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Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The English Standard Version® copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2011. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version.

Published by XP Publishing

A department of XP Ministries

P.O. Box 1017

Maricopa, Arizona 85139

www.XPpublishing.com

For worldwide distribution

eISBN: 9781621661153

Dedication

This book is dedicated to those who inspired me to

emerge and become empowered:

Holy Spirit

who gave me the outline for this book

My husband, Dale, and my children, Eric, Gretchen, & Marcus,

who prevailed with me during difficult times and are now

triumphant overcomers

Mary-Ann & Chris Holmes

for their unconditional love and support

My friends

who believed in the vision and stood beside me

Those whose stories I share

who stepped into the fullness of abundant life

Those who have gone through rejection & despair

yet trusted God as David did

and emerged from the cave believing for

the greater things that Jesus promised

ENDORSEMENTS

In a world filled with darkness, people are struggling to find purpose and meaning, but hopelessness abounds. As children of God we should always be filled with hope, but many within the body of Christ live in the same despair that the world does. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, there is a light that shines brightly. God is raising up leaders with true shepherd hearts as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 23:4). They are mature sons and daughters of God who care for His people and long to see them walk in the freedom that God provided through the finished work of the cross. Lois Flewelling is one such leader.

In this profound yet very practical book, Lois extends God’s loving invitation to emerge from our place of despair. You will be filled with encouragement through the many biblical examples from the saints of old. As you imbibe upon the truths that Lois shares, the enemy will lose in his attempts to isolate you from God and the body of Christ. Instead of being isolated from God, you will be immersed in the presence of a loving Father who loves you where you are and frees you from the debilitating captivity of hopelessness. You will be taken step by step through the process that brings you to freedom and the awareness of who you are created to be in God. You will begin to exclaim with the Psalmist, “I will exalt you Lord, for you rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me” (Psalm 30:1).

Lois Flewelling is well qualified to write on this subject; she has lived it and has helped many others to also come into freedom. I am privileged to call her my friend. Don’t rush as you go through these pages. At times, it will be painful but it will also be worth the journey. God is faithful, and He will be with you every step of the way. You will emerge victoriously.

BART HADAWAY

Pastoral & Spiritual Overseer

XP Ministries

There are thousands, if not tens of thousands, who need to read this book. So many people find themselves in the same place going through the same things, thinking they are all alone. Emerge reveals the real life story of hurt, pain, and misunderstanding of an individual who just wants to please and obey the Lord.

Lois does a wonderful job of articulating the process she went through, revealing her own hurts, rejections, and misunderstandings and then giving biblical examples of several champions who went through the same journey. Lois closes the book with the lessons she learned in the cave of trials and tribulations and the choices she made to move forward. She made the choice to not be victimized but victorious. I believe that as you read this book, identify with the process, and make the right decisions, you can be victorious as well.

DR. JOHN G. L. BURPEE

CEO/Founder

John Burpee Ministries

The Bridge to Destiny Ministries

Destiny Churches &

Ministries International Apostolic Network

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE – EXCHURCHED AND UNCHURCHED

1. Resounding Why

2. My Cave

3. Seven Dread Champions

4. Two Warring Women

PART TWO – TRANSFORMATION

5. Stories of Renewal

6. Faith or Fear

7. Rest

8. Cleansing

9. Discovering Who to Trust

10. Revelation of Provision & His Mysteries

11. Deliverance

12. War!

13. Crucial Questions

PART THREE – LIVING SUPERNATURALLY

14. Proper Perspective

15. Intimacy

16. Authority

17. Expectation

18. Empowerment

19. Emergence

PRAYERS FOR CONTINUED BREAKTHROUGH

INTRODUCTION

Life stressors that cause relational, physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual destructive aftereffects are becoming increasingly intense. Many today are being hit with a constant onslaught of relational difficulties, financial struggles, health problems, and devastating losses. Chapter one of James tells us to consider it wholly joyful whenever we are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort. How is it possible to consider these things joyful when loss hurts so much and fear grips us?

The word emerge has several definitions but two are significant for the subject of this book and I believe they are part of God’s priorities for this season. Emerge describes God’s plan for each of us: to rise up from whatever inferior position we currently hold and to manifest into the person that God initially planned. Too often we find ourselves hurt, overwhelmed, shocked, or encumbered by devastating circumstances that are out of our control. God has shown me that these agonizing situations do not have to cripple us forever; they can actually be used to strengthen and empower us for the much greater things He has in store for us. Jesus said that He “must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law” (see Mark 8:31). This is true for us as well. In 2 Timothy 3:12, we see that all who will live in a godly manner shall suffer persecution. It seems we cannot get away from trouble, but those who seek to live for Christ have a promise: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). I look forward to being with my Lord and enjoying the benefits of reigning with Him, but these promises are for today as well as our future.

As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature.

— 2 Peter 1:3-4

“Going into the cave” is what I call our journeys through unbearable life occurrences. We will see how David emerged from the cave empowered and closer to God and then correlate it to our own lives. A cave can represent many things: security and protection during a storm, hopelessness and despair when there is nowhere else to go, or a quiet refuge when chaos surrounds us. It can also reflect anxiety and fear of the unknown or the erratic vulnerability we feel in our turbulent surroundings. Many of us revert to the cave of despair when life throws us a curveball, or we need a place to retreat when our experiences threaten us physically, relationally, or emotionally. In these times we draw back into a place of darkness surrounded only by the sounds of our thoughts.

It is then that we are haunted by the words of the enemy, which make us doubt every action we take. Yet in the midst of this haunting, we can also hear the quiet voice of our mighty God as He encourages us to come closer to Him. This is when the Lord has our attention; we have nowhere to go, are worn out from running away, and are ready for the help God eagerly wants to provide.

We must emerge from the cave! God needs us in this season known as the End Times. Going into the cave was a response that the body of Christ needed, but coming out in power and might is now a direct call from the Lord. Yes, we have been discouraged by life, the mediocrity of the church, the bombardment of rejection, and hatred from the world. So was David. But he sought the Lord, repented, rested, and strengthened himself in the Lord for warfare in order to change his world. We must do the same. We can no longer lie dormant in our discontent state of mind. We must prepare ourselves to fight, and fight strategically with the Lord as our Commander. This book is about preparing ourselves for battle to change the world, make disciples as we are commanded, and establish the kingdom of God here on earth. We must shift out of only living in intellectual knowledge of the Lord and move into a place where we can receive His revelation and begin to act upon it. This involves moving out of complacency into empowerment; it requires a transformation, a renewing of the mind so the new thing God wants to do can take place. As you move through this process of stepping out of your current state of affairs – your cave – allow God to be the Lord of your circumstances. This process liberates us from self, rebellion, and religious striving. It repositions us into a renewed sense of groundbreaking freedom, revelation, and into a powerful dimension of His glory.

PART ONE

EX-CHURCHED & UN-CHURCHED

TRANSITION! The Lord at times moves pieces around in order to position us. The Lord has been in the process of developing us in order that we would be prepared to make a concentrated push toward apprehending the promises over our lives and our regions. There has been a lot of change and transition. Through this process of transition it seems as though there is much offense in the body – ridiculous sensitivity, assumption, murmuring, back stabbing, and offense. So I asked the Lord about this, and He told me that offense was necessary for His plan. He said the key to development is identifying our weaknesses so we can turn them into strengths. He uses offense as His spotlight on the areas that are weak. Those that were committed have been purified by the process. Those that were not have been hardened by the process. It’s as if He laid into place the threshing floor and has begun to separate the wheat and the tares, shaking everything that can be shaken in order to prepare us for what is coming.

In a vision, I saw an open cave. As I asked the Lord what was in this cave, I heard Him say, “Ex-churched and un-churched.” I recognized the cave as the cave of Adullam. I heard the Lord say, “I am raising an army of the emotionally unbalanced – the in debt, the broken, the bitter, and the rebellious – because these are the ones who will be willing to do what the church has been unwilling to do for so long: become fools for the gospel’s sake and love not their lives. They will never lose another battle.”

After He showed me this, He told me the key to the cave is patience. Not patience for them to come, but patience for them to develop. It’s going to be messy, unrefined, and nontraditional. He is not raising them up because of their purity, doctrine, or appearance, but because of their willingness and their hunger.

The Lord also said that He will position REAL moms and dads in order to raise them up and cover them. This year is when they come in, and it’s just the beginning. The church is going to begin to look radically different.¹

This word aligns with what the Lord instructed me to write about: transition, cave time, and the radical. In this book we will first address the many ways God draws us into the cave where He does business with us. For the enlisted, those who become committed to the process, God prepares them for their assignment in this place. Our response is crucial in determining our effectiveness for the kingdom of God. Then we will focus on several facets of that training, which positions us for leadership and authority. And finally, we will identify the qualities, gifts, and character traits that rise to the top as a result of God’s refining process.

¹ Jamie Dickson, pastor of Kingdom Life Church, Oakland, ME

CHAPTER ONE

RESOUNDING WHY?

There are many reasons we are called to go into our cave. Sometimes we are running away because we are hurt, scared, and desperate. Other times we want to hide from rejection, shame, lies, addictions, failures, or our past. Living in chaos and mess from bad choices that become overwhelming with no visible solution is another reason we go into our caves. No answers are apparent, and when we present our “stuff” to the church, their response often fails to meet our needs. Instead, we feel judged and criticized, sending us into the cave. Marriages and families are splitting; schools are becoming unsafe; businesses are struggling to stay afloat; and personal lives are full of stress and anxiety. Where do we go to find relief? God is calling many of us to the cave in order to bring us out changed, strengthened, and full of His power.

David also escaped to the cave when he was scared, desperate, and running for his life (see 1 Samuel 22:1). David had killed tens of thousands; he was honored, loved, and respected but then he became hunted. We wonder why life takes these turns. They commonly occur because of our own choices, but they can also be the result of other’s choices, which affect us. At times, we can be pushed into the cave by those in authority over us who become jealous and treat us wrongly, as was the case for David. As an innocent lad who tended his father’s sheep, he was called out of the field, the youngest and most unlikely of all his brothers, and anointed by Samuel to be king. Man had overlooked him, but God called and chose David as the vessel He had prepared for use.

Often, God’s way does not make sense to the world, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV),

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

Our circumstances can change instantly as when Samuel anointed David: “The Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13). His life was forever changed from this experience. We also see that Saul’s life changed when “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented and troubled him” (v. 14).

One of Saul’s servants recommended David to come play music for Saul, because this was the only thing they knew at the time to subdue an evil spirit from tormenting someone. Notice how this servant described David in verse eighteen: “I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who plays skillfully, a valiant man, a man of war, prudent in speech and eloquent, an attractive person; and the Lord is with him.” This servant recognized David for who he actually was in God’s eyes. Eventually, these very qualities are what forced David toward the cave.

The cave exposes things hidden deep in our heart and forces us to examine every aspect of our existence.

Instead of embracing David, Saul became extremely jealous of the anointing that was on his life and the favor he had with God and the people. Soon Saul’s jealousy turned into hatred. In 1 Samuel 20:1, David asks his friend Jonathan, “What have I done? Of what am I guilty? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” David obviously did not understand why his circumstances changed so drastically.

We ask similar questions when life’s circumstances overwhelm us. Why is this happening to me? What have I done? What is the sin before me that God would allow this to happen? The cave exposes things hidden deep in our heart and forces us to examine every aspect of our existence. It also compels us to examine those in our sphere of influence to determine whether they are for us or against us. Just as Saul became jealous and attacked the one who seemed to challenge his position as king, in churches today there are many who seek after position and power, caring little about who they hurt or destroy on their way to the “top.” Sadly, because of jealousy and the need to be in charge, these leaders harm the very flock they were called to protect. As a result, true gifted and anointed individuals are severely injured and retreat to the cave of despair.

I hear many stories of why people flee into the cave of hiding. Sadly, some never come out, but others come forth changed, forever empowered to serve their Lord with all their heart. The enemy is out to devour us and prevent us from fulfilling our destiny and call in these End Times. Often it feels that there is one assignment after another that chases us. We just begin to get back on our feet and we’re struck again in another area of what we consider precious – our marriages, children, finances, careers, relationships, and church life are all under attack. Leaders in the church and work place make decisions that affect us for years. Daily, the number of those wounded by the church increases. Many choose to camouflage their hurt and live under a façade of what they believe life should be instead of pressing forward into the life God desires for them. But there is a rising up of those who are determined to experience the life that Jesus described. I am one of those who are hungry and passionate to get closer to God and help others to do the same, removing any obstacles that may be in the way. Are you?

I was traveling to a conference one spring day when I caught sight of a tree with old sneakers, work boots, and shoes hanging off its limbs. God showed me how this tree represents many of us today. The tree was bare at the time; it had not begun budding out its new life for the year. Though the trunk, branches, and limbs were all visible, what you really focused on was the old footwear hanging over every limb from top to bottom. Being drawn to the tree, I returned later in the summer to take a picture of it. The leaves were now in full bloom, covering up much of the footwear. But even with the beauty of green leaves on display, I could still glimpse the ugliness of the old sneakers and work boots. What an image for us!

Too often we try to cover up the ugliness in our lives. We push it down until we are forced to confront it. Why we choose to keep our “stuff” always intrigues me. At some point, Jesus expects us to take care of the ugliness hanging from our branches. He wants us to focus on Him, know His purpose, and follow His path not our own. Jesus tells us that His yoke is easy and asks that we let Him bear our burdens: our pride, what other people think, prestige, low self-esteem, unforgiveness, and hatred. Sometimes we become so comfortable with our issues that we don’t even recognize they are there. We cover them up with smiles, pretense, and busyness, and we get angry if anyone dares to bring up our stuff. Denial becomes a way of life because it is easier – thus the cave where we are forced to face our stuff and do business with those things that stand in the way of becoming the dread champions Christ called us to be.

CHAPTER TWO

MY CAVE

I sat staring out the window of my den, which was my current cave. This was my first day of a sabbatical that felt forced upon me. I was exhausted and felt forsaken, trampled upon, and hopeless. Emotionally, I was crushed and unable to think clearly about what had happened over the last several months. I had tried to keep it together but every fiber of fight that I had was now lost, and I was giving up. One circumstance after another had crippled my very being; I felt battered where I worked, at my church, and in public. Panic attacks prohibited my ability to be in public, and my known world seemed to crumble before me as every aspect of my life was hit.

I was most devastated by those in my church family who were my friends and that I thought loved me. Those whom I expected to understand and have compassion instead, criticized, judged, and informed me of my sin. I was told that a Christian does not have panic attacks, get depressed, or struggle without having sin in their life! At the time, I did not understand what was happening nor why, but now that I have emerged from this cave, I can look back and see that God had a specific assignment for which He was preparing me.

ENDORSEMENTS

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER ONE

RESOUNDING WHY?

CHAPTER TWO

MY CAVE