THAT'S NOT WHO YOU ARE | Paul Daugherty | Jacob Series Pt. 4

Date: March 1, 2026
Podcast: Victory Church

Episode Overview

In this fourth installment of the Jacob series, Pastor Paul Daugherty delivers a passionate message titled, "That's Not Who You Are." Drawing from Genesis 35, Paul explores the transformative journey of Jacob—specifically, how God repeatedly calls Jacob back to renewal, change, and a new identity. The message unfolds as both an encouragement and a challenge to the congregation to reject negative labels, to embrace God’s naming power over their lives, and to step into a hope-filled, faith-driven future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Returning to the Altar—A Place of Healing and Transformation

[00:10–02:58]

• God calls Jacob to go back to Bethel, the place of his first encounter with God—the "altar."
• The altar is more than ritual; it is a space of transformation, healing, and meeting God afresh.
• Paul urges:

  "We should never get tired of altars... this is the place where God does his deepest work." (02:00)

2. Preparing for Transformation—Shedding the Old

[03:26–04:47]

• Jacob instructs his family to "get rid of the idols," not as a prerequisite for God’s acceptance, but as a preparation for change.
• “Come as you are, but don’t stay as you are. God wants to change us.” (04:29)
• Paul emphasizes honesty about brokenness and the church as a place for real change:

  “Come if you’ve been cutting... drinking all night... looking at porn... dealing with addiction... but don’t stay in that. This is the place where it changes.” (04:34–04:47)

3. Breaking Attachments to Past Idols & Labels

[05:02–09:15]

• Story of Rachel hiding her father’s household idols: a metaphor for holding onto old attachments (Genesis 31).
• The danger of unknowingly placing curses by our words:

  “Friends, we got to be careful what we say when we’re feeling stressed, afraid, anxious, worried.” (06:43)

• Letting go of both negative and nostalgic attachments:

  “You can’t carry the corpse of stuff if God’s going to do something fresh in 2026.” (09:04)

4. Divine Protection and the Power of God-Guided Steps

[09:18–10:58]

• After burying idols, God sends supernatural protection over Jacob’s family.
• Paul recounts family stories of stepping into danger at God’s instruction, echoing:

  “The safest place to be is in the will of God. Where He directs, He protects.” (10:35)

5. The Power of Names—God is a Name-Changer

[11:39–13:26]

• God once again calls Jacob by a new name, Israel, despite previous doubts, failures, or setbacks.

• “God is the greatest name changer... He’s not just a game changer, He’s a name changer.” (12:00)

• Sometimes, God needs to remind us repeatedly of our new identity, because transformation is a process.

6. Each Generation Needs a Fresh Encounter with God

[14:23–15:22]

• God as "El Shaddai"—the God who protects, provides, is with us personally, not just as past generations’ God.

• “Don’t ride on the coattails of your parent’s relationship with God... He’s your God. He’s my God. He’s with me in 2026. He’s El Shaddai.” (15:02–15:22)

7. Changing Negative Labels—The Story of Benoni to Benjamin

[16:01–25:13]

• Rachel, in her dying moments, names her son "Benoni" (son of my sorrow).
• Jacob intervenes, naming him “Benjamin” (son of my right hand, favor, strength).
• Dramatic on-stage illustration: removing the “Benoni” label and replacing with “Benjamin.”

• “That’s not who you are. I call you Benjamin now… Blessed son, hope-filled son, chosen son, loved son.” (24:54)

• The principle:

  “You are not who people say you are, but you are who you answer to.” (25:13)

• “You can choose your own adventure, you can choose your own outcome. Just because you’ve been labeled one thing... you can choose to reframe and rename this season.” (30:25)

8. Your Naming Can Shape the Future

[29:13–33:19]

• Jacob’s act of renaming shapes not only his son’s destiny, but also the legacy of an entire tribe—Benjamin.
• Benjamin’s descendants include warriors (Ehud), prophets, Mordecai (from Esther), and even Apostle Paul.
• “What will you call this season? Will you call it Benoni or will you call it Benjamin?” (29:13)

9. Reframing Loss—The Power to Rename Your Season

[33:19–36:10]

• Jacob refuses to let the loss of Rachel define the future; instead, he names the future by faith.
• Paul parallels this to personal and communal hardships—encouraging listeners not to let a burial (loss, disappointment) define their future, but to expect new birth/favor.

10. Scriptural and Personal Applications

[36:27–51:31]

• Examination of Jeremiah 31 and its promise of hope after loss.
• Romans 8: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Read verbatim 48:04–50:48)
• Testimony about Paul’s father’s death—not letting loss define the church’s destiny.
• Call to respond: Lift your hand if you want to rename your season and reject past labels (41:00–43:30)
• Worship and prayer: Identity declarations (“I am who you say I am.” 43:46–47:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Identity:

  "You are who you answer to. So stop answering to labels that were put on you by people who cursed themselves." (27:02)

• On Faith Naming the Future:

  “Refuse to label a blessing as a burden.” (29:13)

• On Reframing Loss:

  “Don’t let who you buried steal your vision for what God is birthing in your future.” (48:04)

• On Generational Favor:

  “There is power in a name… There’s favor that my kids will walk in because of the obedience of parents and grandparents.” (22:34–23:18)

• On the Process of Change:

  “You’re saved when you put your faith in Jesus Christ, but you’re being saved the rest of your life. If there’s breath in your lungs, God’s not done working on you.” (13:26)

Key Timestamps

• 00:10: Opening, Genesis 35, “That’s Not Who You Are”
• 02:00: The altar as a place of healing/transformation
• 04:29: “Come as you are, but don’t stay as you are.”
• 06:43: Dangers of cursing through words spoken in frustration
• 09:04: Letting go of old attachments for new beginnings
• 12:00: God as a name changer—Jacob to Israel
• 15:22: God is El Shaddai in every generation
• 24:54: Illustration—removing “Benoni”/putting on “Benjamin”
• 25:13: “You are not who people say you are, but you are who you answer to.”
• 29:13: Will you call it Benoni (sorrow) or Benjamin (favor)?
• 33:19–36:10: Renaming loss—Birthplace of Benjamin, not the death of Rachel
• 41:00: Response time—reframing your season
• 43:46: “I am who you say I am” worship & declarations
• 48:04: Don’t let loss frame your future; Paul quotes Romans 8
• 51:31: Closing declarations and prayer

Tone & Language

Paul’s language is direct, passionate, and filled with hope and challenge. He weaves biblical narrative, personal stories, humor, contemporary references (AI, doomsday worries), and heartfelt appeals. The message is uplifting, affirming, but also calls for honest personal response and surrender.

Summary Conclusion

This episode is a bold encouragement to reject negative or limiting labels—whether assigned by others, by family history, or by circumstances—and to instead embrace the new identity and promise that God offers. Using Jacob’s story and the critical moment of renaming Benoni to Benjamin, Paul shows how faith, the power of naming, and the willingness to let go of the past are essential keys to stepping into a God-ordained, hope-filled future. The call is clear: “That’s not who you are. You are who God says you are.”