Rhema Rock Of Refuge Ministries

Working in Unity – Part 2: Building in Unity

Genesis 11:1–9 reveals the power of unity through the story of the Tower of Babel. Humanity shared one language, one vision, and one purpose. Their unity was so strong that God Himself acknowledged that nothing they planned would be impossible for them. However, their unity was misdirected—rooted in pride, self-preservation, and the desire to make a name for themselves rather than trusting God’s promises.

Human nature is wired to build. Even animals instinctively build for survival and continuity—birds build nests, bees build hives, ants and termites construct complex structures, and animals dig burrows and shelters. Jesus acknowledged this truth in Matthew 8:20, yet He revealed a deeper reality: while creation builds, humanity is called to build with purpose and alignment to God. If animals cooperate to build, how much more should the church of God build together in unity.

Genesis 10 introduces Nimrod and Babel as the foundation of an empire. The tower was not merely architectural ambition; it was a statement of distrust in God’s promise never to flood the earth again. The people built out of fear and unbelief. This raises a vital question: what are we building today because we do not fully trust God’s promises?

Psalm 127 reminds us that unless the Lord builds, all human effort is in vain. God resists self-made empires built in pride and self-glory. Many churches, ministries, and organizations have failed because of the “me, myself, and I” mentality. When unity exists without God’s direction, it becomes dangerous rather than fruitful.

Key questions must be asked when we unite: What are we building? Who is it for? Did God instruct us to build it? Who holds ultimate authority? What impact does it have on the community? The people of Babel had the right materials but the wrong mandate. Their downfall was pride, and James 4:6 reminds us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Genesis 11:1 shows that unity is powerful—it can produce both good and evil depending on what unites us. Communities, churches, businesses, schools, and even entertainment spaces exist because people unite around a shared vision. When unity breaks down, organizations fail.

In conclusion, Jesus declares in Matthew 16:18 that He is the one building the church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He builds on the revelation of who He is, not on human ambition. The church is not buildings made by hands; it is God’s people. Acts 17 confirms that God dwells in people, not structures.

God is committed to building His people—perfecting, establishing, strengthening, and settling them (1 Peter 5:10). The question remains: Jesus is building the church—are you building with Him, or against Him?

WORKING IN UNITY – PART 1: CUTTING EDGE
(Effectiveness of Your Tools)
This sermon teaches that God expects every believer to be effective in the work assigned to them—whether in parenting, career, ministry, business, or community impact. Effectiveness is not accidental; it requires unity, responsibility, wisdom, and God’s involvement.
Using 2 Kings 6:1–7, we see the sons of the prophets working together to expand their dwelling place. Growth required action, shared vision, and unity. When the place became too small, they increased their capacity, then filled it—establishing a continuous cycle of growth that continues until Christ returns.
God operates through two creation principles:
Structure – human effort and hard work

Breath of Life – God’s spiritual empowerment

Many people miss one of these principles. Speaking faith without action produces no results, while working hard without God leads to exhaustion. True effectiveness comes when effort and God’s presence work together.
The sons of the prophets sought approval and alignment from Elisha before acting. Once approval was given, they moved immediately. Vision that stagnates eventually dies, and procrastination postpones destiny to the grave. Obedience requires urgency, and progress demands diligence. However, growth without God’s presence is meaningless—wherever we go, God must go with us.
When the axe head fell into the water, it revealed a key life principle: things will go wrong. The issue is not failure, but who stands with you when failure happens. What we lose—peace, joy, relationships, direction, or ourselves—can be restored in Christ. Restoration begins with honest diagnosis: “Where did it fall?”
The stick thrown into the water represents the cross of Christ, reminding us that our solutions are found at the cross. God restores, but we must also take responsibility—“Pick it up yourself.” God will not do what He has empowered us to do.

Birth of Jesus Christ – Part 1: Chaotic Night
Christmas carols paint a picture of a peaceful night, but the birth of Jesus was filled with chaos. Behind the beauty of “Silent Night” was a world under harsh Roman rule, a difficult journey, rejection, and unexpected circumstances. Jesus did not enter a peaceful environment—He entered a broken one.

Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a world-wide census (Luke 2:1–2), forcing Joseph and a heavily pregnant Mary to travel about 130 km from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Caesar made no exceptions for the weak. What looked like political oppression was actually God positioning prophecy. Jesus was born into a world with no mercy so He could reveal God’s mercy.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem, there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7). Mary had to search for a place to give birth, and Jesus was laid in a manger. This raises a challenge: Do we make room for Jesus today? Many push Christ aside—in homes, schools, government, workplaces, and even at Christmas, where Santa, entertainment, and culture overshadow the Saviour. Yet the manger was not an accident; it was prophetic. The Lamb of God was born where lambs fed (John 1:29). God uses what looks dysfunctional to fulfill His divine plan.

God revealed the birth of Jesus not to nobles, but to shepherds—the lowest class in society (Luke 2:8–18). This shows Jesus’ humility and accessibility. Heaven chose ordinary people to first witness the King. Jesus was both the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the Lamb at His birth. The shepherds saw His glory and became early evangelists, reminding us to share the good news of Christ.

In the temple, Jesus was revealed to spiritually devoted people—Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:25–38). Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, recognized Jesus instantly. Revelation requires the Spirit; religious people like the Pharisees missed Christ because they lacked the Holy Spirit. Anna, a prophetess devoted to prayer and fasting, confirmed Jesus as the Redeemer. Devotion sharpens spiritual discernment.

Throughout the story, God used chaos—a census, a dangerous journey, rejection, a manger, ordinary shepherds, and an oppressed nation—to reveal His greatest gift: Jesus Christ. What looks chaotic to us may be divine design in God’s hands.

Conclusion:
The birth of Jesus teaches us that God works powerfully in disorder. He enters the chaos of our world and the confusion of our lives to bring salvation. From the manger to the cross, Jesus shows that no circumstance is too disordered for God to use. Christmas is not about lights, culture, or festivities—it is about Christ entering our brokenness to bring hope. Let us make room for Him again, honour His presence, and recognize Him through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is Lord, Saviour, Shepherd, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Amen.

Vision 2026: United in Christ
Vision is vital for the life of a church. It gives direction, clarity, unity, and purpose. Proverbs 29:18 teaches that without vision people perish; but with vision, a church moves together toward God’s intention. Vision aligns us to common understanding, common values, and common goals.

Rhema Rock of Refuge Ministries began by faith on 28 January 2024 in the house of Pastors Njabulo and Marvelous. Using a tray and keyboard stand as a pulpit, preaching on Facebook Live, and worshipping as if in a full church—this was the evidence of faith. Hebrews 11:6 shows that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Our beginning was small, but it was built on faith and obedience.

We come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, yet God has called us into one church. Vision unifies us, motivates service, measures progress, attracts resources, and builds long-term continuity. A church without vision pulls in different directions, but vision provides structure and leadership that keeps us aligned.

True vision comes from God. Habakkuk 2:2 teaches that vision is God’s answer to prayer. Human plans fail when they are not aligned with His purpose. Proverbs 19:21 and Psalm 37:4–5 remind us to surrender our plans to God, delight in Him, and allow Him to order our steps. Vision succeeds when it originates from God.

Previous visions prepared us for where we are going

2024 – Foundation (Ephesians 2:20):
We declared Christ as our cornerstone, built on the Word, and focused on evangelism, outreach, and spiritual grounding.

2025 – Increase My Capacity (2 Kings 4:3):
We asked God to enlarge capacity before resources. He moved us from a garage to a 300+ venue and increased both personal and corporate capacity.

Now God calls us into 2026 – United in Christ.
We are a diverse church with one Lord and one vision. Diversity is strength when aligned; division only arises when vision is unclear. Unity empowers effectiveness: men and women bring different strengths, young and old offer different perspectives, and different cultures enrich our ministry.

Acts 4:32–33 shows that when believers were of one heart and soul, great power and great grace rested upon them. Unity releases the Holy Spirit, opens doors for answered prayer, and empowers the church to witness with boldness. When we are united, nothing can stop us.

As Christ’s Ambassadors, everything we do must point to Him—our sermons, our worship, our service, and our culture. Vision 2026 calls every member to run with the vision. Habakkuk 2:2 says, “That he may run who reads it.” Vision is not fulfilled by pastors alone but by every believer who commits, serves, sows, and participates.

We declare 2026 as a year of unity, grace, and divine power. We commit to walk in one heart, one mind, and one purpose. We trust God for spiritual growth, stronger relationships, supernatural unity, and Kingdom impact.

Vision 2026: United in Christ — a diverse church, one Lord, one vision, one heartbeat.

FAITH THAT BELIEVES GOD WHEN IT’S OVER
Faith grows strongest at the point where human strength ends. When we declare, “It’s over,” God often says, “Now I can begin.” The disciples prayed, “Lord, increase our faith,” and Jesus taught that even mustard-seed faith can uproot what looks immovable. God specializes in stepping in when we reach a dead end. As long as we still have options, our faith is not fully activated. Our exhaustion, limitations, and closed doors become the very platforms where God displays His power. Scripture does not deny affliction but promises deliverance and a weight of glory that works through every challenge.
1. Repeat What Didn’t Work the First Time
In Luke 5, Peter and the disciples had finished an unsuccessful night of fishing. Their campaign was over, the nets were cleaned, and they were discouraged. Yet Jesus told them to let down the nets again—an instruction that sounded insane and illogical. Faith is revealed when God asks us to revisit what has failed. The world’s cliché says, “Doing the same thing expecting different results is insanity,” but faith says, “Nevertheless, at Your word.” Peter’s obedience brought miraculous abundance because Jesus, the Creator of fish, stepped into the situation. Faith follows God’s word, not human instinct.
2. Come Out From Hiding—Everyone Is Counting on You
Gideon believed it was over for Israel. He felt small, inferior, and unqualified, hiding from the Midianites while questioning God’s presence. Yet God called him “mighty man of valor.” God often chooses the overlooked, insecure, and hidden to accomplish His extraordinary plans. His strategies do not follow human reasoning. He sees strength where we see weakness and potential where we see failure. Many believers disqualify themselves with labels like “unloved,” “poor,” or “defeated,” while God calls them victorious and mighty. Faith begins when we agree with God’s identity for us and step out of hiding.
3. Good as Dead
Hebrews 11:12 says Abraham was “as good as dead,” yet through him God produced descendants as numerous as the stars. Abraham had reached an age where dreams of fatherhood were naturally impossible. He had even accepted Eliezer and later Ishmael as substitutes for the promise. Yet God revived what looked permanently closed. Human standards say “too late,” but God’s standards release new beginnings at any age. From childhood to old age, every life stage is a platform for God’s purpose. No age, condition, or delay can cancel God’s plan. Dead dreams, dead seasons, and dead opportunities can be resurrected by God’s power.
Conclusion: Dead in Our Trespasses
Just as God revived Abraham’s dead situation, He revived us spiritually. We were dead in sins, without hope or strength, but God made us alive with Christ. If God resurrected our spirits, He can resurrect anything in our lives—purpose, faith, opportunities, relationships, or dreams. He brings life where humans see death and fulfillment where we see endings. When it looks over, God is often just getting started. This is the faith that believes God in the impossible.