The Oasis | Refuel

The apostle John relates how we must stay vigilant in order to remain in continual fellowship with God.  There is so much false doctrine and false teaching that can lead us away from our privileged position.  It is only through continual testing of what we hear that enables us to stay on track. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/05/spiritual-discernment-1-john-4-1-4/">Spi...

The apostle John talks about the importance of being in the presence of God. Our life and ministry should be founded upon and fueled by our time in God’s presence. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/05/in-his-presence-1-john-3-21-24/">In His Presence (1 John 3:21 – 24)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://theoasisaz.com">The Oasis</a>.

If love is the standard of behavior for followers of Jesus Christ, then what is that kind of love and how is it expressed?  Love has many positive results not only for the ones loved but for those who are loving. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/05/what-is-love-1-john-3-16-20/">What Is Love? (1 John 3:16 – 20)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://theoasis...

According to the apostle John, the most evident way to practice righteousness is to love.  The love we demonstrate for one another as God’s children counterbalances the hatred of the world.  This hatred against the righteous has been manifested from the beginning of time. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/05/the-gospel-is-love-1-john-3-11-15/">The Gospel Is Love (1...

In this passage, John declares that a lifestyle of sin or a lifestyle of righteousness is founded upon whose children we are:  children of God or of the devil.  One cannot truly be a child of God without one’s lifestyle reflecting that relationship. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/04/our-lives-reveal-whose-we-are-1-john-3-7-10/">Our Lives Reveal Whose We Are (1 J...

According to John, the mission of Jesus was to “take away sins.”  This speaks of more than forgiveness and pardon.  It refers to the lifting off of one the burden of sin and the power through Christ one has to triumph over sin.  When one resides in God, we can overcome sin in our lives and […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/04/the-mission-of-jesus-1-john-3-4...

At this point in the letter, John wants us to pause and ponder the significance of being a child of God.  We need to think about what this means and what we have to look forward to as those who have been supernaturally adopted into God’s family. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/04/the-significance-of-being-a-child-of-god-1-john-3-1-3/">The Significance of Being A...

The apostle John urges the recipients of this letter to continue living in close connection with Jesus.  It is our fellowship or lack of it that will determine our response when we stand face to face with our Lord one day.  Our consistent lifestyle, which characterizes our lives, proves in time the spiritual reality of one’s life. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/04/prepa...

The apostle John strongly admonishes the recipients of this letter to stick with the fundamental truths they were taught from the beginning of their spiritual journey and not to deviate from this path.  If another path is taken, spiritual disaster will result.  We must all stay on course. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/03/stay-on-course-1-john-2-24-27/">Stay On Course...

In this section, John asserts that true believers in Jesus Christ have an anointing from God.  He explains what this anointing is and how it is to function in our everyday lives as followers of Jesus Christ. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/03/the-christians-anointing-1-john-2-20-23/">The Christians’ Anointing (1 John 2:20-23)</a> first appeared on <a href=&quo...

Though the community of believers that John is writing to is still agonizing over a split within the body, the apostle seizes the opportunity to reassure them that these separations and divisions will happen from time to time. Our focus must remain on Jesus and we must be forever true to Him. by Pastor Jeff […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/03/wednesday-march-16-2016-t...

Here the apostle John warns his readers that love is a discriminating affection which involves choice and selection. Our allegiance to God will be seen in the choices that we make everyday. by Pastor Jeff Royce The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/03/1-john-215-17/">Love Is a Choice (1 John 2:15-17)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://theoasisaz.com"&gt...

The readers of this letter are under spiritual attack.  When we are facing spiritual enemies who seek to undermine our faith, we must remember to be mindful of who we are as God’s children.  These are the truths with which John seeks to reassure the recipients of this letter. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/03/words-of-reassurance-1-john-2-12-14/">Words of Reassu...

John has been teaching throughout this letter that fellowship with God has observable characteristics.  We can make claims of having a close connection with God but the reality is that remaining in fellowship with God carries with it certain requirements.  One such requirement is love for our fellow believers. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/02/the-character-of-fellowship-with...

The apostle John reminds us that for Christians, our standard of conduct always has and always will be the life of Jesus Christ.  We must familiarize ourselves with his walk so that we  may follow in His footsteps.  In this way, we will assure ourselves of remaining in fellowship with God. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/02/living-like-jesus-1-john-2-6-8/">Living Like...

All of us need reassurance at times in our lives.  The apostle John declares that our consistent obedience to the principles and precepts of God’s Word will lead to a growing reassurance.  When we walk out of fellowship with God, we forfeit the reassurance that we could have. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/02/reassurance-grows-through-obedience-1-john-2-3-6/">Re...

Here John addresses directly those he feels spiritually responsible for.  He challenges them by declaring the purpose of fellowship with God and comforts them if they fail.  The sufficiency of Christ’s ministry is revealed in order to motivate us to continual fellowship.   The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/02/our-sufficient-savior-1-john-2-1-2/">Our Sufficient Savi...

John reminds us that living in the light of God requires acknowledging our sin and trusting God to not only forgive but to cleanse our sin.  Admitting we have sinned is not easy, but it is necessary to maintain fellowship with God and live in His light. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/01/living-in-the-light-1-john-1-8-10/">Living In The Light (1 John 1:8-10)</a>...

The only requirement for a relationship with God is faith in Jesus Christ.  However, to fellowship with God and live in His presence, we must walk in His light and allow God to deal with what His light reveals.  Whatever God’s light reveals, God has the ability to deal with. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/01/requirements-for-fellowship-1-john-1-5-7/">Requirement...

John writes that through his firsthand experience with the Word of Life – Jesus – he and the other apostles received an understanding of this eternal life that God was offering to them. In turn, John wants to make known the reality of this quality of living to others. Do you possess eternal life? The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/01/grasping-eternal-life-1-john-1-1-4...

The apostle John share his first-hand account of Jesus Christ to confirm believers in what it is that we should be confident about.  For John, the information he shared isn’t just to supply us with facts but to draw us into fellowship with God. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2016/01/the-testimony-of-john-1-john-1-1-4/">The Testimony of John (1 John 1:1-4)</a> f...

Jesus Is The Reason (Isaiah 9:1-7) Merry Christmas The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2015/12/jesus-is-the-reason-isaiah-9-1-7/">Jesus Is The Reason (Isaiah 9:1-7)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://theoasisaz.com">The Oasis</a>.

As we continue our study of this passage, Jesus reveals how the people on earth when He returns are strikingly similar to the people in Noah’s day and Lot’s day.  They are totally unaware of and unprepared for the judgement that is to come.  The main reason for this is their total preoccupation with this […] The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2015/12/missing-the-king...

The Jews of Jesus’ day were looking for the arrival of God’s Kingdom on earth.  Jesus seized the opportunity to teach why so many in His day and in future days will miss the Kingdom of God altogether. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2015/12/missing-the-kingdom-part-1-luke-17/">Missing The Kingdom: Part 1 (Luke 17)</a> first appeared on <a href="htt...

This psalm calls upon the people of God to come together to worship and to give thanks to God for all He has done.  The more consistently we practice this, the more spiritually sensitive and insightful we become. The post <a href="http://theoasisaz.com/2015/11/pausing-to-be-thankful-psalm-92/">Pausing To Be Thankful (Psalm 92)</a> first appeared on <a href="http://the...