Scripture:
“It is a trustworthy statement: if anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a good work.” — 1 Timothy 3:1

Observation:
In this verse Paul continues to give Timothy instructions on leading and managing the church body. He declares an overseers’ task to be noble and then goes on to list the qualifications one must have to be an overseer.

Application:
An overseer is known as an elder here at Pinelake. Our church is blessed with a small group of elders who meet this long list of qualifications. Their “work” often goes unnoticed as they are not normally in the spotlight but serving humbly. Only by the work of the Holy Spirit can one be an elder/overseer because the criteria is such that we cannot satisfy without the Spirit’s work within us.

Prayer:
Thank you for blessing us with a group of elders that love You and Your name more than themselves or the name of Pinelake. I pray You continue to lead them and guide them as they seek Your direction for the life of Your church here at Pinelake. Refresh their spirits and bless them and their families as they continue to seek Your heart.

— Jason Elam, worship pastor, Clinton campus

Scripture:
“Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.’ … She came and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.’” — II Kings 4:1-7 

Observation:
The whole Bible is full of God being the One who provides — when there is no possible way, he makes a way. Here is the story of God providing for a widow so that she doesn’t have to give up her sons to her creditor. Elijah tells her to gather up all the empty vessels from all her neighbors and use the jar of oil she has to fill them up. The oil keeps coming and coming until she fills up the last vessel. Even though there are hundreds of these stories throughout the bible and still more since then, it continues to serve as a reminder that God is more than able to provide, even if and often times, especially, when I don’t see a way — leaving me the only option of leaning on him and giving him all the glory knowing he will meet the need. 

Application:
One would think that with hundreds and thousands of testimonies of how God provided in the lives of others and even myself, I wouldn’t panic when a situation arose where I needed his provision. Why is my faith so little? And my memory so short-term? He’s always met my needs. Always. Always. Always.  

Prayer:
Father God, you are the Great Provider. You are more than capable of providing a way and making it so obvious that it came from you so that it leaves no doubt that you are the only one worthy of receiving the praise and glory. Help me to be quick to remember your faithfulness and to truly trust in you when you assure me that you’ve got me covered. You always provide for your people, when they come to you. Thank you for being a great Father.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus

Scripture:
“And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” — II Kings 2:11 

Observation:
Taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, now that’s an exit! What a way to go out. We don’t get much info on Elijah but it’s clear he was a specially anointed man of God. So much so that he even comes back with Moses and speaks with Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration. Jesus even links him to John the Baptist as he, Peter, James and John are coming down the mountain.  

Application:
So who was Elijah? A prophet of God? Precursor to Jesus? Encourager to Jesus on the mountain? I think there is a certain mystery surrounding Elijah somewhat like Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Abram meets him on his way back from war and Melchizedek blesses Abram and Abram gives him 10% of the spoils of war. It these mysteries that remind me God is up to way more than I know or can see. God even declares through Isaiah in chapter 55 that His was and thoughts are higher than mine. It’s comforting to know I serve a God like that. A God that is so complex it’s not even possible for me to understand His intricacies. 

Prayer:
Father God, the heavens can’t contain you and words cannot describe you or express your greatness. Who am I to even know you as Father and receive mercy and love from you, Creator of all things?  Praise you God. May all heaven and earth praise you.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus

Scripture:
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in the will of God.” — Colossians 4:12 

Observation:
I’ve learned a lot about prayer this week through Paul’s letter to the Colossians. In chapter one it was Paul’s passionate, worthy prayers and here it is Epaphras who struggled through prayer on behalf of his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul even says in chpater 13 that Epaphras worked hard for the Colossians through prayer. He prayed for their spiritual well being – that they would stand mature and complete in the will of God.  

Application:
Those are powerful prayers. Prayers that I want to start praying for people and would like for others to pray that way on my behalf too. Prayers that have eternal weight and a heavenly perspective. 

Prayer:
Father, you’ve burdened my heart this week to become a passionate prayer who goes to battle against the enemy and struggles on behalf of others. Teach me how to apply this and obediently pray kingdom worthy prayers.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus

Scripture:
“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” — Colossians 3:3

Observation:
What does it mean to be dead? I mean dead people don’t have any rights or entitlements, do they? Don’t they give those up upon death? They can try to plan ahead before they die with things like their funeral, burial, what to do with what’s left behind; but upon death it’s out of their hands.  

Application:
And so here Paul tells us that we have died and our life is hidden with Christ. So if our new life is with Christ, shouldn’t our every deed, thought and word be yielded completely to him? If we are truly dead, then we can do nothing without his allowance. That’s a sobering thought, because I do a lot of things without even considering Christ much less recognizing that my life is hidden with him. Meaning he is with me at all times, allowing me to say, think or do. But I don’t think I’m supposed to view him as a watchdog standing over my life saying, “yes or no.” I’m the one, after all, who chose to hand over my life to him. I’m the one who said my life isn’t worth living so I chose to die so that He can live in me and I with Him.  

Prayer:
So…I know you are alive in my God, but am I allowing you to truly live in me? Or am I still trying to raise my dead self back to life? Thank you for the reminder that I’m dead. I chose to die and give my life to you so that it could be used by you. So (v. 17) in whatever I do, in word or deed, help me to do it all in Jesus’ name, giving you thanks. 

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus 

Scripture:
“Now Elijah, the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.’” — I Kings 17:1

Observation:
Elijah pops on the scene and in his first act he goes up against King Ahab and tells him the Lord is sending a drought that will last until I say otherwise. James 5:17 says that Elijah actually prayed fervently for no rain and it didn’t rain. I see other accounts of men of God speaking out against leadership of that day and putting their lives on the line because of it. Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and obviously Jesus are just a few examples.

I Peter 2 speaks to submitting to authority and how, “for the Lord’s sake be subject to every human institution.” Peter goes on to say in v. 18, “Servants be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.” So what are we to do – submit to authority, regardless of good or evil; or take a stand like the men above? 

Application:
The men above took a stand when the authority abandoned God and his laws. They stood with the confidence of God and boldly proclaimed his holiness. Elijah even got in the face of King Ahab and accused him of being the troubler of Israel because he abandoned the commandments. He goes as far as to put his God (Yahweh) up against King Ahab’s (Baal). 

Stories like this cause me to question my boldness and confidence in God. Elijah knew the same God I do and had faith in him to stop the rain and send fire. He was even willing to risk his life to promote God’s holiness. Am I willing to put God’s holiness ahead of my own life? I’ve seen his holiness through creation, miracles, birth, changed lives, Jesus; but am I willing to promote it above all that, above everything.

Prayer:
God help my life to be about pointing to, promoting and praising your holiness.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus

 Scripture:
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” — Colossians 1:9-10

Observation:I love Paul’s prayer on behalf of the Colossians. When I intercede on behalf of others, I usually pray for specific things such as healing, job employment or other struggles.  Not bad things by any stretch, but more along the lines of asking for problems to be resolved; and when they are, my prayers for the person and issue cease. 

Application:
Paul is giving a great example of how to pray for fellow believers.

1. He has a burden and passion to pray for them. It doesn’t seem to be a duty to lift them up but a joy and honor to join with them in praising God through prayer.
2. He prays for spiritual wisdom and knowledge – the one thing that Solomon asked for that pleased God. Paul could’ve prayed for several things on their behalf but he included this prayer in his letter to encourage them and to remind them that they need wisdom and understanding so that…
3. Their walk will please God and bear fruit. In other words, use the good things of God to build up his kingdom.

He has, after all (v. 13 &14), delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins. 

Prayer:
May I pray more worthy prayers from my fellow believers.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus

Scripture:
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:11-13 

Observation:
I quote and hear quoted Philippians 4:13 on a fairly regular basis, often times claiming it as a reminder that with Christ, I can make it through anything. I certainly agree with, and attest to that, but what trips me up is that Paul is saying this immediately after, and in reference to verses 11 & 12. He’s been through it all, the good, the bad, and even the ugly and he’s learned contentment in every situation. Full or hungry, abundance or in need – his satisfaction was not in the things he did or did not have, even when they were “necessities.” It was completely in Christ. 

Application:
I’m a pretty content person, but I’ve never faced true hunger or real poverty. How would facing those affect my level of contentment? Would my satisfaction in Christ change if my needs weren’t being met? If I was in a refugee camp in Africa or on the streets in Jackson would that change things?

Prayer:
Father God, may my contentment be in you and not in the things you can provide. I want to desire you above everything. I don’t want my relationship to hinge on how well I think you provide for me. May my love for you be unconditional of my situation, like your love for me is unconditional of my ability or willingness to reciprocate. May I be content in all situations and satisfied solely in you.

— Jared Yates, college & single adult pastor, Reservoir campus

Scripture:
"I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3

Observation:
All thunderstorms require instability (potential) and lift. The lift is the mechanism that releases the instability. We say that the atmosphere is unstable when air rising in a cloud is warmer than its environment. As the warm air rises it presses the cooler air down creating vertical drafts. The vertical draft strengths basically determine the degree of storm severity.

Application:
That is the essence of what I observe in this passage. The work of God does not stop at salvation. Salvation only creates the beginnings of vertical movements in my life. My response to those movements determines the degree to which my life will be transformed. As I allow the things of God to rise to prominence in my life and the things of me to be pressed down into nothing; I allow God to create vertical drafts which will release the strength of God in my life.

I have to stay in tune with the updrafts God places on my heart. This morning I am sensing three. The first one is the work of grace in my life. I am not able to be holy on my own. I have to release that sense inside of me that God owes me something because of anything good I have done. I deserve nothing short of death and that is all. It is only by God’s grace that I matter to Him at all. The work of the cross is my only hope.

The second is I must strive to press on. Since I am covered by grace it is often tempting to rest, take it easy on myself, and be patient with change. That is not the instruction of the scripture. Paul says to press on. I need to get off my rear-end and drive hard after God in every aspect of my life. I need to seek purity. I need to thirst for knowledge. I need to hunger for His movement.

The third is to allow God to become real. Staying in a constant, real connection with God is not an easy thing. The complicating factor is the fact that God messes up my life. He alters my plans, shifts my goals, changes my ambitions and creates a new reality for me. This type of change is extremely uncomfortable, but they are my call. The more tangible God becomes to me the easier it is to accept the changes.

Prayer:
It is hard to pray what is on my heart this morning. I’m scared. I sense a desire for You to create a God storm in my life. I want my relationship with You to be more than something I did when I prayed a prayer of salvation. I want my walk with You to be a storm of movement towards You. I want my life to be noticeably different because of You. At the same time, I am terrified of what that means.

All that said I ask You to create a God storm in my life. Radically alter my path. Help me to pursue the upward movement of the Spirit in my life as one would pursue promises of worldly fortune. Give me a sense of urgency about things that are of You. Intensify the vertical movements between us. I am trusting You to hold me close during the instability and by faith I trust that I will find the same joy and peace Paul did as he experienced the fabric of his life changing.

— Jason Hester, executive pastor of ministry, Reservoir campus

Scripture:
"Do all things without grumbling or disputing." — Philippians 2:14

Observation:
This verse is speaking to more than just controlling words or emotion when doing something. It is pointing to a continual state of heart and mind that moves beyond personal desires and rests fully in Christ-like obedience.

Application:
This one stings a little. Actually, it stings a lot. A-L-L. It is a amazing that three little letters could carry such weight. In all things. Without grumbling. Without disputing. Ouch. As I read the first 14 verses of this chapter I see a few things that will help me get there.

Paul encourages me to unite with others in love, mind, and purpose. Most of my grumbling and disputing manifest themselves out of me failing to do one or all of these three things. There is one love, one mind, and one purpose and that is Christ.  

Paul encourages me to kill my selfishness. There is a part of human nature that wants to receive credit and have things its way. I am not exempt from that. I can’t remember how many times I have walked away from a task hurt by who got the credit or who got their way. A part of my command as a follower of Christ is to seek after His glory and not my own.

Paul encourages me to empty myself. This one gets rough. Jesus set aside A-L-L His rights, privileges, riches, glory, and power to pursue obedience with God’s plan for Him. I have to follow suit. My life is no longer about me. I am a bondservant to a heavenly mission.  

Prayer:
Father I sense this morning a strong conviction. My life is very full of me. I want what I want when I want it. When I approach You in prayer there is normally only one option that will make me happy. When I enter a task I want it to be fulfilling, enjoyable, and comfortable. When I work with others I want them to think like me. And when these things do not happen; I grumble and dispute. I confess this to You today as being sin.

I do not know where to go from here other than to express to You my desire for You to become my everything. Be my joy. Be my fulfillment. Be my peace. Be my glory. Be my all in all. There is nothing of man or earth that can offer me anything other than temporary relief or joy. The things from You are eternal. Lead me in how to follow after You in a manner that is worthy of my calling.

— Jason Hester, executive pastor of ministry, Reservoir campus