I'm Not Who I Used To Be

Devotional

Day 1: Stockroom Access: Living From Your Heavenly Benefits Package

When Jesus changes your status, you gain privileges you never earned. Like an employee suddenly accessing tools and discounts, believers inherit healing, redemption, and mercy through Christ’s blood. Psalm 103 lists benefits including cleared records and renewed strength – not because we’re qualified, but because we’re family. This truth dismantles shame’s power. Your past doesn’t define you; your Father’s ledger does. [01:03:29]

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
(Psalm 103:2-5, ESV)

Reflection: What area of your life still feels like you’re “outside the counter” begging for scraps, rather than claiming your inheritance? How might declaring “my record’s cleared” shift your approach to that struggle today?

Day 2: Killing Stinking Thinking: Renewing Your Orphan Mindset

Old mental patterns die hard. Just as a promoted employee might still feel like an outsider, believers often default to orphan thinking – striving for approval, fearing rejection. Romans 12:2 exposes this trap: conformity to the world’s rhythms versus transformation through renewed minds. God’s truth rewires our neural pathways from “I must earn love” to “I’m fully known and fully claimed.” [01:11:20]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What specific lie about your identity (e.g., “I’m too damaged” or “God tolerates me”) keeps resurfacing? How could you weaponize Psalm 103’s benefits against it this week?

Day 3: The Rental Car Life: Why Ownership Changes Everything

How we treat rental cars versus our own vehicles reveals our stewardship. When we grasp that we’re Christ’s purchased possession (1 Corinthians 6:20), decisions shift from “What’s best for me?” to “What honors my Owner?” This truth transforms everything – from handling conflicts to spending money. You’re not managing a temporary ride; you’re maintaining eternal property. [01:16:37]

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you still driving your life like a rental – avoiding risks, protecting surfaces? What would it look like to “put miles on the odometer” for Kingdom purposes this month?

Day 4: Daddy’s Girl/Boy: Trading Servitude for Sonship

Religion trains servants; the Cross adopts children. The shift from “employee” to “heir” (Romans 8:15) means access replaces anxiety. Like a toddler interrupting the Oval Office, believers approach God with shameless dependence. This isn’t presumption – it’s the birthright of those who know their adoption papers are signed in blood. [01:26:42]

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
(Romans 8:15, ESV)

Reflection: When did you last approach God with childlike “Daddy” requests instead of polished prayers? What practical need can you bring to Him this week without self-editing?

Day 5: Oval Office Access: The Privilege of Divine Friendship

Friends don’t just follow rules – they share secrets. Jesus’ shocking upgrade from “servants” to “friends” (John 15:15) means we’re invited into God’s strategic planning room. Like FDR’s confidant shaping history, believers partner in eternal purposes. This friendship isn’t earned through performance, but received through proximity to the Cross. [01:36:17]

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
(John 15:15, ESV)

Reflection: What situation in your life needs “Oval Office insight” rather than human problem-solving? How might pausing to ask “Friend, what’s your perspective?” change your next step?

Sermon Summary

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

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 15:11-15 (ESV)
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Observation Questions

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?
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]
Romans 12:2 says transformation happens through a "renewed mind." What contrast does the passage make between worldly conformity and spiritual renewal?
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]

Interpretation Questions

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?
The sermon warns that "forgetfulness breeds bitterness." How might neglecting the benefits in Psalm 103 lead to victimhood or resentment?
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]
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?

Application Questions

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]
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]
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?
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?
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?
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]
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]

Sermon Clips

The moment I give my life to Jesus, I stop belonging to me. I was purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. The primary purpose is my life is no longer to make as much money as I can. It's not about fulfilling my personal dreams, about accumulating possessions. I no longer chase pleasure or popularity or personal success. My sole purpose is to glorify the one who purchased me, and his name is Jesus Christ. [01:16:57] (35 seconds) #PurchasedByBlood

Why do you think God's telling you not to forget his benefits? Because you have a propensity to forget all that you have in him. It's almost like God's telling you right now, stop living where you're living and start living from the benefit privilege package you have in Jesus Christ. He's reminding you what's included with your status change. Look what it goes on to say in verse two, for not forget not your benefits, who forgives all of your iniquities. The blood of Jesus had paid the price for all your sins. They're erased. They're expunged. They're removed. They're not on your record anymore. Tell your neighbor, I got no record anymore. [01:04:13] (48 seconds) #RememberGodsBenefits

See, there's so many people get saved and keep living like slaves, spend their whole lives terrified of disappointing God, of making mistakes, worry that God is constantly angry with them. And Paul says, that's not the spirit God gave you. He didn't adopt you so you would live in fear, but he would adopted you so you'd be in relationship with God. He said that spirit of bondage again, but you receive the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, father. Come on. Say Abba with me. Daddy. [01:26:30] (37 seconds) #SpiritOfAdoption

See, a disciple is more than somebody who believes in Jesus, and I believe most believers get stuck here where we never really become followers of Jesus. There are people who who know and who who want Jesus to be their savior, but you he's not the lord of your life. Yet there's forgiveness, but you've not really surrendered your life. They want to go to heaven, but they're going there without being a disciple of Jesus. And and many Christians have treated Christianity like their fire insurance. They say, I'm not gonna go to hell. I'm not gonna burn for all eternity. So I believe in Jesus. Jesus, it is, But that doesn't mean you've made the decision to follow him. [00:56:48] (49 seconds) #RealDiscipleship

But salvation is the starting point. Tell your neighbor, starting point. Yet many believers, many Christians treat salvation like the finish line. Now don't get me wrong. Salvation is an amazing miracle. We become a new creation in Jesus. Old things are passed away. Behold, everything becomes new. But there are other moments where God is pushing you to to deepen your walk in him and transform your everyday life. But some of us, a lot of Christians have not matured beyond salvation. You've not experienced everything God has for you. [00:54:40] (42 seconds) #SalvationIsStart

there's this third total life changing encounter. It's being filled with the holy spirit. And let me tell you, there's nothing more frustrated or frustrating than a believer trying to live their life for Jesus without the holy spirit. Trying harder, making promises to God that we can't keep. God, I'm I'm never gonna take a hit again. Lord, I'm not gonna look at that stuff on online again. Lord, I'm not gonna do this again. God, I'm gonna pray again every day, and yet we fail and we fail and we fail. We're trying in our own willpower. You were never designed to do it on your own. [00:58:04] (41 seconds) #FilledWithHolySpirit

Church, that's what happens when we receive Jesus as our lord and savior. See, when I got that status change, I went to bed as Javier. I woke up and felt like Javier, but my status had changed. You may still look the same. You may still have the same struggles, same challenges. But the moment you give your life to Jesus, your status changes. You're no longer separated from God. You are now a son or daughter of the king of kings and the lord of lords. You've been adopted into the family of god. You are not who you used to be. [01:02:34] (38 seconds) #StatusChangedInChrist

So therefore, my status had changed. Likewise, when we surrender our lives to Jesus, my salvation is secure in Jesus. My sins were forgiven because of Jesus. And because of that, my status changed. And unlike Lars Renthal that went bankrupt, God never goes bankrupt. God didn't give me a shirt like a a shirt. He Bible says, he's clothed me in righteousness. I got priestly robes on. Come on. You be I got a mark on me that says, this is who I am. It is solid gold, 24 carat. None of your 10 carat silver plated junk. I am a new creation in Jesus Christ. [01:13:47] (45 seconds) #ClothedInRighteousness

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I'm Not Who I Used To Be

Devotional

Day 1: Stockroom Access: Living From Your Heavenly Benefits Package

Day 2: Killing Stinking Thinking: Renewing Your Orphan Mindset

Day 3: The Rental Car Life: Why Ownership Changes Everything

Day 4: Daddy’s Girl/Boy: Trading Servitude for Sonship

Day 5: Oval Office Access: The Privilege of Divine Friendship

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

I'm Not Who I Used To Be

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