Living Intentionally: Embracing a Clockwise Spiritual Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Purposeful Progress

Living intentionally aligns our daily actions with God's will, fostering spiritual growth and purpose. Just as a clock moves steadily forward, we are called to progress in our faith journey, making deliberate choices that reflect our commitment to God. This approach helps us avoid the pitfalls of complacency and stagnation, ensuring that our time is used wisely for God's glory. By focusing on forward movement, we cultivate a life that is not only fulfilling but also pleasing to God, making the most of every opportunity He provides. [45:57]

Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you can start making more intentional choices to align with God's will?

Day 2: Guard Against Spiritual Drift

The subtle shift away from God's path often begins when we lose focus on His truths. It's crucial to maintain a strong connection with God through prayer and scripture, which serve as our spiritual compass. This connection helps us stay aligned with God's word and guides us back when we start to veer off the path. By recognizing the signs of spiritual drift, we can take corrective action early, ensuring that our journey with God remains steadfast and true. [59:34]

Hebrews 2:1 (ESV): "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it."

Reflection: Identify a recent instance where you felt distracted from your spiritual goals. What steps can you take to realign with God's path?

Day 3: Overcome the Enemy's Deceptions

Understanding and identifying the tactics of the enemy, such as guilt and distractions, are essential for maintaining a forward-moving, spiritual life. By equipping ourselves with the truth of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can resist these attacks and continue progressing in our faith. Recognizing these tactics allows us to stand firm in our beliefs and not be swayed by the enemy's attempts to derail our spiritual journey. [01:09:23]

2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV): "So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs."

Reflection: What are some tactics the enemy has used to distract you from your spiritual growth, and how can you actively guard against them?

Day 4: Act on the Holy Spirit's Promptings

Immediate obedience to the Holy Spirit's guidance is crucial for living a life that reflects God's purpose. This often requires stepping out in faith, even when it's inconvenient or challenging. Trusting that God's plans are for our ultimate good allows us to move beyond our comfort zones and into a deeper relationship with Him. By responding promptly to the Holy Spirit, we demonstrate our trust and commitment to following God's lead. [01:12:10]

Galatians 5:25 (ESV): "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."

Reflection: Can you recall a time when you hesitated to follow the Holy Spirit's prompt? What can you do to ensure a more immediate response in the future?

Day 5: Commit Fully to Christ's Path

A genuine commitment to Christ involves more than just belief; it requires an active surrender of one's life to His guidance and direction. This commitment lays the foundation for a life filled with purpose, direction, and fulfillment according to God's eternal plan. By fully committing to Christ, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His love and grace, leading to a life that is rich in spiritual rewards. [01:15:15]

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"

Reflection: What does taking up your cross daily to follow Jesus look like in your practical day-to-day life?

Sermon Summary

Today, I began by emphasizing the importance of living a calculated, clockwise life, drawing an analogy with the mechanics of a clock which moves consistently forward. This concept is rooted in the biblical perspective of living intentionally and wisely, as outlined in Ephesians 5:15-17. I stressed the necessity of being aware of our actions and the impact they have on those around us, especially as believers watched by others.

I highlighted the dangers of drifting away from God's path due to distractions and a lack of focus. The metaphor of a clock moving clockwise, representing progress and forward movement, contrasts sharply with a counterclockwise motion, which symbolizes regression and distraction. This led to a discussion on the importance of making the most of every opportunity God gives us, not just for our benefit but for the kingdom's sake.

I shared personal anecdotes and biblical insights to illustrate how easily we can become entangled in selfish desires or distracted by the enemy's tactics. The enemy's strategy, as I pointed out, involves guilt, distractions, and excuses which can lead us off course. I encouraged the congregation to resist these attacks by focusing on God's truth and the Holy Spirit's guidance.

The sermon moved into practical applications of these concepts, urging everyone to take action when prompted by the Holy Spirit, without making excuses or delaying. I emphasized the importance of obedience to God's word, as stated in James 1:22, which instructs us not only to listen to the word but to do what it says.

In conclusion, I called for personal reflection and commitment. I invited those who felt they had drifted or never fully committed their lives to Christ to make a decision today. This commitment was not just about avoiding eternal separation from God but about living a life full of purpose and direction here on earth.

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Key Takeaways

1. moving, clockwise life. By recognizing these tactics, we can equip ourselves with the truth of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome and continue progressing. [01:09:23]
4. The Importance of Obedience to the Holy Spirit
Immediate obedience to the Holy Spirit's guidance is crucial for living a life that truly reflects God's purpose. This obedience often requires us to step out in faith, even when it's inconvenient or challenging, trusting that God's plans are for our ultimate good and His glory.

5. Commitment to Christ
A genuine commitment to Christ involves more than just belief; it requires an active surrender of one's life, allowing God to lead and direct our paths. This commitment is the foundation for a life filled with purpose, direction, and fulfillment in God's eternal plan.

### [69:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:03] - Introduction to Clockwise Living
[45:57] - Reading Ephesians 5:15-17
[50:15] - Knowledge vs. Wisdom
[54:59] - Making the Most of Every Opportunity
[59:34] - Warning Against Drifting
[64:33] - Growing More Like Christ
[69:23] - Resisting the Enemy
[72:10] - Importance of Obedience
[75:15] - Call for Commitment

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Ephesians 5:15-17 instruct us to be careful about in our daily lives?
According to the sermon, what does living a "calculated, clockwise life" mean? [44:19]
What are some of the enemy's tactics mentioned in the sermon that can lead us off course? [01:09:23]
How does the sermon describe the difference between knowledge and wisdom? [50:15]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to live intentionally and wisely, as described in Ephesians 5:15-17? How does this align with the concept of a "clockwise life"? [45:57]
How can distractions and a lack of focus cause us to drift away from God's path? What are some examples given in the sermon? [59:34]
What does immediate obedience to the Holy Spirit look like in practical terms, according to the sermon? [01:12:10]
How does the sermon suggest we can resist the enemy's tactics of guilt, distractions, and excuses? [01:09:23]

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily routine. Are there areas where you feel you are not living intentionally or wisely? What changes can you make to align more closely with the concept of a "clockwise life"? [44:19]
Have you experienced drifting away from God's path due to distractions or a lack of focus? What steps can you take to stay aligned with God's word and maintain a strong connection through prayer and scripture? [59:34]
Think about a recent situation where you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. Did you act immediately, or did you hesitate? How can you improve your obedience to the Holy Spirit's guidance in the future? [01:12:10]
Identify a tactic of the enemy (guilt, distraction, or excuses) that you struggle with the most. What specific actions can you take to overcome this tactic using the truth of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit? [01:09:23]
The sermon calls for personal reflection and commitment to Christ. Have you fully committed your life to Christ, or are there areas where you are holding back? What steps can you take to surrender those areas to God? [01:15:15]
How can you make the most of every opportunity God gives you, not just for your benefit but for the kingdom's sake? Think of a specific opportunity you have right now and how you can act on it. [53:08]
Consider someone in your life who may be watching your actions as a believer. How can you be more intentional in your behavior to reflect Christ's love and truth to them? [48:46]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "A wise person does now what they're gonna be pleased with, and they're gonna be pleased with later. I don't always want to do the right thing, but I gotta think about the now and the future. I gotta think about how is this gonna affect my life? How's it gonna affect my family?" [52:31]( | | )

2. "We all have the same amount of time. We all have 24 hours. We all have 1,440 minutes a day. And of all the resources that God gives us, that is the best and the most, the greatest of them all, time. We can't manipulate it. We can't bring it back. Once we use it, it's spent." [53:52]( | | )

3. "If you're a believer, your life can speak volumes to somebody. You know, you're in the grocery store and you see somebody having a hard time and they're pulling things back because they don't have enough money and they got the credits and all that and they're like, oh my gosh, you can't. And you hear the Holy Spirit say, you need to go pay for their stuff." [57:55]( | | )

4. "How are you taking and making the most out of every opportunity? God wants our whole life. Sometimes people are like, yeah, I'll give you, God, I'll give you about 75, 90%. You know, that's a good amount. He's like, no, I want it all. I don't even want 99.9%. I want 100% of your life." [55:26]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "We can't live a calculated clockwise life if we're gonna go through each day not paying attention to what's going on, to what's happening around us, to the people that God has put in our life. Are we aware of what's happening around us?" [56:59]( | | )

2. "A thoughtless life is careless. It's distracted. It's just random living. It's counterclockwise. It's going the wrong way. Counterclockwise. But a thoughtful life is careful. It's accurate. It's attentive. And it's intentional. Clockwise. Moving forward." [59:06]( | | )

3. "James 1.22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. When you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you, be obedient. I've said this before. I don't think that people have a hard time hearing the Holy Spirit. I think we have a hard time obeying the Holy Spirit." [01:12:10]( | | )

4. "If we're not paying attention to what God wants us to do, we're gonna drift away from the truth of the scripture. And that's pretty easy to do. That careless living. So, Hebrews 2 and 1 says, so we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard or we may drift from it." [59:34]( | | )

5. "The enemy's counterclockwise attack. You're trying to live your life clockwise. You're moving forward. And then all of a sudden, something happens and he throws some guilt on you. Guilt, guilt, guilt, guilt. Why is he doing that? Because he's trying to keep you off track." [01:07:50]( | | )

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Transcript

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