Emerge: … Before You Expire! Seize Divine, Defining Moments … Just Do It!

By Vivian Cynthia

We all have dreams, but some dreams never pass the idea phase. If you allow your dream to remain at the idea phase for long, it may die, and disparage into becoming just a mere wish. Whatever sits too long without moving will go bad. Your mind will deteriorate if you don’t use it. A baby who sits longer than the expected 40 weeks in the womb, becomes still born. Your dreams will be aborted at potential stage if you do not make a conscious decision to emerge! You have to push through every adversary and figure out what is holding you back. You have an important assignment to fulfil, that is why you have survived against all odds. Emerge! Refuse to die full of seeds. Refuse to die before you see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
This book ‘EMERGE’ has a timeless relevant inspirational message, regardless of the era and season you are in. Reading it while still battling COVID-19, post the pandemic or beyond. You can EMERGE from obscurity, mediocrity and comfort zones. This book, will propel you to arise, emerge, look up, look forward to the future God has in store for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Nov 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781543767926

Vivian Cynthia

Vivian Cynthia is a mother of a beautiful daughter, has been through many life challenges; and through the endless love of God she has bounced back and is living the life that God destined for her. She is an inspirational speaker, preacher, guest in various TV and radio programs. Facilitator of various seminars and camps. She is a seasoned therapist, has counselled people with life issues, ranging from emotional to spiritual issues for almost two decades.

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Copyright © 2021 by Vivian Cynthia.

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter 1     Emerge Before You Expire - Why Sit Here And Die?

Chapter 2     Emerge - Against All Odds

Chapter 3     Propelled Forward – Rough Start

Chapter 4     Arise, Emerge From Obscurity

Chapter 5     A Lesson From The Butterfly

Chapter 6     Comfort Zones Are… Limitations

Chapter 7     Refuse To Die Full Of Seeds – Unleashed Potential

Chapter 8     Seizing Divine, Defining Moments

Chapter 9     Just Do It – The Miracle Is In The Going

Epilogue

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am in awe of what the Lord is doing in this season. He has never stopped to amaze me. He keeps on doing great things in spite of my short comings. I am grateful to my Helper, my Comforter, my source of Inspiration for giving me all the strength and ability to pen down this wonderful book. Surely God is faithful and trustworthy. He can take nothing and turn it into something extraordinary. The journey towards writing and completing this book has not been easy but my heavenly Father has been awesomely good! I am forever indebted to Him!

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This book is dedicated to the apple of my eye, my one and only daughter Reitu. You are proof that God truly loves me. You are the ultimate blessing that I received from God. Thank you so much for encouraging, supporting and helping me complete this book. Having you in my life gave me the desire and the courage to be the best I could for you. You know how much I love you.

I thank God for blessing me with a loving, supportive family. Thank you Sesi (Mamsy) for being my springboard. I have only love for you and the rest of the family; Mama A.V. Sibeko, Kwani, Balu and Qiniso.

PREFACE

Dear Reader,

I am writing this book to encourage and inspire you to emerge. As I start writing this book today, it is the first day of the New Year of 2021, just before 09h00 am. I truly thank the Lord for keeping me alive, and truly grateful for the gift of life. The previous year was not easy for all of us; but the giver of life has been generous to us and we have so much to be thankful for. For me at this moment, just to wake up each morning and see another brand-new day is the greatest of all blessings. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone; therefore, life today in general is a gift that has to be cherished. The year 2020 has thought me a lot of lessons, especially to be grateful for the privilege of breathing, not being in hospital or in a grave. Truly the privilege of breathing without the assistance of an oxygen cylinder should not be taken for granted at all.

The previous year #2020 has not been an easy year for all of us, it has been a very tough journey for all humanity. In my whole life, I have never seen so much panic and uncertainty as we have experienced in 2020. It is a year that has been characterized by fear, loss of life, economic instability, extreme health challenges, etc. The human race is battling a fierce unseen enemy. But through it all the Lord has been awesomely good, faithful and gracious to us… Through it all we are still here! There is still a purpose to fulfill.

Life as we know it has really changed. Most days it feels as if we are characters in a horror movie, a thriller, or a terrible dream. But it is not the kind of a nightmare that we would just wake up from and continue with daily normal life. This movie has now become our new normal - wearing masks, social distancing, sanitizing and the everyday condolences. Rest in peace messages directed to the bereaved family and friends all because of COVID-19 has become a norm.

Yesterday as we ushered in the new year #2021, there were no celebrations nor were there any sounds of fireworks as the clock hit midnight. The environment was not as jubilant, euphoric, exhilarated, and ecstatic as we know new year eve, the 31st December to be. Instead the joyous mood has been replaced by a somber, gloomy, despondent, and sad atmosphere of candle lighting instead of fireworks. There were no cross-over celebration services because of the stricter lock-down rules regarding congregating or gatherings, and curfew imposed by the President immediately after Christmas. All in an attempt to keep people indoors and limit unnecessary physical contact so as to fight the invisible enemy called COVID-19 and minimize new infections and spread of this deadly virus. Although there are stricter lock-down rules that have been imposed in the country. The good news is that prayer, praise and heavenly contact with God is not on lock-down.

I thank God for the inspiration of penning down this book, under such conditions. He is just not allowing me to rest, this is my 5th book and I am grateful. I am writing this book to encourage and inspire you even today as you read; that you should be reinvigorated to soldier on and not loose heart it is not really over until God says so. Actually, this may be the beginning of great things if you allow the Lord to unleash the potential that is locked in the inside of you. This is not the time to give up – washing your nets in defeat – this is the perfect time to emerge and launch into the deep for a greater catch!

The contents of this book apply to anyone reading, regardless of the era and season you are in. It does not matter whether the message reach you while we are still battling COVID-19 or you are reading it post the pandemic and beyond. The message of this book is just as relevant, you can EMERGE from mediocrity! The decision to emerge is your decision to make, no one can make it for you.

It is amazing how we all have dreams, but some dreams never pass the idea phase. If you allow your dream to remain at the idea phase for long, it may die. Then even if you still can call it a dream, it is not, it has disparaged into becoming just a mere wish. Unless you decide to emerge.

You have to push through every adversary working against you and figure out why you do not complete what God has planted inside of you. What is holding you back? You have an important assignment to fulfill, that is why you are still here, that is why you have survived all the things that were working against you. Your dreams should not die at potential stage. Refuse to die full of seeds. Refuse to die before you see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

I am inspired to write this book because of the (a) urgency of time. Today when you hear His voice, James 4:13, it’s urgent. The moment is urgent... emerge, arise, get up! There is no time to waste - Psalm 90:10. No matter how long you live, even if it can be over 100yrs, it is too short, don’t waste it. Emerge, do not waste time. Our time is brief, you get old quickly - James 4:14b. The message throughout this book is ‘emerge’ urgently, and verse 17 of the book of James states that; it’s sin if God tells you to do something and you do not respond to the call urgently you may not have the opportunity again.

The (b) tyranny of time, time controls us. Pushed to live our lives in an instant, rushing through in a frenzy. Don’t allow the pace of the crazy world of the day to wear you out and drown you. John 9:4, refuse to be owned by people. There are things that are not your assignment, if not careful they may keep you stuck and prevent you from emerging. Take time to do essentials, use your time well, otherwise before you know it its gone. Don’t spend your time running around, chasing the air and miss fulfilling your purpose.

The (c) immediateness of time, some things come once off in our life time. Some opportunities don’t come the second time, don’t treat it with contempt and regret. Behold now is the accepted time to change, time to emerge and do things differently before it is too late.

The (d) criticalness of time - Emerge victoriously don’t sit on the fence, don’t vacillate between two positions (1 Kings18:21. Don’t become indecisive. Be aware that the longer you postpone, you are running out of time. What are you going to do with your few minutes on earth? Don’t waste it! How close are you to your end? God never tells us when we are going to die. Therefore, we need to maximize each moment we have. What are you going to do with your time and opportunity that God has granted you? Are you going to play with it as if you have time or are you going to emerge victoriously? Understand the urgency of time, don’t waste it. Stop the excuses, its high time! Now is the time to Emerge...! I believe we shall overcome and Bounce Back as we refuse to die in mediocrity. Refuse to be stuck and stagnant, you have been created for more. Believe it and declare it as you … Emerge!

Vivian Cynthia

CHAPTER ONE

EMERGE BEFORE YOU EXPIRE

- WHY SIT HERE AND DIE?

Whatever sits too long… goes bad. If you let fruit or milk sit for too long beyond it’s expiry date, it will go bad. If you let a car sit too long without starting the engine and driving it around, the battery will die. If you sit down too long without moving your legs, your legs will go to sleep, you will have cramps - no blood circulation. Whatever sits too long without moving will go bad. Your mind will go bad and deteriorate if you don’t use it. A baby who sits longer than the expected 40 weeks in the womb, becomes still born. Your dreams will be aborted if you do not make a conscious decision to emerge!

Emerge before you expire. God will give you more after you decide to get up and go. So, be on your way. He will bless you more on your way rather than when you just sit where you are and wait for something to happen. Don’t sit where you are until you perish, move, emerge before you expire. Refuse to be stuck in mediocrity. You are not ordinary, you have been created for more. You may look and sound ordinary but you have an extraordinary assignment on your life, refuse to die in mediocrity. Regardless of your circumstances.

Just like the four lepers in 2 Kings 7:3-7 who found themselves in a difficult situation between life and death, which forced them to make a conscious decision to emerge against all odds. These 4 lepers, were caught up between a rock and a hard place, but regardless they decided to get up, and God decided to get up with them! Get up and Go. God will go with you and amplify the sound of your steps. Give Him something to amplify… (your company, finances, your life.) Be resolute, go after something that has the possibility of sustaining you in a wonderful way. Decide to emerge from your situation. No matter how dire it seems, you can make the decision to emerge today. You can decide that your story will end well, it will not end in tears, no matter what the enemy has decided.

Before we continue, let us try to look deeper into what it means to refuse to be buried under, or to refuse to stay in mediocrity… what it means to emerge! The word emerge can be defined as, to rise from an obscure or inferior position or condition; to rise from or out of anything that surrounds, covers, or conceals. It can also mean to become known – to come out of obscurity, into a position where people finally discover who you really are.

The word ‘emerge’ comes from a Latin word ‘emergere’ – which literary means to rise out or up of water, bring forth, bring to light or to escape. Emergence is a noun that goes back to the Latin root emergere, meaning ‘bring to light’. Just as something comes to light or shows up where there was darkness or nothing before, an emergence happens. Therefore, when you are emerging it means that you are escaping your current situation or condition. Emerge is an intransitive verb that might bring to mind the image of a whale rising up from the depths of the sea, or of a person popping out from a dark corner to spook you.

It means to rise up against what is merging you; merging means to sink or to dip. Whatever is dipping you under, or is causing you to sink; when you emerge, you are coming out of that. Whatever is causing you to go under - it may be loss, hurt, lack, rejection, delay, disappointment, etc. Believe that you are coming up and out of that. Don’t sit where you are and let your life waste away, EMERGE! Rise up out of that condition, situation, or circumstance that is keeping you stuck. Whatever is covering or trying to sink you, whatever your background is, whatever your history is, emerge victoriously. Tell yourself that you are not going to die in that condition; don’t let your history discount your destiny. Your history does not have the power to stop what God wants to do in your future.

Don’t just sit there and let your life fade away into oblivion. Tell yourself that you are not going to die in that condition, just like the four hungry lepers in the book of 2 Kings chapter 7 who decided to rise and emerge above their circumstances. Don’t let your desire and your life drift past you like a dream, and the traces of your memory fade from time like smoke in the air, or ripples on a stream. Rise up, emerge… with God. Get on with the timing and schedule of the all Mighty God. Because with Him in the fullness of time things and people emerge victoriously. I pray that God infuse you with a lot of inspiration and a sense of urgency for you to know that now is the time for you to rise up, to do something, to emerge, regardless of your circumstances.

The story of the four lepers is told to us in in the book of 2 Kings 7:3-10. The king of Syria sent his army against Samaria, and surrounded the capital city. With the city surrounded, the people could not go out to get food. A terrible famine gripped the city. Food became so scarce that the head of a donkey sold for two pounds of silver. A pint or two of dove dung sold for about two ounces of silver. The people were starving in this desperate situation. They actually resorted to cannibalism. Outside the city wall sat four lepers. They were not allowed into the city because of their leprosy. They were in an even worse situation than the people inside the city walls.

The Bible tells us that All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness… (2 Timothy 3:16). Since ‘All scripture is given by inspiration, and is profitable,’ I believe that this little story of the four lepers was given for our instruction too. Now, looking at this story of the four lepers, there are a few lessons that we can learn from them which I call the Leper Lessons. They were starving outside the gate of a besieged, starving city. They represent me, you, and everyone. Their story should be our story. Here are five lessons I learned from these lepers, I hope you can also take the same lessons from the story that could help you toward conversion and emerging victoriously from your circumstances:

■ First, they were leprous;

It doesn’t get much worse than to have been a leper in ancient times. In fact, did you know that the word for ‘leprosy’ in Hebrew is tzara’at – from which we get the Yiddish word Tzuris which means ‘troubles.’ Lepers were complete outcasts from society. They were feared and loathed on account of the perceived threat of being contagious. More than that, leprosy was considered by many to be a divine curse upon a man. For that reason, lepers were generally not trusted, and thought not to be taken at their word. Leprosy in the Bible is often spoken of as a type or illustration of sin. Inference is made looking at Leviticus 13:1 which says, ‘Leprosy speaks of sin as in the blood; becoming overt in loathsome ways; and incurable by human means.’ The Bible says, ‘He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head’ (Leviticus 13:44). Leprosy is a picture of man’s totally depraved condition, ruined by sin. Isaiah said, Ah sinful nation…the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and petrifying sores… (Isaiah 1:4-6). This is a terrible description of man’s sinful nature, dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).

We are told that these men were ‘leprous.’ They were in a truly horrible condition. This speaks to our awful, lost state. We have within us the sentence of death. We are ‘utterly unclean’ (Leviticus 13:44). We are truly as hopelessly lost as these men were. So, this condition can be perceived as a hindrance to emerge. In comparison to your own life today, what may characterize the state of leprosy in your life? Is it an incurable disease, are you battling COVID-19, are you in debt, or abusive relationship? Just like the lepers in our story, you too can emerge victoriously from your situation.

■ Second, they were dying;

Look at what they said to each other in verse four, If we say, we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there and if we sit still here, we die also… (2 Kings 7:4). These men were dying of starvation. We too, are dying... It may not be of physical hunger like the lepers. But, we all have the sentence of death in our bodies right now. The Bible says, ‘death passed upon all men’ (Romans 5:12). It further says, ‘It is appointed unto men once to die’ (Hebrews 9:27). We therefore need to see the urgency to emerge.

Each hour takes you closer to your death. Each day brings you twenty-four hours closer to your death. Each year brings you twelve months closer to your death. Someone almost ran into my car two weeks ago, and it was a bit scary. Two hours later the same afternoon, another car nearly hit me from behind at a traffic light. This reminded me that every time I get into my car I might never come out of that car alive, and so it is with you. More so these days, as we are fighting a pandemic and are at risk of contracting the virus, and we are losing loved ones every day. Those who were even admitted due to this virus can testify how scary it was to see your whole life flashing before your eyes and smelling the end. Just like the lepers we need to be cognizance that we don’t have the luxury of time, we are dying. The sooner we decide to emerge the better.

Yes, these four lepers were dying men. So is every other person. These lepers, were ready to perish from hunger. No one passed through the gate of the city to assist or relieve them. Should they go into the city, there was nothing to be consumed there, they must die in the streets. Should they sit still, they must hunger to death. Where can you go to escape from death? If you leave the church, and go out into the world, you will still die. Leaving the church and going into the world will not help you escape from death and judgment. Yet, if you remain in the church, in an unconverted condition, you will also die and face the judgment. If we say, we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also (2 Kings 7:4). These men faced death whether they stayed where they were, or went into the city. That is also true of us too, isn’t it?

■ Third, they were desperate outsiders;

Look at verse three. And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate… (2 Kings 7:3). Just as these lepers were shut out of the city, so you may be shut out. Sometimes you may feel like an outsider, not having a sense of belonging may create desperation. Feeling as if you are lost, at the entering in of the gate, as these lepers were. These four dying men reached a moment of desperation and they said one to another If we go into the city we will die of starvation. If we surrender to the enemy they may kill us also. What do we have to lose? This is where the world is - a pessimistic view of life. People are pessimistic about the future - Who cares? Why live? Why not? Life is short…live it up. What is the meaning of more days? What is the purpose of it all? Instead of defeat, the feeling of desperation can be channeled into energy that propels you to emerge.

■ Fourth, they used reason;

Look at verse three again. And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, why sit we here until we die? (2 Kings 7:3). These four lepers are sitting outside the gate of the city, and suddenly it dawns on them that they have absolutely nothing to lose! They can’t go inside the city - they are lepers, and besides that, inside the city is a horrific famine, - and they can’t just sit there and starve to death. They realized that they have only one option that doesn’t guarantee death, which is to go out to the army camp and surrender to the Syrians. If the Syrians let them live, they will at least be able to eat and stay alive. If the Syrians kill them, they will just die a little quicker.

It’s amazing how much clarity you can have when you are out of options. We talk about ‘counting the cost.’ Well, when you go to count and there is just about nothing there, you will know you are free to make your decision. When you come to your wit’s end, resolve to EMERGE – that is the very place God wants to meet you! These four lepers ‘threw caution to the wind.’ Really, they took the only logical course of action left to them.

‘Why sit we here until we die?’ They were using their minds. They were reasoning. God said, "Come now, and let us reason together, said the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow… (Isaiah 1:8). The Hebrew word translated ‘reason’ means ‘argue, convince.’ In other words, think it over. Look at all sides of the question until you are convinced. Isn’t that exactly what these four lepers did? They turned the question around in their minds. If we go into the city, we will die. If we stay here, we will die. And they said one to another, why sit we here until we die?" (2 Kings 7:3). So today, I pose the same question to you as you read, ‘why sit where you are until you die?’ You may sit there until you commit the unpardonable sin, and are given up by God forever, dead in sin. Or you may sit there until you die physically, in an unconverted state. You may sit in your dire situation until you die or you may answer the question differently, and emerge from obscurity.

Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, Why are we sitting here until we die? Why is this verse important? Cause if God can use sick leprous men, God can use former drunks, former prostitutes, liars, cheaters tricksters, kids raised by single parents or even without parents. God can use anybody. This is what the majority of people are doing just sitting there until they die. Their finances run out they close their doors, then they said this: If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die. I love language like that if someone kills me I die, if they don’t kill me I get to live you do not need a Hebrew lexicon to interpret that. But here is what I want you to see; four people and they are in a dilemma and you can’t miss this. They are willing to obey God and emerge, go into the enemy camp even if it cost them their life. Until we get to the point that we die to our self and surrender to God and say whatever your will is I’m not going to allow the obstacles to keep me from moving, I’m going to march to the drum beat of glory and I am going to do it for the glory of God regardless of what it cost me, I will emerge! You can do something with 4 guys like this, and the other side is you can’t do anything with 4 guys like this, how are you going to kill people who have already been willing to lay down their life they can’t be defeated!

■ Fifth, they rose up and got what they needed;

"They arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there. For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, ‘Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.’ Therefore, they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and