The Oasis | Refuel

God’s Ways: Mysterious, Misunderstood, Yet Sure  (Habakkuk 1:1-11) In the book of Habakkuk, we are confronted with a God that we won’t always understand,  Can we follow a God we won’t understand?  This is foundational if we are ever going to develop a high altitude faith that enables us to rise above our circumstances. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/05/gods-...

Helping Christians Be Fruitful  (Titus 3:8-15) Jesus said in John 15:8, “My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples.”  Paul shares principles in this last section of his letter to Titus on how followers of Jesus Christ can become fruitful and maintain their fruitfulness over their lifetime. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2...

Living Under God’s Authority  (Titus 3:1-8) In order for us to live attractive and appealing lives of faith, we must learn to live under God’s authority.  Paul share with Titus the exhortation to live under God’s authority, the motivation to live under God’s authority, and the realization of living under God’s authority. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com...

What the Grace of God Teaches  (Titus 2:11-15) In this passage, Paul gives Titus many reasons why the grace of God should reign within the Christian community.  Our growth, both corporately and personally, will only be achieved through grace and not through any other means.  These verses form a strong argument against those who seek to accomplish […] The post <a href="http://theoasis...

The Spiritual Dynamics of a Healthy Church  (Titus 2:1-10) Paul is concerned with the corporate transformation of the Christian communities on the Isle of Crete.  How can these local churches equip their people to grow spiritually?  The goal is twofold: first, enable them to live distinctly different from the culture around them while secondly, provide them […] The post <a href="http...

Requirements For a Spiritually Healthy Church  (Titus 1:10-16) The apostle Paul continues to instruct Titus on what should be the priorities of local church leadership,  The biggest threat to any local church is bad doctrine so Paul exhorts Titus to make sure the purity of God’s revelation remains and that nothing is allowed to dilute or distract from […] The post <a href="http...

Biblical Leadership  (Titus 1:1-9) This passage from Paul’s letter to Titus answers the questions of why leadership in the church is so important and what the roles and responsibilities are of those who aspire to leadership in the local church.  We must remember that God desires to fashion a compelling Christian community that invites and draws others […] The post <a href="http...

Blessings In Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14) A message shared by Brian Tammany. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/03/blessings-in-christ-ephesians-1-1-14/">Blessings In Christ (Ephesians 1:1-14)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://theoasisaz.com">The Oasis</a>.

Paul gives authorization and instruction to Titus as to how local churches should be established upon the island of Crete.  We would be wise to pay attention to these principles for establishing and maintaining a spiritually healthy Christian community. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/03/instructions-for-healthy-churches-titus-11-5/">Instructions for Healthy Churches (...

These are Paul’s last words to his dear friend Timothy.  He wants to use the example of his own life to encourage Timothy to think about how he will finish his life here on earth.  It’s not as important how we start the race of faith as it is how we finish.  How can we […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/03/faithful-to-the-end-2-timothy-4-9-22/">Faith...

The Christian’s Great Assurance and Hope  (2 Timothy 4:6-8) These words are the climax of this letter and there is no greater expression of victory when death is imminent in all the Bible.  Paul looks back at what the grace of God has done for him, and he also looks ahead.  He is soon to […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/03/the-christians-great-assurance-and-hope...

Living In The Power of God’s Presence  (2 Timothy 4:1-5) To be conscious of the Lord’s presence in our life is everything.  To be unconscious of Him or unaware of Him leaves us feeling as if we are nothing or have nothing.  God is not distant, remote, or unknowable but is present with us at […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/02/living-in-the-power-of-gods-pr...

The Relevant Facts of Scripture  (2 Timothy 3:16-17) In this key passage from Paul’s letter to Timothy, he reaffirms to Timothy and his church why the revelation from God to man is trustworthy and why it should carry the utmost weight and authority in our lives.  Paul also relates how practical the Bible is for us as […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/02/the-relev...

The Marks of Godly Believers  (2 Timothy 3:10-15) In contrast to the godless marks of the last days, Paul describes in 2 Timothy 3:1-9, he now sets forth how believers should meet the challenges of these very unique days in human history which immediately precede the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/02/the-marks-of-godly-believers-2-timothy-3-10...

Fit to Be Used  (2 Timothy 2:19-26) In this passage, we are reminded that serving the Lord is far more than filling a role or taking on some responsibility in the body of Christ.  True servants are those who remain fit and faithful at all times maintaining their fellowship with God so that they are able […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/02/fit-to-be-used-2-timothy-2-19...

Staying On Message  (2 Timothy 2:11-19) The Word of God is most reliable and dependable.   Therefore, we should always focus on and fill our lives on God’s Word rather than getting caught up and occupied with such unreliable things that lead us away from God’s truth.  There are few things in life we can be […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/01/staying-on-mes...

Examples of Endurance  (2 Timothy 2:3-10) Paul has been encouraging his young protege to persevere in his ministry in spite of the difficulty and suffering.  In this passage Paul points to illustrations that Timothy would have been familiar with to motivate and inspire him to continue on. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/01/examples-of-endurance-2-timothy-2-3-10/">Examp...

The goal of our lives is to reproduce our passion for the faith into the lives of others.  We, however, have been given the description of the quality of individual to look for when choosing to invest ourselves into the lives of others. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/12/receivers-becoming-reproducers-2-timothy-2-2/">Receivers Becoming Reproducers (2 Timothy 2:2)</a...

Paul instructs his young disciple Timothy in how to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ and how to build faithfulness in others.  This foundation of faithfulness is a necessity for producing successive generations of disciples of Jesus Christ. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/12/principles-to-be-faithful-and-to-build-faithfulness-2-timothy-1-13-to-2-1/">Principles to...

Paul mentions the day he will see Jesus face to face three times in this short letter.  Knowing he will stand before the One who had given all for him was a continual inspiration and motivation in his life.  This truth fuels his endurance and perseverance.  He hopes that Timothy will adopt this same mindset. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/11/living-with-an-awareness-of-that-d...

Paul declares to Timothy why they put their lives on the line everyday.  It is because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the only answer for man’s desperate condition – the only way to pass from spiritual life to spiritual death. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/11/the-essence-of-the-gospel-2-timothy-1-9-12/">The Essence of the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:9-12)&...

Paul knew he didn’t have much time on earth left and yet his concern wasn’t for himself but for his dear son in the faith, Timothy.  Timothy needed encouragement to endure and persevere in life and ministry so Paul begins his letter by reminding Timothy of all the blessings in his life. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/11/counting-ones-blessing-enables-one-to-endure...

The last words of this great letter focus our attention on eternity.  Are we investing in earthly things or eternal things?  This is a question we should continually be asking ourselves to keep ourselves focused throughout our lives. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/11/building-eternal-treasure-1-timothy-6-17-21/">Building Eternal Treasure (1 Timothy 6:17-21)</a>...

As Paul brings his thoughts to a close, he reminds Timothy as well as all of us. that we must become warriors in the spiritual realm if we seek to prosper in life and ministry.  Our struggle against spiritual opposition will be sustained when we remind ourselves of the glory of our Lord Jesus. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/11/a-spiritual-warriors-mindset-1-timothy-6-11-16/&q...

This passage of scripture reveals that we will expend great effort toward what our heart desires most.  Also, our hearts can not remain a vacuum so either we fill our hearts with God or we spend our lives in pursuit of other less valuable things. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/10/what-our-heart-wants-most-1-timothy-6-6-11/">What Our Heart Wants Most (1 Timothy 6:6-11)...