The Oasis | Refuel

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...

The God Who Is Our Help  (Psalm 121) This psalm asks a vital spiritual question.  Also, the psalmist supplies the monumental answer to that question.  Then having supplied that answer, begins to preach that answer to himself.  Where does our help come from?  What is the source of our security?  These are questions we should […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/08/the-god-...

I Cried, He Answered  (Psalm 120) The psalmist is in a tough spot.  He’s being viciously abused and attacked by those around him and it’s been too long since he’s been with God’s people in the house of God.  He’s miserable and he longs for things to be different.  So how does he respond to his […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/08/i-cried-h...

The Sovereign Lord Is My Strength  (Habakkuk 3:17-19) Habakkuk’s final words reveal the realization of the prophet and the resolve of the prophet.  Throughout his struggle to understand the ways of God, he has come to the mountaintop of “high altitude faith.”  When God is all we have in life, we discover that God is […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/0...

In Wrath Remember Mercy  (Habakkuk 3:1-16) Habakkuk responds to God’s revelation about the Babylonians as His choice to bring judgment upon Judah with a request that through this judgment, he would be merciful and that He would allow His people to see Him at work amongst them once again. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/06/in-wrath-remember-mercy-habakkuk-3-1-16/"&gt...

God Is God Through Faith Alone  (Habakkuk 2:18-20) Either we acknowledge and accept who God has revealed Himself to be in His Word or we design God  to be a god whom we can control and manipulate for our own purposes.  The One and Only True God will do what is best for us and we must […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/06/god-is-god-through-faith-alone-habakkuk-2-18-20/&...

Living For the Audience of One  (Habakkuk 2:12-17) God reminds His prophet Habakkuk that the Babylonians will ultimately fail because what they seek is God-inspired but they seek to accomplish it apart from Him and not by the means that He designed.  Not only does true satisfaction and true security come from God alone, but also […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/06/liv...

God Has the Last Word  (Habakkuk 2:4-11) God answers Habakkuk’s plea and reminds the prophet that the Babylonians are not going to have the last word in history.  This revelation from God should be an encouragement to the prophet and the people of Judah.  True satisfaction and true security is through faith in God alone. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/05/god-has-the-las...

The Just Shall Live By Faith  (Habakkuk 2:2-4) The prophet had poured out his complaint to the Lord, and we are told, “The Lord responded.”  How important is that?  It is all important.  The claim Scripture makes is that what is recorded here in the Old Testament are the words God spoke.  The God of creation […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/05/the-just-sha...

I Will Stand at My Post (Habakkuk 1:12-21) Habakkuk is overwhelmed and astonished by God’s decision to use the Babylonians as His instrument of judgment upon the southern kingdom of Judah.  How does the prophet of God respond?  He gives us a wonderful blueprint to follow whenever we too are faced with the confusing nature of […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2017/05/i...