Jeremiah 18:1-4.
By Aspen Grove Community Church.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Think back to this morning, before you even opened your eyes. God was already thinking about you. Before your feet touched the floor, before you checked your phone, before you spoke a single word, God, maker of heaven and earth, blessed you: Saying, “You are mine.”
You didn’t earn that breath in your lungs; it was given. You didn’t force your heart to beat through the night; it kept going because God sustained it. You didn’t fight your way into this moment; you were carried into it.
And whether you felt strong or exhausted when you woke up, whether you felt hopeful or numb, whether you felt close to God or a million miles away, you woke up as someone deeply loved, intentionally created, and fiercely pursued by God.
You’re here today not by accident. Something in you, maybe faith, maybe curiosity, maybe desperation, brought you here. Something in you believes that God has more for you than the life you’ve settled for. And you’re right. Because God doesn't have A wonderful plan for your life, He has THE wonderful plan for your life. He has given you THE identity for your life.
Not the identity the world gave you.
Not the identity even your parents gave you.
Not the identity your mistakes tried to tattoo on your soul. But the identity He declared over you before you were born.
Today, we’re going to peel back the layers, the labels, the wounds, the expectations, and look at who God says you truly are. Because when you know your identity, you stop living like a survivor and start living like a son. You stop living like a mistake and start living like a masterpiece. You stop living like you’re trying to earn God’s love and start living from the love you already have.
So let’s breathe in, slow down, and let God remind you, who you really are.
Focus on this verse, because this is something so important that it will change your life.
Jeremiah 18:1-4 NLT — The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over.
Let me ask you today, “Who are you in Christ?” We are going to open the Book of Truth and see 10 Identity Statements that you will want to declare, live, and breathe.
(2Co 5:17 ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
When you came to Christ, God didn’t just clean you up, He made you new. You are not a repaired version of your old self; you are a new creation altogether. Your old identity, old sins, old labels, old failures, and old patterns have passed away. They no longer define you, limit you, or speak for you. A new life has begun, one shaped by Christ’s righteousness, not your past.
You are living in a new reality, a new identity, and a new nature. The “New” isn’t temporary; it is permanent, God-given, and Spirit-empowered. Today, I want you to make Identity Statements, declarations of who you truly are in Christ.
Too often we speak the wrong things over ourselves. We say, “I am not well… I’m addicted … I’m not good at.” Those are not identity statements, so don’t declare them as such. These statements are at best temporary feelings and worst Demonic Lies. Without a doubt they are not eternal truths. You may feel unwell, but that is not who you are. You may feel inadequate, but that is not your identity. Feelings come and go, but identity is rooted in Christ.
Never allow yourself, other people, or the enemy to define who you are. Only God gets that authority.
So today, I want you to declare the real identity statements, the ones God has already declared over you. Let them rise up in your heart. Let them shape your thinking. Let them rewrite the labels you’ve carried for too long. You may say them quietly in your heart. You can say them out loud or shout them with everything inside you. Just make them yours. Because, Your past no longer defines you; Christ does.
Say this Identity Statement, “I am a New Creation in Christ Jesus!”
(Joh 1:12 KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Remember the Power; God gave Samson the strength to tear a lion apart with his bare hands, the power to strike down a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey, and the power to bring an entire building crashing to the ground. His physical power was legendary, a force no enemy could withstand.
But as incredible as Samson’s power was, God has given you power even greater. He has given you the power to become a child of God, a power not measured in muscle, but a power in identity. This is the power that changes your destiny, your purpose, and your place in His kingdom. A power that no enemy can steal and no circumstance can undo. Your identity is rooted in belonging to God’s family.
Declare this Identity Statement, “I am a child of God!”
(1Pe 2:9 ESV) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
I want to take a moment to expand on what it means to be holy. In the Old Testament, everything was divided into two categories: common and holy, ordinary things and set-apart things. Holy doesn't mean “morally perfect.” It meant special, distinct, reserved, and purposed for God. Common things were used for everyday life. Holy things were set aside for something greater.
And guess what, you are not common. You are not ordinary. You are not just another face in the crowd. You are Extraordinary. God has chosen you, set you apart, and marked you with purpose. You carry dignity, value, and identity that comes straight from Him.
You are chosen. You are royal. You are extraordinary.
You are set apart, not by accident, but by divine intention. You walk with purpose, you carry spiritual dignity, and your life has meaning that God has given you.
Proclaim these Identity Statements, “I am Chosen, I am Royalty, I am Extraordinary!”
(Eph 1:7 KJV) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
This is the moment where your entire identity changed. Colossians 1:13 says that God, “delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” That word transferred means to be moved from one place to another, permanently, legally, and officially.
When you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, God didn’t just forgive you. He changed the address on your ID. Think of it like moving from one state to another. When you relocate, the new state issues you a new ID. A new identity tied to a new home. I used to be an Ohioan. Now I’m Kentuckian. My location changed, so my identification changed. In the same way, your spiritual address changed the moment you trusted Christ.
You were once a citizen of this world, under darkness, guilt, shame, and spiritual bondage. But God translated you into a new kingdom, a new family, and a new identity. Your new ID Card in Jesus Christ declares: Citizen of Heaven. Shame no longer has authority over you. Guilt no longer defines you. Darkness no longer owns you. Your identity has been rewritten by God Himself, and nothing can reverse it.
Exclaim this Identity Statement, “I am Forgiven!”
(Rom 8:1 KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
You are no longer living under the shadow of judgment. God is not holding your past over your head. He is not waiting for you to fail so He can punish you. You stand in the safety of His grace, covered by the righteousness of Christ. Your identity is not “condemned,” “guilty,” or “unworthy.” Your identity is secure, because Christ has already taken your condemnation for you. God is not waiting to punish you; you stand in grace.
State this Identity Statement, “I am Secure!”
(Eph 2:10 KJV) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
You are not an accident, an afterthought, or a random collection of experiences. You are God’s workmanship. His intentional design. His crafted masterpiece. Every gift in you, every strength in you, and every spark of purpose in you was placed there on purpose. You were created in Christ Jesus with divine intention, not human guesswork.
Before you ever took your first breath, God had already prepared good works for you to walk in. Your life is not aimless, it is assigned. Your calling is not fragile, it is ordained. You were intentionally crafted with gifts and purpose.
Announce this Identity Statement, “I am Empowered!”
(Rom 12:2 KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
You are not stuck, static, or finished. God is actively reshaping you from the inside out. The world tries to press you into its mold, to make you think, act, and live according to its patterns, but you are no longer bound to that system. Your mind is being renewed by the Spirit of God, and that renewal is producing real transformation. You are learning to see as God sees, think as God thinks, and desire what God desires. This transformation is not instant, but it is continual, intentional, and Spirit‑driven. Your identity is continually shaped by God’s truth.
Affirm this Identity Statement, “I am Being Transformed!”
(1Co 12:27 KJV) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
You are not isolated, forgotten, or spiritually homeless. You are a member of something living, holy, and eternal; the Body of Christ. You belong to a community that stretches across nations, generations, and cultures.
You are not just “one of many;” you are a particular member, uniquely placed, intentionally designed, and spiritually significant. Your presence matters. Your gifts matter. Your role matters. God has woven you into His people with purpose and precision. You are not alone; you belong to a spiritual community.
Recite this Identity Statement, “I am Part of the Body of Christ!”
(Gal 5:1 KJV) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Christ didn’t partially free you, He completely freed you. You are no longer chained to the sins, fears, habits, or lies that once held you captive. The freedom you walk in is not self-made; it is Christ-made. It is a liberty purchased by His blood and secured by His victory. You don’t have to return to old patterns, old prisons, or old identities.
The “yoke of bondage” is no longer yours to carry, Christ broke it.
Your new life is marked by spiritual freedom. You are no longer bound by sin, fear, or legalism.
Profess this Identity Statement, “I am Free!”
(Rom 8:38-39 KJV) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s love for you is not fragile, conditional, or uncertain. It is unbreakable, unshakeable, and unstoppable. Paul lists every realm of existence, life, death, spiritual forces, time, space, and creation itself and declares that none of it has the power to pull you away from God’s love.
This means your failures can’t separate you. Your fears can’t separate you. Your past can’t separate you. Your circumstances can’t separate you. Nothing in the universe has the authority to undo what Christ has done for you. You are held by a love that is eternal, relentless, and fiercely protective. God’s love for you is unbreakable.
Shout this Identity Statement, “I am Loved!”
Who You Are in Christ? Repeat each and every one of these statements:
As we close, I want you to hear this, not with your ears, but with your heart: You are not who the world said you were. You are not who your past said you were. You are not who your failures said you were.
You are who God says you are.
And God says: You are new! You are loved! You are Extraordinary!
Your identity is not fragile. It’s not temporary. It’s not up for negotiation. It is anchored in Christ and Christ does not move.
So when you leave here today, you’re not walking out as the same person who walked in. You’re walking out as someone who carries an Identity that is firmly rooted and grounded in who you are in Christ Jesus.
(1Jn 3:1 KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.