The Oasis | Refuel

Sustaining Faith Amidst Continual Hardship (Zechariah 6:1-15) What will generate and sustain faith in the midst of constant , unremitting hardship?  The answer in Zechariah 6 may surprise you.  The answer is the doctrine of God; God will sustain you.  Knowing Him, who He is, what He is like is Zechariah’s answer to the crushing burdens […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.co...

Encouragement Through Hard Times (Zechariah 5:1-11) Our circumstances, however hard they may be, must never be allowed to become an excuse for sin or for backing away from the task God has given us.  We must never allow self-pity to paralyze us in the pursuit of holiness.  Here Zechariah is summoned by God to confront […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2018/02/encouragement-...

Not By Strength and Not By Might (Zechariah 4:1-14) If the people of God in every generation are going to be strong and courageous in order to carry out the will of God, they must do the same three things that God invited Zechariah to do in this dramatic vision in this passage of Zechariah. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2018/01/not-by-strength-and-not-by-might-zechariah-4-1-14/&q...

A Supernatural Reality (Zechariah 3:1-10) In this day and age you are a Christian, you need to understand that you are opposed. The fiercest enemy facing you today, Christian, is the accuser himself, the Devil. He is the great enemy of your soul. The point of Zechariah Chapter 3 is to reveal to us God’s […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2018/01/a-supernatural-reality-...

A Message of Hope in the Midst of Despair (Zechariah 2:1-13) The importance of such a message to the people of God in Zechariah’s day cannot be overstated.  No longer an independent nation, the once magnificent city of Jerusalem was in ruins and the temple of God was still to be built.  Deeply discouraged, they […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2018/01/a-message-of-ho...

A Message of Strength and Courage (Zechariah 1:1-21) God would use the prophet Zechariah to challenge His people as well as encourage His people.  Their approach to life wasn’t getting them anywhere and now it was time to take a different approach. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2018/01/a-message-of-strength-and-courage-zechariah-1-1-21/">A Message of Strength and Co...

The Distinctive Marks of Christians (Acts 2:42-47) Luke informs us of the passions and priorities of the early church after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  These distinctive marks should be seen in the church today. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/12/the-distinctive-marks-of-christians-acts-2-42-47/">The Distinctive Marks Of Christians (Acts 2:42-47)</a> firs...

Convictions of Holy Spirit Ministry (Acts 2:14-41) Peter responds to the disbelieving crowd of people who witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit.  He teaches them that this event is the fulfillment of prophecy and then proceeds to deliver the first of fifteen sermons recorded in Acts. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/12/convictions-of-holy-spirit-ministry-acts-2-14-41/"&g...

The Arrival of the Spirit (Acts 2:1 -13) Luke records the highlights of one of the defining moments of spiritual history. It is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. This event would signify the beginning of much more to come; more that we ourselves are now part of! The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/11/the-arrival-of-the-spirit-acts-2-1-13/">The Arri...

Preparation For Pentecost (Part 2) (Acts 1:12 – 26) God intends to build His church, and He intends to build His church by means of pouring out the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  What we see in this passage is the continued preparation by Jesus’ followers for that event. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/11/preparation-for-pentecost-part-2-acts-1-12-26/"&...

Waiting for God’s Promise (Acts 1:1-11) These followers of Jesus have been urged to wait for what Jesus has called the promise of the Father.  It is the fulfillment of this promise that answers a most significant question.  How did the church expand from it’s small beginnings in Jerusalem to a church that is encompassing the ends of […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz...

Worship as a Foretaste of Heaven (Psalm 134) This is a most fitting end to this series because it’s like an “Amen” at the end of this collection of fifteen Psalms.  As these pilgrim worshipers come to the temple one last time before they go home, they are caught up in what they have experienced.  They have […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/11/worship-...

A Blessing Will Be Available (Psalm 133) David reminds us that God has a special blessing waiting for those who make the effort to come together with others and worship Him.  It’s a beautiful thing when His children lift up one voice to praise Him! The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/11/a-blessing-will-be-available-psalm-133/">A Blessing Will Be Available (Psalm 133)...

Tracing the Plan of God in Worship (Psalm 132) This is one of those beautiful psalms that celebrates the covenant mercies of God.  These worshipers were reminded of the grace and incomprehensible love of God as it expressed itself down through the centuries in covenants which God made. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/10/tracing-the-plan-of-god-in-worship-psalm-132/">Tr...

Growing In Worship (Psalm 131) This psalm is basically about Christian maturity, about growing in grace, about developing as a child of God.  Psalm 131 is based upon the personal experience of the psalmist with God and the things that God has been impressing upon his soul.  Because he has experienced this depth in the things […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/10/growing...

When Desperation Turns to Adoration (Psalm 130) The comfort zones that we live in often times define our Christianity.  This passage pulls us out of our comfort zones so that we tell the whole story of our faith.  The whole story involves frequent seasons of desperation where, like the psalmist, we cry out to God […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/10/when-desperation-tu...

Attacked But Not Defeated (Psalm 129) While many look back on what they have achieved, this psalmist reflects on what he has survived.  This psalm focuses on God’s deliverance in the midst of the people of Israel’s troubles.  God tells His people to sing about their suffering. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/10/attacked-but-not-defeated-psalm-129/">Attacked...

Humility As The Posture of Worship (Psalm 128) This psalm relates to us the blessings uniquely enjoyed and experienced by the people of God.  These blessings are found in the simple pleasures of work, home life, and corporate worship. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/09/humility-as-the-posture-of-worship-psalm-128/">Humility As The Posture of Worship (Psalm 128)</a&g...

How Worship Banishes Anxiety (Psalm 127) The psalmist is reminding us and exhorting us to put first things first.  All of our self-effort will be futile apart from God.  Everything worth accomplishing in life must be done out of the overflow of our worship and walk with God. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/09/how-worship-banishes-anxiety-psalm-127/">How Worship Banishe...

Understanding Revelation (seminar) Demystifying Prophesy And Preparing Believers The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/09/understanding-revelation/">Understanding Revelation (seminar)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://theoasisaz.com">The Oasis</a>.

The Lord Has Done Great Things For Us (Psalm 126) This psalm is about remembering.  The people who originally sang this were on an adventure,  in a sense.  They were on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.  Sometimes that kind of trip could be a little daunting.  Fortunately they had this group of psalms as a way to reorient […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/09/the-lord-has-done...

Assurance Encourages Worship  (Psalm 125) The psalmist, even in the midst of Jerusalem, and the temple, and God’s people who are worshipping, senses the reality of wickedness, evil, and darkness all around. When it is tough-going, we must continue to step forward in worship even though we may not be able to see the way ahead or how […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/20...

Keeping God at the Center of Worship  (Psalm 124) David writes this psalm in a context where God has delivered him and his people in a mighty and evident way.  He wants their awareness of the Lord’s intervention to lead them to gratitude.  He wants the awareness of the greatness of the danger they were […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/08/keeping-god-at-the-cente...

Getting Things Into Focus (Psalm 123) We all know the condition of myopia in which, without the aid of lenses, everything just seems to be a blur.  Without these corrective lenses, we are in danger of losing our way, or of tripping up and causing ourselves some personal injury.  Well, this Psalm is saying to […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/08/getting-things-into-focu...

The Joy Of Corporate Worship (Psalm 122) There’s a sense of great pleasure, there’s a sense of great joy, there’s a sense of great delight from this worshiper being in Jerusalem at the house of God with the people of God.  What attitude do we have toward our corporate gatherings?  We can either approach our time […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/08/th...