I'm Not Who I Used To Be

Jesus speaks in John 15 as the true friend who wants his own joy to live inside his people so that their joy is full, and he ties that joy to his command to love like he loves, even to laying a life down. Jesus then shifts the status: “No longer do I call you servants… I call you friends,” chosen and appointed to bear fruit that remains. That choosing began before anyone chose him; the cross laid the red carpet before any sinner prayed a prayer, which means salvation is a starting point, not a finish line. The gift saves, but the call is discipleship with a cost, life in the Spirit, and a realized status change that moves a believer from the counter to the stockroom, from outsider to “throne room access.”

Psalm 103 tells the soul not to forget the benefit package that comes with this status change: forgiven iniquities, healed diseases, redeemed life, a crown of lovingkindness and tender mercies, a satisfied mouth, renewed youth. Forgetfulness breeds bitterness and victim thinking; remembrance fuels worship, resilience, and bold asking. Romans 12:2 insists that transformation runs through a renewed mind. Without that renewal, a child of God keeps living like an orphan, conformed to the world’s algorithm instead of led by the Spirit.

First Corinthians 6 announces that the body is a temple and “you are not your own,” so belonging changes the questions a disciple asks: not “what benefits me,” but “does this glorify God.” Belonging to God also frees a person from belonging to everyone else’s approval. Romans 8 names the adoption: not a spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit who cries “Abba,” testifying that the church is God’s children and joint heirs with Christ. Psalm 2 then teaches the family reflex: ask. Children don’t hesitate to ask; the Father delights to answer beyond neighborhood-sized prayers.

Jesus’ friendship brings proximity and access. Abraham’s story shows what friends do: they learn God’s heart and intercede in step with it. Amos 3:7 and John 15 say God shares his secrets, and Jesus wants his joy, not anxiety, to remain in his friends. So the homework lands clear and simple in the mouth: “I belong to God. I’m a child of God. I’m a friend of God.” That confession trains the mind to live from the new status and to step into the benefits already purchased by the blood.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s joy fuels costly love Jesus puts his own joy inside his friends so their joy is full, and then he commands love that looks like his cross. Joy is not a mood upgrade but the power source for obedience when love is expensive. Friendship with Jesus reframes sacrifice as overflow, not depletion. Joy anchors love in God’s life, not human stamina. [50:00]
• 2. Salvation starts; discipleship costs Grace opens the door, but Jesus still says, “take up your cross and follow.” Fire insurance thinking stalls growth and keeps identity shallow. Discipleship is surrender in motion, where choices consistently say Jesus is Lord, not just Savior. The cost is real, and the treasure is better. [57:43]
• 3. The Spirit empowers beyond willpower White‑knuckled promises collapse under old habits; resurrection life does not. The same Spirit who raised Jesus lives in believers to lift them beyond natural limits into holy desire and durable change. Trying harder yields frustration, but yielding deeper births freedom. Power is personal before it is practical. [58:18]
• 4. Don’t forget your benefits Psalm 103 trains the soul to inventory grace so that amnesia doesn’t hijack identity. Forgiveness, healing, redemption, kindness, satisfaction, and renewal are not theories; they are covenant provisions. Remembered benefits break bitterness, restore perspective, and invite expectancy. Memory becomes a spiritual discipline of receiving. [64:09]
• 5. Renew your mind; live adopted Transformation runs through thought-life rehab, not vibe shifts. Without new thinking, a child still acts like a slave, performing for approval and folding under shame. Adoption teaches belonging first, then behavior flows from family. Renewed minds learn to think like heirs, not hustlers. [70:55]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [50:00] - My joy in you, command to love
• [51:04] - No longer servants, called friends
• [51:31] - Chosen to bear lasting fruit
• [53:18] - I’m not who I used to be
• [54:31] - Four life-changing encounters outlined
• [58:01] - Filled with the Holy Spirit
• [59:26] - Status change story: stockroom access
• [63:46] - Psalm 103: don’t forget benefits
• [67:53] - Renewed joy, renewed youth
• [70:55] - Renew your mind, reject victim thinking
• [76:15] - You are not your own: belong to God
• [86:42] - Spirit of adoption: Abba Father
• [88:15] - Ask big: nations as inheritance
• [95:40] - Adopted and called friend
• [99:31] - You’ve got the keys, live with access
• [101:23] - Declarations: belong, child, friend
• [104:27] - Believing vs belonging: salvation prayer
• [107:37] - Closing worship and open altars

1. In John 15:11-15, what specific shift in relationship does Jesus emphasize (e.g., servant to ___)? How does He define the connection between His joy and costly love?
2. Psalm 103:2-5 lists benefits like forgiveness, healing, and renewal. According to the sermon, why does God command us not to forget these benefits? [01:04:09]
3. Romans 12:2 says transformation happens through a "renewed mind." What contrast does the passage make between worldly conformity and spiritual renewal?
4. The sermon compares salvation to moving from the "counter to the stockroom." What practical difference does this status change create in daily life? [59:26]

1. Why does Jesus tie His joy (John 15:11) to the command to lay down one’s life for others (v. 13)? How might joy fuel sacrificial love instead of draining us?
2. The sermon warns that "forgetfulness breeds bitterness." How might neglecting the benefits in Psalm 103 lead to victimhood or resentment?
3. Romans 12:2 urges believers to reject conformity to the world. What modern "algorithms" (cultural pressures, social media, etc.) might hinder living as God’s children? [01:12:04]
4. What does it mean practically to live as a "friend of God" (John 15:15) rather than a servant? How does proximity to Jesus change our priorities?

1. The sermon encourages daily declarations: "I belong to God. I’m a child of God. I’m a friend of God." What tangible reminder (e.g., sticky note, alarm) could you use to rehearse this truth when doubt or fear arises? [01:41:23]
2. Identify one area where you rely on "willpower" instead of the Holy Spirit (e.g., a habit, relationship, or fear). How could you intentionally surrender this to God’s power this week? [58:18]
3. When have you defaulted to a "servant mentality" (obligation, fear of failure) instead of a "friend mentality" (trust, intimacy) in your relationship with God? What step could you take to lean into friendship with Him?
4. Psalm 103 warns against spiritual amnesia. List 3 specific blessings God has given you (e.g., healing, provision, forgiveness). How might rehearsing these daily shift your perspective?
5. The sermon says, "You don’t belong to everyone else’s approval." Where do you most crave validation (work, family, social media)? How could Romans 8:15-17 free you from that pressure?
6. Jesus calls His friends to "ask big" (Psalm 2:8). What "neighborhood-sized prayer" have you been settling for? What bold, kingdom-sized request could you bring to God this week? [01:28:15]
7. The sermon warns against "stinking thinking." What lie about your identity (e.g., "I’m unworthy," "God is disappointed") do you need to replace with the truth of your status in Christ? [01:13:28]