put the same earnest care into
the heart of Titus that He had put in Paul’s heart, also.
However, God didn’t “put” it there against Titus’ freedom
of will. He willingly took it upon him. He willingly accepted
it.
The Greek word for “put”
is didõmi. It occurs 413 times in the
New Testament and is only translated “put” 5 times. It
is usually translated gave. In 365 out of 413 uses it
is. That’s almost 90% of the time. It is a giving that
implies a receiving. God “gave” it, and Titus “received”
it. Jesus said in Matthew 10:7 “freely ye have received,
freely give.” Titus was able to freely give earnest care
because he freely received it. Titus was genuinely concerned
about those he served. The word “care” is spoudê
in the Greek, and it indicates the diligence and effort
Titus put into ministering to the saints.
II Corinthians 8:17:
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more
forward [spoudaioteros; diligent, careful], of his own
accord he went unto you. [He was willing; it was voluntary;
he made a freewill choice.]
God put it on Titus’ heart
and Paul encouraged him to follow through with what he
had started as verse 6 says, but he notes that Titus was
willing to do it on his own. The NIV says: “For Titus
not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you
with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.” Paul
was not a dictator. He and Titus were partners, fellowlaborers,
which we will read later. God worked in both their hearts
and it just “fit,” “it was right.”
We, too, are so thankful
for your participation in Christian Family Fellowship. We
know there are different levels of commitment and different
levels of participation, and that is totally fine with us.
Your involvement in any way is appreciated, and even one
prayer you offer on our behalf has a wonderful positive
impact for which we are grateful. Without you there would
be no need for us to do what we do. So, again let me say,
“Thanks.” Let’s approach our new year with the excited anticipation
of believers in hot pursuit of the love of God. You are
in our heart and prayers, and we love you very much.
Wayne Clapp
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