This morning I was scheduled to send you our annual fund-raising request when God redirected me. As a donor-based ministry, we depend entirely on the generosity of those who respond to God’s call by supporting our work financially. More than a third of our annual donations are given in December. As in previous years, I had planned to describe our ministry vision and ask you to help us financially. Instead, I’ve just written a separate “December Letter” on our website which I hope you’ll take a moment to read.
Rather than send the email we planned, I’ve been led to tell you about an experience I had over the weekend. I’ve been reading the Book of Isaiah lately. When I came to chapter five, I was stunned by God’s descriptions of ancient Israel and their similarity to our nation. I read the Lord’s warning, “Surely the great houses will become desolate, the fine mansions left without occupants” (5:9) and thought of our nation’s housing crisis. I read, “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks” (v. 11) and thought of the alcoholism epidemic on our college campuses.
I read God’s cry, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (v. 20) and thought of the moral relativism and political correctness that govern our schools and culture. I read his warning, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight” (v. 21) and thought of our self-sufficient pride. When God warned the nation that “they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel” (v. 24), I thought of the decline of biblical morality and the explosion of atheism and agnosticism in our day.
Then I turned to Isaiah 6, where the prophet had his famous encounter with the One who is “holy, holy, holy” (v. 3) and cried “Woe to me!” at his own sinfulness (v. 5). After his sin was atoned for and his guilt removed, he heard the Lord say, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And he replied, “Here am I. Send me” (v. 8).
When I read the prophet’s response I felt my own heart rise within me. In that moment I knew with greater clarity than ever before that God called me to this ministry three years ago, and that the need for addressing the moral and spiritual crisis of our day with biblical truth was never more urgent than it is right now.
This morning I am impressed to ask you these simple questions: Will you take a moment to pray for our nation? Would you ask God to raise up more Isaiah’s for our day? Would you submit your influence to his Spirit’s leadership? Would you ask him if he wants you to partner with our ministry through your intercession and financial support?
If God leads you to help us financially, you can send a tax-deductible donation to the Denison Forum on Truth and Culture, 17304 Preston Road, Suite 1060, Dallas, TX 75252. Or you can click on this link to make a secure online donation.
However God leads you to support our work, please join me in praying this morning for a great spiritual awakening in America. Could the judgment that came against Israel’s nation come against us? What does the Lord ask of you today?
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