A Friend of God: Collaboration

Posted on by pastordavidturner

“They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.”

Revelation 15:3

The Book of Revelation

There is a lot going on in the book of Revelation because there is a lot going on in heaven. The book, which details the coming of Jesus and the events leading to His return and eternal reign, is centered around visions of heaven. In Revelation 4-5 the Apostle John is taken to heaven. He has the awesome privilege of seeing the glory of God and hearing worship around His throne.  He is also invited to see and hear specific plans for the future of the world. He may be the first and only real time traveler! (more on that later). 

After John enters the throne room of God, He is shown a series of visions about the future of the world.  Everything is happening primarily in the spirit-realm and then manifesting secondarily on the earth. Scrolls and trumpets in the heavenly realm; famines, earthquakes, and such in the natural realm. We won’t comment now about the timing and fulfillment of these things. Some have happened, some are happening, and some will happen soon (see Revelation 1:19). It is all real—though the nature of the spiritual realm can seem strange to us. 

Revelation 15 – Song of Moses & the Song of the Lamb

Then we get to Revelation 15. The final judgements are about to be poured out on the earth. But first, a song! John is observing a moment after much judgement on the earth and before Jesus’ return. It is an “in-between pause. As human history draws near its conclusion, heaven takes a breathe. It is an intensely beautiful moment in heaven–and we get a glimpse!   In this moment, worship begins again and this time it’s the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the [b]saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”

Here is what strikes me as odd: why is it called the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb?  Clearly, the text is saying they wrote this song: It is Moses’ song and it is the Lamb’s song. So, I looked back in the Old Testament to find songs Moses wrote. There is a song in Exodus 14 after the Red Sea drowned the Egyptian army and became the highway of deliverance for Israel. But the words of Revelation 15 are not found in that song. Then there is a song he wrote in Psalm 90. Again, not in any way related to the song of Revelation 15.  

Revelation 15 has to be a new song written by Moses. But He is not the only one who wrote it. It is also written by Jesus. Brace yourself. They collaborated! It’s their song which they co-wrote together. It is a masterpiece of their friendship. Can you see it?  Jesus and Moses hanging out in eternity, collaborating on a new song.  A special song to be song in honor of God before the conclusion of human history and Jesus’ return to restore the world. All of heaven starts singing their song. John witnesses the debut, the single release of this song. 

Theological side note. Did you know Jesus loves His Father more than anyone and is the chief worshipper leader of all of heaven? Check out Hebrews 2:11-12 referencing Psalm 22.  Jesus is God. We need a much deeper, dynamic understanding of the triune relationship of God. Father loves and honors His Son more than anyone else and wants us all to do the same (John 5:20-23). It should not surprise us that Jesus is worshipping His Father and writing a worship song with Moses. Rather, this is likely the most magnificent realization I have had in a long time; this truth has drawn me deeper into my friendship with Jesus and it can do the same for you. 

Collaboration with Jesus

Jesus wants friendship with you. He wants to collaborate with you. This is the deep yearning of His heart: a friend, a partner, a bride. For Jesus, ministry is not something we do for Him but with Him. The various gifts He has given to you, the creative potential resident within you, was deposited by His choice. He gave you something that you might make something with Him for others. What masterpiece of your friendship will you make with Jesus? What does Jesus want to do with you? Lean into your friendship with God, seek Him, and ask. When you get intimately close to God, you can’t help but become confident in your calling and full of courage to walk it out in love.  What if that song you are called to create, or that business you are called to start, or that bible study you are called to write is something Jesus wants to collaborate with on you as an overflow of your intimate friendship with Him? Exit burn out; enter rest. Exit fear; enter confidence. Exit striving; enter joy.

The truth is that ministry is primarily worship to Him and friendship with Him. We serve others and share our gifts to be a blessing. But we also hide, compare, covet, judge. We are so caught up seeking applause or fearing rejection that we have forgotten why we were created. You were made for Jesus, designed for His presence, and fashioned for His glory. You will be free when you collaborate with Jesus. Only then will others truly be blessed because the masterpiece will be pure. How beautiful is that song of Moses and the Lamb, because it is their masterpiece of friendship offered in worship to God. Neither vying for control, ownership, or royalties. Our Master and Savior is a servant. He shares. He includes. He is the Vine and we are the branches. And Moses, God’s friend, wrote this song with Jesus and for His Father. He wasn’t looking for glory, but offering Himself as a servant of God. Let’s do the same.

A Friend of God: Conversation

Posted on by pastordavidturner

Jesus “was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light.” (Matthew 17:2)

The story of Jesus’ transfiguration is one of my favorites because it is such a break from the narrative flow of the gospels. It was literally an “in-breaking” of God’s glory, a pulling back of the curtain to reveal more of Jesus than what everyone saw on the surface. It was the moment the disciples saw the glory of God in the tent of Jesus’ flesh, the Word revealed behind the flesh of His human body. Jesus’ humanity was unveiled for a moment to reveal the divinity within. It must have been an amazingly intense moment for the disciples and a very timely, needed encouragement for Jesus. 

Jesus had just revealed His assignment fully to the disciples: suffering, betrayal, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. They didn’t get it. They thought it was just another parable. The ministry of Jesus was exploding, His name was spreading, and crowds were gathering. And the persecution was growing more intense as well. He was experiencing the rejection of men constantly—teachers accusing Him of being the devil, leaders wanting Him dead, His own family calling Him crazy. The shadow of the cross was looming. Jesus’ cousin, John, was gone. None of His followers understood. Jesus was alone. 

I image the experience was life-altering for the disciples. It was so impactful that Peter references it in his second letter, clearly showing how well-known the story was to those he pastored. I am sure what Peter, James, and John witnessed marked them. And yet, I believe this moment was more for Jesus than for them. 

There are many profound things that happen in the story: Jesus heads up a mountain for a bit of R&R, spends some time in prayer like He often does. Peter, James, and John fall asleep (I figure that happened regularly when Jesus had extended times of communion with the Father). And then, all of a sudden, the boys wake up to see Jesus brighter than the sun and two guys talking with Him. While they are still groggy from sleep and wrapping their minds around the encounter, Father speaks from heaven to them about His Son.

Any one of these things could be its own message. But wait!? Moses and Elijah are talking with Jesus! This is my favorite part. Why are these two guys hanging out with Jesus on earth and having a conversation? (The Greek word for “talking with” in Matthew 17:3 could be well translated “conversing” as in having a face-to-face dialogue). What are they talking about!? 

Let’s go backwards before we move on. Moses is one of God’s closest friends, ever. He made it into the hall of fame of faith. He, like Enoch, Noah, and Abraham walked with God. In fact, God Himself says that Moses is one of His closest besties: “I speak with him face-to-face” (Numbers 12). The intimate friendship Moses had with God is one that generations of believers have desired to have. Moses’ conversations with God are mind blowing. That a human was invited to talk with God about such things and receive such revelatory insight into God’s kingdom is amazing. Since God is the God of the living and Moses is one of His friends, it is very likely that this Moses has been in heaven hanging out with Jesus (The Pre-Incarnate Word) for hundreds of years before Jesus’ incarnation. Can you imagine the depth of friendship? 

Then there is Elijah. He is one of only two people taken bodily into heaven. He didn’t even experience death. He was a prophet who served the Lord his whole life and trained up many others to follow the Lord. Together Moses and Elijah represent the law and the prophets which point to Jesus. Both men, on earth, had insight into the coming Savior (see 1 Peter 1). And yet, likely they’ve been with God now for generations, soaking in the glory of God. 

Now guess what they are talking about? According to the gospel of Luke, they are discussing Jesus’ assignment. Luke says they were conversating about Jesus’ “exodus”, literally His departure or death and the details surrounding how He would accomplish this sacrificial assignment at Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Is it a coincidence that the exodus of Israel from Egypt is a picture of our salvation (think Passover lamb, blood, deliverance and such)? Is it random that Moses, who led the exodus of Israel, is now talking to his own Savior of the new exodus, the true Passover lamb to be slain, and the eternal redemption of the world? I think not! 

Here is the point and the invitation to us: Moses and Elijah are friends of God. They have been sent by God to encourage Jesus. Jesus isn’t talking with angels; he’s talking with men. He has no one else to stand with on earth. Proverbs 27:9 tells us “the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” 

I want to be that close to Jesus! To know Him that deeply, to be invited into such intimate conversation, to be trusted with such vulnerable details. I want a “face-to-face” friendship with God; I want God to reveal His heart to me. And that is the invitation. Every God-encounter with one person is an invitation to all. Here are just a few verses that reveal the deep yearning of Jesus’ heart to be known: 

  • I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:15).
  • The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father (John 16:25).
  • Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me (John 17:24).

Jesus has invited you into a deep, intimate friendship with Himself. He wants to reveal Himself and the deep things of His heart to you. He wants to enjoy communion and conversation with you. The first step is to simply come to Him. Begin to set aside time daily to seek Him. Ask Him for revelation and then open the Bible (I recommend starting in the Gospels). He will meet you there and speak to you.