I’Ve Seen the Lightning Flashing

By Dr. Kim Yancey James

As a servant leader, you will experience lightning wars because your commitment to follow Christ and love the people comes with a cost and that is, sharing your heart and spending much of your time with persons who do not really know you. Remember, the disciples did not fully understand the identity and mission of Jesus. The Holy Spirit constantly reminds me of this. They witnessed Jesus healing the sick and raising the dead, but they did not know Jesus. We have not healed the sick nor raised the dead. Therefore, we should not be surprised if people that we think would know our heart and spirit, do not. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669802396

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Copyright © 2022 by Kim Yancey James.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

KVJ

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Rev. date: 01/24/2022

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Prologue

Introduction

Chapter 1     So, What Is A Lightning War?

Chapter 2     How To Deal With Ambush Predators

Chapter 3     Terrorism In The Church

Chapter 4     Cuts From The Glass Ceiling

Chapter 5     Spiritual Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Chapter 6     Transparency, Catharsis And Healing

Chapter 7     Mentoring The Unmentorable And Teaching The Unteachable

Chapter 8     Encountering The Jezebel Spirit

Chapter 9     Ppp – Personal Pandemic Predicament

Chapter 10   Walking In Divine Destiny

Chapter 11   The Advantages Of Spiritual Lightning

Chapter 12   See The Spiritual Lightning And Stay Fired Up!

About The Author

Bibliography

Advanced Praise For I’ve Seen

The Lightning Flashing

Dr. Kim Yancey James, writer of Breaking The Silence: The Voiceless Victims of Physical and Emotional Violence now breaks silence her as it relates to the trials and triumphs 0f women in ministry. I’ve Seen The Lightning Flashing shares her journey as the first licensed and ordained female minister of the Paradise Baptist Church, straightforwardly walking us through her journey as servant leader. She openly speaks to her experience the wife of a bishop which adds dimensions to lightning wars that are specific yet have Christ-centered solutions that will benefit all leaders.

Dr. James, thank you for being my helpmeet and for walking in holy boldness to proclaim a gospel that will set the captives free.

Bishop Jethro C. James, Pastor

Paradise Baptist Church

Newark, New Jersey

Instructional, Transparent and Encouraging! Dr. Kim Yancey James’ honesty and lucid depictions of a female servant leader’s trailblazing journey of answering God’s call on her life will bless women and men in ministry for decades to come. The collection of storms, trials and victories and her mastery of applying the Word of God to each situation will have you preaching, laughing, and praising your way through the storm! You and your ministry team will be encouraged to move forward through the lightning of life! Her fiery sermons will have you preaching with the book as you turn the pages to experience moments in your life where you, too, had to hold your peace or maybe you didn’t?

Thank you for letting us know that the glass ceiling shatter and glass cuts, but God will heal the scars.

Bravo, Dr. Kim Yancey James, Bravo!

Pastor Dorothy J. Colon

In His Presence Family Worship Center, Co-Pastor

Brooklyn, New York

Women of Divine Destiny- New York Chapter President

Having experienced the full gamut of Christian ministry, Dr. Kim Yancey James new work is a must have for every woman called, contemplating, or connected to ministry. As an educator, preacher, counselor, spiritual infuser, artist, producer and more, she has experienced and headlined ministry events from Broadway to TV, from TV to international conferences and beyond!

A modern-day epistle, from a modern-day apostle for the modern-day woman!

Dr. Richard Hartley

The REV - USA TV

Haven International Ministries - Pastor

Far Rockaway, New York

Acknowledgements

The Lord has blessed me with family, colleagues, peers, and friends who have supported and encouraged me along the way. The Paradise Baptist Church and the Women’s Ministry are dear to my heart, having been there at the early stages of my call to ministry, providing a context for growth. I trust God that the seeds sown into your lives have taken root and that the fruit will remain.

To my husband, Bishop Jethro James, for your example of commitment to preach and serve God with holy boldness, in season and out of season. Your much needed support, input and encouragement remain essential in helping me to keep pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

To my children, Terrill, Tanisha, Danielle and grandchildren, Taylor Jewel, Isaiah, Micah, and Sophia-Jo. I pray that life brings you love, joy and the peace that is found in God.

To my dear friend, Phenician Sullivan, who exemplifies true friendship, witnessed the journey, supported and encouraged me along the way.

To Women of Divine Destiny, Officers, Members, and the amazing cadre of creative supporting staff, you light up my life. Your sacrifice and generosity are beyond measure, and I am grateful for each of you. I see the brightness of our future as we hold on to Jesus, the blessed hope.

To Pastor Dorothy J. Colon for diligently reading and proofreading manuscript. You made the words come off the page!

To the Men of the Women of Divine Destiny, Bishop Jethro C. James, Bishop Rudy V. Carlton, Dr. Richard Hartley, and Pastor Leo Colon, you rock!

To Sasha, my grand dog, thank you for all the extra hugs that were so needed during the pandemic. I really appreciate it, although I know you were bribing me for snacks.

Dedication

In loving memory of my father, James Weldon Yancey, who loved and supported me unconditionally, always proud of my every accomplishment. You would read every chapter, word for word and then, engage me in theological dialogue. You were the wind beneath my wings!

In loving memory of the strong women in my life, who are among that great cloud of witnesses, my mothers; the one who gave me life, Jacqueline Hinton, and the one who whom life gave to me, Dorothy Watson. Your strong support, tenacity, and commitment to care for others and your style have made me who I am today.

In loving memory of my paternal grandmother Louise Kenton Yancey and dear friends, Valerie Dade, Barbara (Dicey) Wiggins and Marva Wendy Hinds, you will never be forgotten.

Prologue

The blessing of many years of service in the Christian Church and community have produced innumerable spiritual learning opportunities that have stretched, challenged, and grown me in ways that I could have never imagined. I am eternally grateful for every opportunity that God has given me and thankful to those who have taught me, by example, to be steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord.

God has clearly orchestrated a path in ministry that has been designed to prepare, encourage, and equip me for various Kingdom assignments. There were many times when the obstacles seemed to be overwhelming. I have truly seen the lightning flashing, but thanks be to God who has never failed to give me the victory, I am no longer afraid of the lightning! I have learned, through pain, heartache, trials, and spiritual disciplines to both expect and embrace spiritual lightning knowing that the God who controls the lightning lives within me and has proven to be greater than that which is against me.

The purpose of this book is to transparently share my experiences, shortcomings, challenges, and victories with other ministry leaders and those aspiring to leadership in the Church, in effort to empower servants who will be both focused and consistent in their assignments. It is my sincere hope that many will be enlightened and uplifted as we explore how to overcome the potential pitfalls trusting in the One who is able to keep us from falling.

Chapter One explores the scientific, historical, and spiritual significance of lightning. The historical and militaristic meaning of a lightning war and its present-day spiritual application will be discussed with focus on why this tactical strategy is potentially threatening to God’s servant leaders.

Chapter Two will present a biblical perspective of the methodical attack of the ambush predator and how God assures believers of victory against all odds.

Chapter Three addresses the challenges of encountering Terrorism in the Church: the spirits of cynicism, skepticism, and undercover criticism which, if not overcome, have the potential to derail the ministry assignment.

Chapter Four will reveal cuts from the glass ceiling as a danger that women often face during the promotion of God.

Chapter Five will explore Spiritual Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a condition which results from traumatic spiritual experiences and pain inflicted by people in the Church after which the person continually re-lives the incident.

Chapter Six will reveal how one may acknowledge and address pain endured in ministry through transparency and catharsis to promote healing.

Chapter Seven examined the realities and expectations of mentorship as it relates to advisement to Christian leaders.

Chapter Eight examines encounters with the manipulative and divisive Jezebel spirit which seeks a place of authority and control in the Kingdom of God.

Chapter Nine speaks to personal difficulties faced during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Chapter Ten represents the blessing to birth Women of Divine Destiny, Inc., a 501c3 corporation which endeavors to encourage and empower women in ministry and community leadership to serve this present age, our calling to fulfill.

Chapter Eleven addresses the advantages of literal and spiritual lightning along with words of hope that will remind and inspire the reader that we are victorious when we trust our God, who controls the lightning.

Chapter Twelve culminates with encouraging leaders to embrace the spiritual lightning and remain F.I.R.E.D. UP (Faithful, Inspired, Resilient, Empowered, Determined).

Introduction

Several years ago, when God placed it in my heart to write this book, I could not have imagined that it would be accomplished during a sudden and violent appearance of figurative lightning. The writing occurs during the Global Coronavirus Pandemic of 2019 which added an unprecedented and unparalleled dimension to lightning. Suddenly our usual places of worship changed along with the busyness of ministry and how we serve God, the people, and the community. Many have lost loved ones, jobs, homes, and the sense of safety and well-being.

Schools were closed, forcing many unprepared and ill-equipped parent persons to home-school their children. Students were robbed of the experience of proms and graduation ceremonies. Life became different, suddenly!

This sudden change in our lives produced fear, anxiety, and insecurity, even among believers. You see the lightning flashing, have no control, and know that it is dangerous and life-threatening. This is not the result of an overactive imagination as the facts and data detail a global health crisis which, to date, has taken over 5, 440, 400 lives with over 826, 000 in the United States! Social media sites have become sources of death notifications and while enduring so much pain, there were no hugs allowed. Living near a highway, I would hear the ambulance sirens day and night. The nights were very difficult because those sounds would break through the silence of scarce moments of rest bringing my mind back to the reality that death was all around me. Hospital visitations were not possible for concern of spreading the virus, resulting in loved ones transitioning without family members at their side. To make