O. A. S. I. S.

In a world of deceitful, empty mirages, amidst the barren bleak deserts of parched souls, there is an O.A.S.I.S!

PSALM 92:12-15
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

ISAIAH 58:11
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

UPDATE: 09-18-09

In the spirit of O.A.S.I.S. may I offer you the following newsletter from Audio Adrenaline's ministry HANDS and FEET Project

This is the essence of the Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ, His supreme goal and objective in coming to this spiritual wasteland, this Rebel Region, this Planet of Perdition. To die for the sins of the world, and to grant eternal life to all who come to Him!

As our LORD Himself expressed to the Samaritan woman:

JOHN 4:10, 13-14
. . . If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Whosoever drinketh of this water [referring to the well water] shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Is this not so with all things of this world? They may provide satisfaction for a while, but eventually we discover that there is an emptiness within ourselves that no amount of money, clothes, houses, cars, family; fame, fortune, and power; even charity work and noble causes, or even church and church activities (!) can satisfy.

The emptiness within, this "vanity" is a result of our spiritual separation from God, our Creator (Who created us for His good pleasure) when our father Adam fell into sin.

ISAIAH 59:2
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

ROMANS 8:20
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

PHILIPPIANS  2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

2 THESSALONIANS 1:11
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

REVELATION 4:11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

For this cause was the LORD Jesus made of the virgin, made under the Law, a body prepared for Him to become our propitiation (a satisfactory sacrifice), and in dying for our sins, took the penalty of all of them, from all of us, delivering us from the wages of sin, that is, death.

ROMANS 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GALATIANS 4:4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

HEBREWS 10:5, 10
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: . . . By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

ROMANS 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

1 JOHN 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 JOHN 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

And for those of us who have received this life eternal, we are indeed satisfied: that gaping spiritual black-hole that drove us to pursue, even to the point of desperation, that mysterious 'something' is now filled to overflowing with the grace, and peace, love and joy of the LORD Jesus Christ.

It's our desire to share this OASIS with those who are yet chasing after these empty mirages with which the minions of the enemy taunt and tantalize the slaves of this fallen world. Remember how when our LORD walked this Earth, and He looked upon the multitudes, what was it that He felt?

Compassion! So much of it that it moved Him to action! He stretched out His hand and healed them, He opened His mouth and gave them manna from heaven, spiritual Truth that would set them free from the heavy burdens of sin and slavery.

Today, His body is reaching out to this lost world, and time is running short. Our LORD's return is ever drawing nearer, especially when you consider the current events and trends in our nation, and around the world.

Yet our precious, tender-hearted LORD Jesus is not eager to judge the lost; He tarries because He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (EZEK. 33:11), but in mercy; He is not willing that ANY SHOULD PERISH.

This is why its so very vital that we as the church, have a heart of the missionary in our day to day lives. The Great Commission was NOT for our pastors alone, NOR for our evangelists, NOR for our elders and deacons, NOR for those whom we send out as 'career' missionaries.

He gave this commission to ALL of His disciples. Are you His disciple? I am! He gave this mandate to you, and to me! And what have we done with this commission, this holy command?

Understand, its not my intention to lay any guilt trips here; but I want to express a very pointed question: are we guilty? Have we refrained the gospel to the lost all around us? I know I HAVE BEEN! And I am tired of keeping my mouth shut, when we have the greatest opportunity, and the greatest treasure in this universe!

Now there are some who cannot go out to different countries and so they may support missionaries financially; yet there are some who are even unable to make donations because of their fixed incomes, and perhaps you already are making monthly donations to other worthy causes that save lives in physical provisions, as well as bringing eternal life through the spiritual provision of the Gospel and God's Almighty Grace.

Yet you can still have greater impact by your prayers! However sometimes we can feel uncertain as to what to pray, and would like clear information on missionaries, various missionary fields and nations that are in dire need for the Gospel.

Are there sources out there that can help a would-be intercessor for missionaries and the lands they minister to?

YOU BET! Check this out -

Operation World - The Official Web Site

Operation World, the new global missions prayer guide by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk.

Pray Today
Resources
Web Sites
Calendar
Prayer Publications
Future Resources
OW Team
Contact Us

Also, please remember to keep the nation of Turkey (a nation that has been on my heart for years) in prayer as there are multitudes that are open to the Gospel now than ever before; yet this is a nation that receives very little attention (but is steadily growing!) in the work of the Gospel. Please visit this site:

http://www.two-fot.org/

And if you would like to purchase an OPERATION WORLD handbook you could use for your daily intercessions on behalf of missionaries across the globe, you can check out the following web site:
OPERATION WORLD

Another missions-oriented ministry, not too far off our own shores is being used of God in reaching the people of Haiti, particularly orphaned children. It's Audio Adrenaline (one of my most favorite bands!) with their Hands And Feet Project.

Please visit their web site and check out what they're doing to be the Hands and Feet of our LORD Jesus to a hurting, tiny nation.

Our Mission | Hands and Feet Project

Remember that any intercessory prayers you offer up on behalf of those who are actually out in the field, preaching the Gospel and sharing the love of Jesus with the lost are accounted by God as a viable contribution to this vital ministry.

The same with any monetary donations: any such contributions of prayer and finances means that the contributor (that's you!) receives an equal blessing to the missionaries actually out there doing the work! If they didn't receive the financial help, and the prayers, they would be unable to accomplish their task.

God looks upon our partnership and is BLESSED in the depths of His Eternal heart to see His children cooperating together for the cause of reaching the lost. Once you start to seek the LORD and engage in such ministries, it starts spreading throughout your life, and you find yourself catching this "missionary heart" for your neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc!

I myself am loading up on gospel tracts, having my Bible handy, and praying for open doors for the LORD to have me share!

These are exciting days, as well as perilous times in which we live, and I believe the opportunity to share with those who don't yet know the LORD is going to become more and more common, as they will be seeking answers in such uncertain and trialsome days.

It behooves us as saints to prepare prayerfully for the times ahead, to have our Bibles in our hands, and His Word in our hearts, ready to answer with meekness any who would ask us, the hope of our calling!

1 PETER 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

EPH 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

May the LORD Jesus Christ continue to bless you all, WAY TOO MUCH!
Yours in the battle,

NIKAO AIONIOS AVRAS!

brother James

HEARKEN WARRIORS TO WISDOM!

Here are two exhortational devotions from Charles Spurgeon's own "Morning and Evening" devotional

that I wanted to share with all of you. They are entirely fitting for such days as these in which we live, and encourages in a way that few like Spurgeon can convey.

If you don't have this devotional, but would like to benefit from its daily readings, you can do so online from the Blue Letter Bible:

SPURGEON's MORNING and EVENING Devotional 

Recently we had a teaching at church in ROMANS ch. 8 and as this is an incredible source of encouragement, so I would like to post that here for us to meditate upon before we venture into these two passages from Spurgeon (one from 1 CHRON 5:22; the other from PROV 1: 33.

ROMANS 8:1-39

"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God." — 1 CHRON 5:22
Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe this verse with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is it now, if the war be of God the victory is sure.

The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could barely muster five and forty thousand fighting men, and yet in their war with the Hagarites, they slew "men, an hundred thousand," "for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him."

The Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in Jehovah's name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of Hosts is with us for our Captain. They did not neglect buckler, and sword, and bow, neither did they place their trust in these weapons; we must use all fitting means, but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of His people.

The great reason of their extraordinary success lay in the fact that "the war was of God." Beloved, in fighting with sin without and within, with error doctrinal or practical, with spiritual wickedness in high places or low places, with devils and the devil's allies, you are waging Jehovah's war, and unless He himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat.

Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The battle is the Lord's and He will deliver His enemies into our hands.

With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before the gale.

Stand up! stand up for Jesus!

To him that overcometh,

The strife will not be long;

A crown of life shall be;

This day the noise of battle,

He with the King of glory

The next the victor's song:

Shall reign eternally.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~


"Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." — PROV 1:33

Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath.

When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, He punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while He did this, He took care that His own chosen ones should be secure.

If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only so, the Lord had not simply one "Elijah," but He had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab's table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah.

Let us from this draw the inference, that come what may, God's people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest.

If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident, when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars.

Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth, you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself upon His promise; rest in His faithfulness, and bid defiance to the blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you.

Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of hearkening to the voice of wisdom.

yours in the battle,

NIKAO AIONIOS A.V.R.A.S.!

James Fire

Look forward to an indepth study on: The Spiritual Warfare of the Believer and Armor Suitable for the Challenge!