He Has Sent, and Sent Again,

and therefore, We Call Out!

Galatians 4:4-7

† IHS †

May you truly know the grace and mercy of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, which has seen you through this year, and will accompany you in the next!

 The Trinity at Work…as the Father sends.

One of the things I find fascinating is the heritage of the church in Ireland.  Perhaps we know about St Patrick and his three leaf clover, or the a Celtic cross and the knots on it like I am wearing today, the kind of cross the one hanging over the altar is modelled after. There are others. Bede, the author of “Be Thou My Vision”, and one of the great historians of the early church, and Adain and Finian.  The early Irish Christians were known for their artwork, especially their Biblical manuscripts and stone and metalwork.  If you do a little research, they were also know for their missionary zeal, for bringing word of God’s love to mankind.

One of the reasons we did our Advent series on a Celtic look at advent, is that of the theologians I’ve read, the early Christians in Ireland and Scotland were amazed at the interaction of the Trinity in Scripture.  The mystery of how Three are One, and One are Three, and the paradox of what that means for us.

It’s been said that every denomination plays favorites among the Trinity.  Some focus on the authority of God the Father.  Others, especially us in the Lutheran sphere, focus a lot on the work of Christ, how He came to make us right before God, how when we are joined to His death and Resurrection, we are cleansed of our sin.  Others have focused primarily on the Holy Spirit, with an emphasis on personal holiness and using the gifts the Spirit gives us, as we are made alive through the Spirit’s power.

Yet God is three, and yet one, Three who love us and work in our lives.  We see it in today’s reading, as we hear Paul tells us that the Father has sent Jesus, and sent the Holy Spirit, and that is why we can truly call on Him, our heavenly Dad.

He sent Christ to deal with our sins

We’ll get to the Father at the end of the sermon, so we start looking at what St. Paul tells us about the Father sending Jesus to us.  Quite appropriate as it is the fifth day of Christmas, don’t you think?
Paul says in verse 4, “when the right time finally came, God sent his own son,” He sent Jesus.  The word there for sent is “apostled”, to send someone was an emissary, an ambassador with the authority and power to establish a relationship.

What it would take, in this case, was simple.  He had to buy our freedom from the things in our life that captivate us, that seem to control us, that oppress us and stop us from loving God, and stop us from loving each other and those that so dearly need it.

That is the what is so devastating about sin, the actions and thoughts and life that we count on, that society tells us brings us joy and fulfillment; they don’t bring us joy, they enslave us. We spend so much time chasing them, and when we “get” them, trying to defend them, or defend why they are the center of our life. This sin, for all sins are part, ends up owning us, owning our time, our lives, our souls.

Which is why Jesus came to purchase, why he came to take us off the market.  To not only purchase us, but also to free us and to make known that we are adopted by the God the father. To enter into not just a business relationship, but also one of family, of not just respect, but love.

He sent the Spirit to confirm our adoption.

It is incredible to think of this freedom that has been purchased for us, these chains that have been broken. It is so incredible, that I think we often lose sight of the freedom, and the incredible relationship that we have with God.   Which is why the Father sent the Son, and then they sent the Holy Spirit to us, to confirm in us that which Jesus had already accomplished.

If we need it confirmed, and I most definitely believe we do, for so many things would try to steal the peace and comfort of knowing God’s love, the Holy Spirit is here, in our hearts.  The proof, the guarantee of God’s love for us, that He will never leave or forsake us.
Knowing that presence, knowing our place in His heart, and His place in our hearts, we are prompted to call out to God, as a child calls out to his father.  Sometimes this is in time of need, in desperation.  Sometimes it is in excitement, as we realize His glory, as we are excited in His presence.

Luther wrote:

63 In addition, you must also know how to use the name of God aright. With the words, “You shall not take the name of God in vain,” God at the same time gives us to understand that we are to use his name properly, for it has been revealed and given to us precisely for our use and benefit.

Since we are forbidden here to use the holy name in support of falsehood or wickedness, it follows, conversely that we are commanded to use it in the service of truth and all that is good—for example, when we swear properly where it is necessary and required. So, also, when we teach properly; again, when we call on his name in time of need, or praise and thank him in time of prosperity, etc. All this is summarized in the command in Ps. 50:15, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.” All this is what we mean by calling upon his name in service of truth and using it devoutly. Thus his name is hallowed, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer.^[1]

Here is why the Spirit comes and dwells with us, why He comes into our hearts, so we have such a relationship with God, that we can run to him, when hurt, so that He can comfort and bring us peace, or when we are excited, and want Him to share in our joy.

This is our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a God who comes to us, a God who brings us into His presence, who share with us His glory, who gives to us in ways that are so incredible, that we struggle to believe that He didn’t make a mistake.  The entire Trinity, their work focused on communicating to you and I a love that is beyond anything we can imagine.

A love for us…

So what do you need to cry out to Him for? 

So maybe this morning, we’ve found ourselves in need of crying out for His help, crying out with our last hope.  This is your God, who sent Jesus to make it so, and the Holy Spirit to convince you that it is the fullness of time for those cries.

Maybe this morning you are just overwhelmed with His grace, and you need to cry out to Him with excitement, with praises that go on.

Both cries are appropriate, and we can, as His family join in those prayers, and in those praises.

Then, may we all realize, that because we are His children, because the Trinity has heard our prayers and praises, that we can dwell in their peace, in their love.  For God is here, He has freed us from all that would hold us captive, and has made us His children.

It is the fullness of time for us as well…. To know the Lord is with us.  AMEN?