How to Save America

I. THE BLESSINGS OF THE LAND (Genesis 13:10)

A. The Natural Resources

B. The Natural Beauty

II. THE PROBLEMS AT HAND

A. The Problem of Sin (Genesis 13:13; 2 Peter 2:6-8)

1. The men were wicked
2. And sinners before the LORD exceedingly

B. The Problem of Pride (Ezekiel 16:49, 50)

1. Sodom was proud in a general sense, but they were certainly proud of their sin.
2. The cries were cries of pride (Genesis 18:20-21; Genesis 19:13; Isaiah 3:9).

C. The Problem of Ease (Ezekiel 16:49)

1. Sodom enjoyed fulness of bread (Genesis 19:3).
2. Sodom grew increasingly idle.

D. The Problem of Selfishness (Ezekiel 16:49)

1. Though she had an abundance
2. She did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

E. The Problem of Sodomy

1. The men of the city wanted to know the men who visited Lot (Genesis 19:4-5).
a. Both old and young men were involved (Genesis 19:4)
b. Desired to “know” the men (Genesis 19:5)
c. This is confirmed in passages
1.) The men went after strange flesh (Jude 1:7)
2.) The men committed abomination (Ezekiel 16:50)
2. The people of the city were entertained by the behaviour of the sodomites (Genesis 19:4; Romans 1:32)

III. THE TWOFOLD SOLUTION

A. Prayer

1. The Practice of Prayer
a. The first chance of Sodom’s survival existed in the prayers of Abraham (Genesis 18:23-24).
b. Though many of the details differ from Abraham’s situation, we have been called to prayer for our nation (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
2. The Preservation of Prayer
a. The hope of survival hung on the faithfulness of Abraham’s prayer.
1.) Fifty (Genesis 18:23-26)
2.) Forty-five (Genesis 18:27-28)
3.) Forty (Genesis 18:29)
4.) Thirty (Genesis 18:30)
5.) Twenty (Genesis 18:31)
6.) Ten (Genesis 18:32)
b. Abraham’s opportunity for prayer only closed as he declined to continue (Genesis 18:32-33)
1.) Abraham could have asked the Lord to spare Sodom if one righteous man was found therein (2 Peter 2:7-8).
2.) Abraham likely ceased because of an assumption (Genesis 19:12).
i. Lot and his wife = 2
ii. Lot’s daughters at home = 2
iii. Lot’s family outside the home
1. Son-in-law
2. Sons
3. Daughters
4. Daughters-in-law

B. Influence

1. Lot’s secular influence
a. Lot sat in the gate (Genesis 19:1)
b. Lot apparently held a position of prominence (Genesis 19:9)
c. Lot had become one of the people (Genesis 19:7)
2. Lot’s home influence
a. He offered his daughters (Genesis 19:6-8)
b. He seemed as one that mocked unto his sons-in-law (Genesis 19:14)
c. He could not get his wife to safety (Genesis 19:16-17, 26).