The Oasis | Refuel

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...

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...