Is Jesus Enough?

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Podcast network. This is the Truth Network. I'm sitting next to a pastor who has the book of Isaiah memorized pastor Andy Davis in Durham North at first Baptist church, and that's not seven.

He even want everyone to brag about anything that is so encouraged and I look over there, you have a commentary Isaiah got usually write a bunch of books past ready, but this book the power of Christian contentment was on a visit about that little bit.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how Lord lead you to write this book is raised in in Eastern Massachusetts born in in Boston. Raised in a Roman Catholic family could experience a grown up, but I did know Christ as my Lord and Savior came to faith in Christ my junior year through the ministry campus Crusade for Christ and was discipled by a man who reported to me the word of God got me connected with John MacArthur's grace to you.

This is tremendous and and then discard work over the years, eventually in 1998 brought me here senior pastor and I been here ever since.

And so for me, my greatest joy is memorizing and teaching God's word week after week, the power of just expositional teaching and preaching. We talked about a little bit before even doing this interview. Pastor Davis. Why is that so important just teaching the Bible is as it as it was written may not be as flashy as Madison Avenue.

But talk about just important that, especially to our many friends and pastors were listening.

Sure one of the key tax on that would be Matthew 44 which is that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth.

God and so we just need to treat every Scripture. All Scripture is God breathed useful for teaching, rebuke, and correcting training in righteousness, so the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work and so I trust that I believe in sequential expositional things. The only way to preach but it is the way I preach and I just go through books of the Bible and God and his kindness is let me be here for my 23rd year and ongoing verse by verse through the book of Job.

And so it just it's been amazing to see the steady, consistent, powerful work of the word of God in a local church like ours. Yes, really need in his book the power of Christian contentment. Finding deeper, richer, Christ centered joint on Dr. Moore, Dr. Albert Mohler says about this book he says that this book will guide you to a deeper faith in the gospel and a richer experience of contentment were where do you want to take people someone reads this book the power of Christian contentment. Pastor Davis, were you want them to end up fundamentally sure about more than anything, there's nothing more important than having your sins forgiven through faith in Christ and knowing that you're going to heaven when you die. That's the basis of all genuine contentment in this world. If you're in ask on the topic of Christian contentment. I would want to go to Philippians chapter 4 where Paul says that he's learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, living in planning and want I can do everything through him who strengthens me.

And so the concept there is that Christ crucified and resurrected is enough for us to be joyful at any moment in our lives. You do some pretty rough stuff in your book. People suffering deeply persecuted Christians around the world are suffering for their faith. You have families that you know that it had dealt with special needs kids that had sudden onset injuries from traffic actions.

Other things are not at financials full-time caretakers life is rough, I it seems like a date and go by pastor and were someone says life is hard.

Life is tough, people are struggling people are hurting, can you bring this the topic of contentment to us now in babies. How does the light of Christ in his contentment, his joy come into the people listing who are about to turn the radio dog is her struggle in their view, they don't need another kind of pie in the sky's little sermon effort, Christian.

It fundamentally since you mentioned but Christ when we are Christians we have the presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit with us continually through all of our trials, you know, he says in the book of Isaiah when he passed through the waters, I will be with you when you walk through the fire, I will be with you Christ is Emmanuel, God with us and the Holy Spirit's joy and privilege is to bring Christ to us in any and every situation is. He said in the great commission.

He said surely I will be with you always, even to the end of the age. And so Paul and Silas, singing in the Philippian jailer doing so because the spirit of Christ is upon them, and their filled with joy because Christ has not abandoned them. He's not left them alone and so people were walking through severe trials. As Christians are doing so. Mindful of the presence of Christ with them through the Holy Spirit. And in this way, they are very different than their non-Christian friends and neighbors were going through similar trials.

Every bit is as horrifying, but they don't have Christ and they look to their Christian friends were going through the stress and so you have something I don't have. I want that the Philippian jailer was like that. He said what do you have that I don't have. He brought them out about to commit suicide.

He brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved and it was because of their display of Christ and of contentment in him. So this book of Philippians which you allude to allow your book in your book the power of Christian contentment. I'm Stu Epperson interviewing Pastor Andrew Davis with his new book the power of Christian contentment. Finding deeper, richer Chrysler joy. Philippians 413. This is the one of the most quoted the most referenced book. I love you I love the quote I love the write it down when I sign something to a friend or a little card.

A lot of athletes use it but often times we think about it, you know, in the context of hitting the game-winning three or or you know, getting a slamdunk on someone or a Super Bowl win but there some rule rough stuff when you start to contextualize. Can you take us to take our listeners into the real story behind the Philippians 413 story when it comes to true, deep soul contentment L Paul wants to teach the Philippians.

Christ centered contentment and he uses the money that they sent him to support him a gift that was brought by man Amy Packard -itis. He wants them to know he's thankful for the money but he was fine before he came in newly fine after it's been he wants to know is thankful buddies that what I want you to know is I've actually learned the secret of being content in any and every situation and effectively saying I want you Philippians to know the same and so the I can do everything through him who strengthens me is not so much about being successful on the on the gridiron or on the basketball court or in business on God enables us to do successful things there, but it's far greater to be content in any and every situation and be a witness for Christ when, for example, your child gets hit by a car when you have terminal cancer.

When you got a brain tumor glioblastoma good friend of mine died from that and walked in Christian contentment every day for 18 months and put Christ on display. That's a great testimony to Christ and when somebody says I can do everything through him who strengthens me. It takes immense strength in the inner man through the spirit to do that. That's the strength that I think the context is talking about you average a book about it gets into the weeds to get into the real life struggles of families whose whole life was turned upside down.

I think of John Erickson taught a who's been in this wheelchair who she went every faith healer she could go to an deceased quadriplegic. You know it's been like 50 years since that accident.

There is not many people on the planet that are closer to Jesus celebrating his joy and proclaiming the gospel in leading people to Christ from her wheelchair. Pulpit Pastor Randy someone like her to be. Where does this come from what comes from the basic concept of Christ dying for our sins to benefit us.

He said unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains by itself. A single seed.

But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit and he then extends it in John 12 there to the rest of us. If you want to serve me, you'll be where I am and my father will honor the one who serves me so for her Joni. She was willing to died all of her hopes and dreams and be able to be a cheerful witness to Christ in the midst of a very difficult situation prosperity gospel says you have that health and wealth in order to be happy.

Christian says I don't need those things.

Christ is enough and you can put Christ on display in the midst of suffering much better than in the midst of prosperity. Although we Paul did say I can be content in any and every situation so fundamentally I think it comes down to this God is willing to pour his servants out even like a drink offering like you did with Paul and to cause us to suffer if it leads to the salvation of others.

And Paul is willing to have that happen just as Jesus himself was willing. The book is the power of Christian contentment, subtitle finding, deeper, richer, Christ centered joy you even step on some toes in here including mine. When you talk about complaining some of the offices of contentment. How do we tend to go there.

Any dispute of this pandemic.

I knows I had had the coffee with a pastor the other day who said hey this pandemic result is covert stuff.

It's is not just taught us all things what it's revealed a lot of our true nature and some of our true discontentment's and how we are finding our hope in so many things and also those things are taken away sports and in meetings in groups and gatherings and work-related accolades.

Suddenly, Pastor Randy. Well, there's me and there's God there some on settlements there. Can you speak to these opposites of contentment and how to get through that and repent. Fundamentally, I found that contentment is based on the doctrine of Christian Providence which which is teaches that that God is sovereign over the smallest details of our lives. All the days ordained for us were written God's book before one of them came to be, and also what those days contained in so God very wisely gives us blessings things we enjoy but also things that are very difficult where to count it pure joy whenever we face trials of various types, because we know those tests are necessary to to strengthen our faith.

So Christian contentment is saying to our heavenly father, I trust you father with what you're doing in my life, conversely, discontent murmuring, complaining, railing against God. All these things we do were saying to God our father don't trust you and that's great. A great dishonor to him. God is very patient but you see what he did with Israel. He rebuked them, or when they complained about the manna and he sent them the poisonous snakes he doesn't take it kindly and so we need to learn to trust God, our heavenly father. In any and every situation. The true source of contentment.

We come back and hang on. Don't touch that dial a little bit of a teaser here for those listening this broadcast and podcasting all are awesome affiliates will write back with pastor Eddie Davis and the only way to find contentment will tell you from this new book the power of cursing at him and hang on. So how do you find contentment.

What is the path there. Maybe I should say who is the true source and he talks about this a lot in his book the power of Christian contentment.

I would say this is kind of a recurring theme.

It's a good thing of who you bring us to pastor Andy Davis. I'm here with you. I'm actually in your study in your church in Durham, North Carolina First Baptist Church, you've written quite a few books you've memorized the book of Isaiah. I told by the way, I was at a Panera in Greensboro.

Just a second ago with another pastor I said hey I guess what I'm going to go interview pastor is memorize Isaiah said no that I'm starting to Isaiah right now you said but I don't have the memorize. I said okay as it was just to meet his helmet is a novel thing a bit, but you're really your memorization. In fact, there's a book on yourself called an approach to extended memorization of Scripture. Another one of your books read this this idea of memorizing Scripture although maybe it's archaic to some people it's kind of important pastor speak it out real quick before we get into the to the, the clincher of this book the power of Christian contentment. Sure II think that memorizing Scripture is a tremendous tool toward biblical meditation and deeper understanding of Scripture and ultimately a walk with Christ. I've touched I've been led by God to memorize whole books of the Bible and it's helped me as a sequential expository preacher because I've already meditated on all the passages that I'm preaching on so it helps me at a deeper level. But you know God leads people to different things. I would just say if you're not memorizing Scripture at all.

Just begin by choosing some key verses, but then eventually I would asked urge you to go to chapters and see can get verses in context and what's what is going to do is going to feed Christ to you by the spirit. I just actually finished about three weeks ago finish the gospel of Mark. I started in October and I finished a few weeks ago and it's been a delight.

Walking with Jesus every day reviewing the verses saturating my mind in the gospel of Mark. It's been beautiful so you review and then you meditate. And meditation is really a darn. I've encountered talking by the lake.

One of the young young men is pastor.

Now a church in Winston-Salem preached the whole sermon on Psalm one and I thought about you because he talked about Scripture memorization and meditation and he said you're always thinking about something pastor Kyle you're always thinking about something in every sentence stems out of meditation or meditating on how much I want that guy's car as opposed to my car on but I'm coming you know and every other sin. But you can use to speak to the importance of that. My mom love Scripture memory.

I can't wait to tell her about your book because I didn't really change in a book about this stuff. Do you memorized chunks of the Bible, but that that's still encouraging but the needle in. I'm joking around my daughter about how the medication is actually meditation is actually medication for the sole praise God that such a good word.

I God's word is just amazing. It's deep and rich and full and my pattern has been to to review verses for hundred consecutive days and I just move through the whole 16 chapters of Mark. That way, and the meditation happens along the way. It's not none extra additional thing I do, it happens by the endless repetition and the new ideas coming to my mind is the power of Jesus over demons or his effortless is absolutely effortless healing of any and every disease that came his way to his tenderness in his compassion toward broken hearted sinners in the way he dealt with people. I was just walking with Jesus. I could be easily moved to tears by the things that God shown me as I meditate, so just commended but it just helps with that. The battle we have over sin.

The internal thing you talk about your thought life keeps our thought life pure it's it's beneficial everyone listening to my voice right now, you're thinking about something you think about where you're going next you thing about what maybe you should've said earlier date on your kids are your thing about social media. Posted caught you off guard. So why not think about the word of God because what happens when you think about what happens when you have God's voice in your mind pastor Randy it's so much better and and II really think that's that that's how God speaks to us.

Haven't you read what God said to you in the account of the burning bush. You know, he said to the Sadducees, God speaks to us, or again in Hebrews 3 where it says today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, and is quoting Scripture. So God speaks by the Scripture. And if we hide it in our hearts. He can speak to us continually so open your Bible and you will get a text from God who is or not, is there a better person. Is there a better text to get than from Almighty God. But it's sitting there and what like one quote I know you for this quote. This may be from you actually were. The quote is I use it.

My Bible study. Recently we don't complain about God being silent your Bible stay shot. We have a chance to hide God's word in our heart like the psalmist talked about in your doing a thank you for that example we might need a dual show about that but let's finish up let's finish up the power of Christian contentment. This book would you take us to the source. The model, the consummate picture incarnate personified of Christian contentment. You do a lot in your book take us there because people are hurting their struggling and you are giving one big bold answer know the Christ is the center of everything, so Christ is the center of Christian contentment and Christ at every moment please the father and did the will of the father died on the cross and rose again and and you see him as the ultimate pinnacle display of contentment, but I would say secondly, no one has displayed it better than the apostle Paul and the apostle Paul wrote about it he said he learned the secret of it. He didn't know it at first but God taught him how to be content in any and every situation by focusing his mind entirely and Christ crucified and resurrected.

So that's the center and I would commend that all waste. This is the questions very convicting and I and give it to you and it's something that I have in my mind has Christ crucified and resurrected done enough for you to be happy today or must he do a little more and that's very convicting question is like no, he does need to do anymore. He gave his lifeblood that I might have eternal life. He does need to do anymore. That's enough for me. While what a coil convicted sit here in front of a what I say next. Other than asking re-re-re-re-mining others in restating that is Jesus enough is what he did for me enough to get so consumed about what we do for him and performance and all that but is his performance enough resting in him abiding in the vine. I think about what you said tying in that with Christ with his word. If you buy me and my words abide in you, and I believe John 15 seven so thank you pastor the power of Christian contentment is his book. His name is pastor Andy or Andrew Davis and he is Andrew is the bringer every time you see how the Bible is bringing people to Jesus in this Andrew is bringing people to Jesus and bringing people to his word and teaching his word faithfully in his pulpit here in Durham, North Carolina first Baptist Church finding deeper, richer, Christ centered joy in his book called the power of Christian contentment pastor. How would you encourage folks to get the book. What's the best way to do it baby want to give it as a gift to someone was the best way for folks to find this book certainly assets available easily on Amazon. Assembly books are and you can order it and it'll come too quickly. Okay folks are in the Durham, North Carolina area for blue Devils basketball game or for something stricken tracking through your listening to us on 105.5 FM Truth Network station. Your grade affiliative truth talk a what, what's the best way to attend the church or find out about the church's early we have worship services at 1030 every Sunday and God willing will see you if you have looking for church only loved having okay so learn more about pastor you can hear sermons. You can learn more about the church at the there's a website I'm sure first Baptist Church Durham somewhere.org BC there FVC Durham.org to learn more.

To meet him there and there's probably information about his book your trip, you can find it wherever books are sold. Thank you pastor you have really encouraged today.

Thanks for being a part of truth talk and thank you for spreading this message of Christian contentment.

Something we really need every day. It's been a joy to be with you. This is the Truth Network