This morning, we’re

continuing our message series entitled “Reclaimed” which is all about

becoming who you were created to be. 

This series begins our focus on the work of the Holy Spirit and His

ministry, the third core value of New Hope.

1 Timothy 1:15 

(ISV)

This is a

trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance:

To this world Christ

Jesus came,

sinful people to

reclaim.

We were each created

uniquely and intentionally by God.  We

were created on purpose and for a purpose. 

The process of being reclaimed is all about reaching that full potential

that we were created for.

Have you ever seen a

really cool reclamation project, try it yourself, and end up totally failing at

it?

Well, you’re not

alone!  Check out some of these Pinterest

fails.

God doesn’t want us

to end up with something that looks like any of these things with our

lives.  No, He wants to set us up for

success so that we become like the original Pinterest posts.  He wants to cooperate with us and do a

creative work in and through us so that our lives become examples that others

want to model after.

In just a few short

verses, God has given us simple instructions that teach us how to reach our

full potential that we were created for and how to help others do the same.

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)

21 Since you have

heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off

your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust

and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24

Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

1. Hear the truth

about Jesus

It all begins with

hearing the good news about Jesus.  We

call it the gospel.  It’s hard to believe

to some, but there are people all around us who have never heard about Jesus.  Perhaps worse than not ever hearing the

gospel is also the lies that are also believed about Jesus and Christians. 

God reclaiming a

life begins with hearing the truth about Jesus.

Romans 10:9-15

9 If you declare

with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him

from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe

and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are

saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to

shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is

Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How, then, can

they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the

one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone

preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is

written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

This morning, I want

all of you to look down.  Do you see

those feet?  Those are the beautiful feet

of a person who has been sent to share the good news about Jesus to anyone who

will listen to it.

We all need a

reminder about the simplicity of the gospel. 

Though this message about our salvation is simple, we should also deepen

our knowledge, understanding, and application of the truth about Jesus.  We should have an insatiable desire to

explore the fullness of this salvation that we’ve freely received!

2. Throw off your

old self

If we don’t make

changes, nothing will ever change.

If we ignore our GPS

and just continue going our own way, we’ll still be lost.

If we continue to

cut ourselves, our wound will never heal.

Love requires a

choice and God will never take our choice away from us.

Being reclaimed is a

cooperation between us and God.  On the

cross, an exchange took place; the sinless life of Jesus paying the price for

our sinful life.  God’s end of the deal

remains an open invitation to any willing to receive it.  The conditional pa