Summary: This Sermon was composed after I watched the movie Things We Lost In The Fire I also share my personal notes on the movie.

Things We Lost In The Fire by Bishop Charles Jones

Job 1:1-1:22

"Things We Lost In The Fire "

Scripture Text: Job 1

Halle Berry plays a woman named Audrey Burke who is reeling from the shock of the news that has just been delivered to her door by the local police: her warm and loving husband Brian who is somewhat of a Good Samaritan, the father of their two young children, has been killed in a random act of violence who while on an outing witnesses a domestic abuse situation after checking on his friend named Jerry. Once anchored by the love and comforts of their 11-year marriage, Audrey is now adrift. Impulsively, she turns to Jerry Sunborne, a down-and-out addict who has been her husbandâ s close friend since childhood. Desperate to fill the painful void caused by her husbandâ s death, Audrey invites Jerry to move into the room adjacent to their garage in the hope that he can help her and her children cope with their sudden loss. Jerry is facing a daily battle to stay off drugs, but in his unexpected role as surrogate parent and friend to Audreyâ s son and daughter he finds a core of inner resilience. As Jerry and Audrey navigate grief and denial, their fragile bonds are constantly tested. Working together, however, they discover the strength to move forward.

How do we keep ourselves from disconnecting from God in a crisis?

You and I are not immune to crises. Job was rich but that didn’t matter. The bible says that It rains on the just and the unjust. Job was righteous,but that didn’t matter to Satan. It was God that gave Satan permission for Job’s testing and Satan took advantage of it.

We need to realize that crises will come; the question is how long you will wait during a crisis before you reconnect with God? Some people do it right away, and some people wait longer. Some don’t do it at all; and they try to make it through on their own.

What does it look like to connect with God during a crisis?

Job’s initial response to suffering (1:20-22)

Job stood, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground in worshiped God.

Sometimes you need a different perspective or view of the situation.

Zacchaeus had to climb a tree for us we need to get a fresh perspective from the Word of God thats why we should thank God for the Holy Spirit.

You need to put the crisis on the backdrop of your entire life and have this perspective that weeping may endure for a night but joy is coming in the morning.

You dont need a cradle to the grave perspective in that you are trying to rush your life and get to the grave faster.

When you put the crisis in the light of eternity you will see that God is bigger than your crisis and that he has it all under control.

When we disconnect ourselves from God in a crisis. We are not seeing the BIG PICTURE. We often have the tendancy to put blinders on so that we can only see what is happening in our lives right now.

But crises can be placed in perspective when we realize that God is preparing us for eternity.

This is one of the things that can help us reconnect with God. Job said Naked came I in the world,and naked i’m going out.

We need to recognize the sovereignty of God because you are not the one that is in control.

And neither is Satan.

Look at your neighbor and say, "God is in control."

And Because he is it doesn’t mean that we should blame Him when things go wrong. Our finite minds can’t always comprehend the greatness and wisdom of God. Our ways are not His ways. If we had our own way, we would never suffer and we would never grow.

Romans 8:28 say’s ,"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose."

Can somebody help me Praise the name of the Lord

We need to acknowledge God for who He is not just for what He does for us

James said it best, “count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. Knowing this that the trial of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.

Reconnecting with God means being able to praise Him during the toughest times of life!

The Bible says, "In all of this Job did not sin or charge God foolishly."

You need to say like David that "The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not want!"

Reconnecting with God means being able to praise Him during the toughest times of life!

Conclusion:

(My Personal Notes from the Movie things I observed)

There may have been some things lost in the fire:

Life

Family

friends trying to make sure they are alright

death

Wife trying to hold it together but can’t

when someone dies everybody comes to try and console you but its only temporary

your friend has the appearance that everything is cool with them but they have serious problems

no one wants to see the police at their door in the middle of the night

killed for helping somebody else out

garage destroyed in fire they were in the process of remodeling it but her husband died

why werent you the one that died instead?

you might have to do some strange things that dont make any sense

you become ungrateful and bitter because you feel someone else is trying to take the deceased place

the serenity prayer:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

you have to realize you messed up and go after the one you hurt

thank God somebody cares about you

Things lost in the fire: garage fire

pictures

baby clothes

bycycles

toys

important papers

memorabalia

temporary things

accept the good - romans 8:28