088: John Warner - Exhortation: The Future Feast

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:00

   Welcome to the Good Christadelphian Talks podcast. I'm Levi. And I'm Chris. Thank you so much for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one talk a week to help each one of us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post at the start of each week for you to listen with a short intro beforehand to kind of set the stage for the talk you're about to hear. And now let's hear more about this week's talk. This is an exhortation from April 26th by Brother John Warner from the San Francisco Peninsula Ecclesia. I found this exhortation to be very endearing. And I guess sometimes my bias comes out pretty strong on this podcast only because I've known Uncle John for a very long time. He is up there in years and very enjoyable and kind of unique brother to be around. And I found this exhortation to be incredibly encouraging. But I'm worried that maybe you kind of need to know the character of John Warner. But I also think it is a great exhortation. It is definitely uplifting.

2. 1:19

   And it touches on something in relation to, you know, this COVID-19 era that we're all missing very much, which I think is eating together, having big meals together, which is what he talks about. And then points in the exhortation towards the, you know, the wonderful feasts that we'll have all together in the Kingdom Age. So he talks about missing restaurants and talks about missing big, big meals. And I think that's something that we can all really identify with at this time. So really felt this exhortation was worth sharing. We also like to, I think, with these exhortations, try and find, you know, brothers that are not, you know, not often getting an opportunity to teach at Bible schools or anything like that. And we thank you for the suggestions. We really are getting so many great suggestions for these exhortations, which are very, very helpful. And we'll be keeping this up through the summer, posting a couple, an exhortation on Saturday and a class on Sunday. And we really appreciate your help.

3. 2:13

   So here's John Warner about the feast and his exhortation from April 26th. Greetings, everybody. Good morning and shalom. Now, anybody who has attended one of these large weddings down in Los Angeles, and probably most of us have, Crested Elfian weddings never goes without much food. Sometimes there will be as many as 200 people there. And the one thing Crested Elfian gatherings almost never have a problem with is running out of food.

4. 2:56

   However, Mary and I attended what I would call a real feast a number of years ago. One of the people that I taught painting to invited me to, I don't know what number it was, I think it was her 50th anniversary. So she wasn't a young person. She was a lady, Chinese lady, that I taught painting to, and I enjoyed her. And she invited me to their anniversary.

5. 3:29

   Now, if you've ever been to a Chinese feast, and I don't know whether how many have, I don't think I can take another. But the food is marvelous. There were 16 courses, I believe. And some of it was dim sun, but most of it was just massive amounts of food. Everything that you can imagine and some of it was a Chinese people. And some of it was a Chinese couple, very friendly and very nice, who warned us, don't try and eat everything. That was good advice. Because we only made it through 15 courses.

6. 4:14

   And they said, well, we leave now because the dessert is just too much. So Mary and I left. The food was wonderful. The food was good. But I'm reminded of that, particularly by the very simple way in which Ecclesiastes 5 ends. The last section is all about simplicity, being thankful for what we have. And last week, those of you who heard Dalton will appreciate, that was the emphasis, being grateful and being thankful for everything that God provides us.

7. 4:56

   We don't provide our own, even though we attempt to grow vegetables and enjoy them. We are not a society that has learned to cope. And one of the sad things of our present pandemic is that there are lines of a mile long waiting for food from the community. You perhaps have seen them on television. Sometimes they have to stay six feet apart and walk in and have to wait well over an hour for this bit of food that they're given.

8. 5:34

   It shows that even in what we like to think of the most prosperous and wealthy kingdom on earth. There are many who are hungry. There are many who are homeless. There are many who are distraught over a number of things. But the lack of food is a very frightening thing. And even some of the workers who do all of the picking and the cooking of our food, many of the Latinos are almost desperate for more food because they don't get it in the workplace.

9. 6:15

   And they very often are without work in this day and age. So if there's anything this pandemic should do for us, and I think it's a good memory, is how much we depend upon God daily. And our hymn said it beautifully, every morning. It's, I think, and I make no prognostication whether this is the final event or the final days and the pandemic is very symbolic of what we should expect.

10. 6:50

    I don't think that's as important as because predicting when Christ will come again is foolishness. But it is important to recognize how much we need Christ and make our prayers fervent. And not only us, but the poor people of the world who are more desperate than probably most people in this country.

11. 7:19

    Now, we go to the store, the grocery store, once a week, probably some of the rest of you do, or you have food sent to you. We do it once a week at six o'clock in the morning, masked, quickly in and quickly out if we can, but it's enough food for the week.

12. 7:43

    And it just reminds me of the fact that, yes, we have known great prosperity. California used to be called, and I think it's still true, able to feed half this nation. Not only able, but does feed half the nation. I know Jesse was surprised when he was back in Washington, D.C. What do they do for food?

13. 8:07

    They don't grow it. And then he said, oh, this tag says it came from California. Oh, and this one does too. But even though we are prosperous as a community and as a nation and have been greatly blessed, I think the pandemic should remind all of us that we're very dependent upon what God sends.

14. 8:31

    And it is a good time to remember that what we have, we should be very thankful for, as Dalton said last week. Waiting in line for food, not many of us have done, but there are people who are still able to do a little bit of work. We, for example, help some of our community restaurants.

15. 9:00

    There are two of them in particular that we like to go to. They're not able to offer full meals. We're not able to go in. So we call ahead and they have some hors d'oeuvres, which they are able to give us. And for that, we give them a gratuity, a payment of what should be like a full meal, because they are so important to our community.

16. 9:23

    We don't want to lose them. And I'm sure some of the rest of us are well aware that our food pantries that feed the poor, and there are so many amonis, are a worthwhile thing to contribute to.

17. 9:40

    But I said, and I don't want to speak in negative terms about all of the doom and gloom, because I don't think we, most of us, even now experience that. But an awareness of the fact that we are waiting for the future feast. That beautiful passage, and I would like to just read it once again.

18. 10:04

    This happens to be from the NIV from the 13th chapter. Emphasizes a couple of things, and I'd like to have you focus on them. First of all, from Ecclesiastes, I should say that wonderful statement, which sums it up in the fifth chapter. It's good and proper for a man to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his labor.

19. 10:33

    Now, some people are not able to go to work now, but if you labor in your own garden, or in any way, as Ben and many others are able to do through the process of the internet and of Zoom, it is still labor. And to find satisfaction in that is wonderful. So, many who cannot feed their families now need to be in our general prayer and awareness that at the return of Christ, not only will we be able to feed others, but perhaps all of the world will no longer be starving and afraid and fearful.

20. 11:21

    So, reading from just Luke 13 and the 29th verse, people will come from the east and west and north and south and take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. And in response to that, although it was probably quite a bit later, was a Sabbath when Jesus and maybe some of his disciples, probably John for sure, went to the house of a wealthy Pharisee in Jerusalem.

21. 12:02

    And there they were invited, Jesus probably because they were curious about what he would say. And there they were invited, Jesus probably because they were curious about what he would say. There he says, reading from the 14th chapter,

22. 12:19

    Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests, because you don't want to exalt yourself and therefore be humble. When one of those at the table heard this, he said to Jesus, Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God. Now, Jesus doesn't rebuke the man for saying this.

23. 12:47

    He is correct. He's quoting what Jesus has said earlier and probably tells you he may have been a disciple of the Lord. But what Jesus does proceed to say is that you are still missing the point. It is your preparation, your humility, your love of God that need to be worked on. You don't invite yourself to this feast.

24. 13:20

    But it is an invitation to Jew and Gentile. And that's even emphasized in Matthew, the eighth chapter, where Jesus proceeds to say much the same thing. It's a different occasion. It's very early in the ministry. Jesus was astonished at the faith of the centurion. Remember in Matthew 8. I have not found such faith in Israel.

25. 13:50

    But when Jesus was astonished, he said, I tell you the truth, I haven't found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their place in the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Now, I don't know how much we think about this.

26. 14:27

    The Jews were very concerned about eating in the kingdom of God. It's something I don't think we think about. What does it mean when we see a group that's not only 200, but perhaps 200,000 come together? And you will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God when you sit down at a table with them.

27. 14:55

    It's a big table. And it may represent just a whole era. But nevertheless, it's a real promise that Jesus makes to us and to them. That we will actually see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and probably have a chance to talk with them eventually. Time probably not being the factor it is today. But can you imagine that group?

28. 15:25

    It's staggering to even think about it. In this day and age when we can't even get together to eat because we must be separate. Or certainly we're tempting to be separate in everything we do.

29. 15:41

    So it's a wonderful vision of the kingdom of God. And notice he says many will come out of the east and out of the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God. He's not talking about just the Jewish hope. He's talking about the hope of the children of God.

30. 16:01

    And one of the places, and I think that Jesus took it from, was the prophets. Now in Isaiah, which as you probably have heard me say before, is just, I hate to say it, but he's my favorite prophet. Because he talks about everything. And one thing that he talks about is the future feast.

31. 16:22

    In fact, in the whole section, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of Isaiah. It's been called the mini apocalypse of Isaiah. And I think that's probably a good statement and quite accurate. In the sense that it's a blessing which comes upon Israel. And it comes upon the nations in the kingdom age. So reading from just a very short excerpt from the 27th of Isaiah.

32. 17:01

    In the days to come, Jacob will take root. Israel will bud and blossom and fill all of the world with fruit. Now the word for world is not limited. It means all of the habitable world. It's the Hebrew tabel. And it means everybody will be blessed because Israel will be blessed. The extension of that seems to be beautifully picked up in the 25th chapter.

33. 17:44

    And I would like to emphasize that. If you have your Bibles, you might open to it. Cities and nations will revere you, speaking of Israel. But then he says, beginning at the 6th verse of the 25th chapter. These inspirational words. On this mountain, the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples.

34. 18:15

    A banquet of aged wine, the best of meats, the finest of wines on this mountain. He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples. The sheet that covers all nations. He will swallow up death forever.

35. 18:38

    And you remember that's quoted by Paul in Corinthians 15. The sovereign Lord will wipe away tears from all faces. Again, the apocalypse. He will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. Now in that beautiful passage, it's a blessing for Israel, but it's a blessing for the world. It's not the time of the feast in Israel, which will be renewed, according to Zechariah and 47th of Ezekiel.

36. 19:19

    There's no question that Israel will partake in the feast and rejoice again, as probably people of the Middle East. I shouldn't say just Israel. It won't be limited. It probably will cover the nations around Israel as well. But that's not what the 25th chapter is talking about. It's talking about the children of God coming together.

37. 19:43

    And that's why Jesus later picks it up and says, You will sit down at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It's something to look forward to, to pray, because the feast is not just about eating food, but about partaking with one another, fellowship and love and conversation. And I think that's probably what we most enjoy with our feast together.

38. 20:19

    A couple of passages, and I will conclude my thoughts. The Jews and the Gentiles are to be blessed together, and we know that from the New Testament. But when Jesus fed the 20,000, I'd like you to remember that he looked up and he gave thanks, that he was able to give his life for his brothers and sisters.

39. 20:49

    It's a strange thing that when we partake of the bread and the wine, that Jesus gave thanks before we did, for what he was able to do and accomplish.

40. 21:07

    Because his heavenly father had blessed him, he was willing to give up his life. So there are two passages I'd like to conclude with. The first one is the 21st chapter of John's gospel. And you will be very familiar with it, but it's a beautiful section here. Seven of his disciples, probably at least five apostles, were gathered together up in Galilee.

41. 21:42

    And you'll remember the occasion they had fished all night, caught nothing. Now, I've had to stay up a couple of times all night. And it is, excuse me, it is tiring. So not, they were exhausted. Children, have you any fish?

42. 22:04

    And no, we've been fishing all night. Put the net out on the starboard side. See if you can't do better. And when they took in this huge catch of fish, 153 large fish, John immediately understood. Because apparently they couldn't clearly see Jesus on the shore. It's the master.

43. 22:34

    So early in the morning when Jesus stood on the shore, the disciples didn't realize it was Jesus. He called out to them, Haven't you any fish? Friends. He said, throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they did, they were unable to haul in the net because of the large number of fish.

44. 22:58

    So you can imagine all of them working to drag in fish that are probably what we would call 18 or maybe even two feet long. Large fish, perhaps weighing as much as three pounds each. But when they did get the net to shore, then the disciple whom Jesus loved, the apostle John said to Peter, it's the Lord.

45. 23:24

    And you remember Peter jumps overboard and is so excited. He, he swims to shore. The other disciples follow in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, just about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire. And this is what I want us to think about this morning, particularly.

46. 23:49

    A burning coals with fish on it and some bread. It's Jesus who prepared for his disciples, not only with the washing of his feet at an earlier occasion, excuse me, but now with the bread and the fish. Yes, they were asked to contribute some of the fish they had just caught. But the important lesson I take from it, it's Jesus who provides.

47. 24:25

    And finally, for the last passage, passage, and I think this is important, the apocalypse, you'll be very familiar with. What we often call the future feast, the wedding of the lamb. Picked up in the 19th chapter, he says, I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like a roar in a rushing water, loud pearls of thunder, shouting, hallelujah, for the Lord God almighty reigns.

48. 25:04

    Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory, for the wedding of the lamb has come. And his bride has made herself ready.

49. 25:19

    It is Jesus who provides the bread and the wine to us this morning. Let us remember this and pray for that time when many will come out of the east and the west and join with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, giving thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus and to the almighty God who makes everything possible.

50. 25:54

    Thank you. Thank you for listening to the Good Christ Adelphine Talks podcast. Please subscribe for new episodes and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or whichever service you are listening from to help people find the show when they search for it. If you enjoyed this talk, share it on social media so other people can find it too.

51. 26:18

    For show notes and links to the talk that you just listened to, visit our show page at anchor.fm slash gct. We want to encourage everyone to share their thoughts from the talk this week on Facebook or Instagram where we are at goodchristadelphiantalks or on Twitter where we are at gct underscore podcast. If you know of a great talk, we want to know about it too.

52. 26:40

    Send a suggestion to goodchristadelphiantalks at gmail.com or message us on any of our social media platforms. Thank you for listening. God bless and talk to you next week.

53. 26:55

    God bless