Chapter Eight: Discerning of Spirits

The School of the Seers by Jonathan Welton

Supernatural discernment typically divides that information into four different areas:

1. the working of the holy Spirit

2. the working of the demonic

3. the working of the human spirit

4. the working of heavenly beings

Many believe that discerning of spirits is the ability to know another person's secret sin and have used it as justification for harboring attitudes of suspicion, criticism, and accusation.

Ephesians 6:17 "...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

In the spirit, words equal swords. So with our mouths we also wield swords. We can use our words with the Holy Spirit as a scalpel to bring healing and restoration into the lives of others, or we can use words in a destructive manner that spiritually stabs and injures others. "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18).

In healing...the words that have been spoken against them need to be renounced, rejected or condemned (see Isaiah 54:17).

Where there is a lack of prayer, complaining will fill that void.

1 Corinthians 13:5, "Love keeps no record of wrongs." Most often, suspicion is built on a record of some sort, whether from firsthand experience or secondhand gossip from someone else. If we are going to look at people through Jesus' eyes, then we can't be carrying a record of wrongs and suspecting wrong of others.

Ultimately, if your discernment is going to be supernatural, you have to be humble enough to let the Holy Spirit change, guide, and direct you.

Chapter Seven: Questions about the Angelic Realm

The School of the Seers by Jonathan Welton

When you act in faith, you are stepping over into the things of the Kingdom realm -- healing, prophecy, miracles, discerning of spirits, and so on.

Until our perspective shifts to seeing ourselves and each other properly through God's eyes (we are higher than angels...1 Peter 1:12...we are the ones with divine nature and a mind of Christ 2 peter 1:4, 1 cor 2:16), we will still be overly impressed with those who have seen angels and operate in the Spirit realm. The spirit realm needs to be demystified and understood by the "average" Christian, keeping in mind that the average Christian is much more amazing than we have been made to believe.

Chapter Six: The Unseen Realm

The School of the Seers by Jonathan Welton

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 corinthians 4:18

Many New Age leaders teach about experiences with the unseen realm....Only those who are legally accessing the unseen realm are having true experiences and should be listened to as those who speak truth.

Chapter Five:Prophets and Seers

The School of the Seers by Jonathan Welton

God talks to seers and prophets in different ways; then they take those messages and declare them to the Church to bring vision, direction, and encouragement.

The Hebrew word for prophet means a suddenly inspired person. The word implies one who bubbles up, one who flows forth.

The Hebrew word for seer is one who receives communications from God more from visions and dreams than audible words.

Chapter Four:We Can All See. You Can Learn

The School of the Seers by Jonathan Welton

...a sign of all mature Christians is that they will be active in using discernment.

We must operate our discernment through love.

Chapter Three:Impartation

The School of the Seers by Jonathan Welton

"Revelation always brings responsibility, and hunger is the thing that prepares our hearts to carry the weight of that responsibility." -- Bill Johnson

Our character must be able to uphold the amount of power we carry, or else we are a danger to those around us...Not everyone receives the same level of anointing in impartation. God knows what you need, and what you can handle.

If you possess it, you can impart it.

Let it rain.

The most defining moment of my life was coming to Bethel.

Sometimes, I wonder if anything I will ever do will have such an impact as what Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton have done.

They have answered a call that impacts thousands of new people every year. Even just by the fact that at least 1,000 students do first and second year at BSSM every year.

I know I am in a season of rest and it won't be that way forever...but, I just don't know what to do now. I'm literally merely twiddling my thumbs it seems. My discernment and prophecy has intensified and heightened even in this season...but, for what? Those close to me don't listen to me...they don't value my words...in essence, giving the Holy Spirit and myself a big middle finger...

What does it take to have people value your words?

The people closest to you....so it's not that a prophet is least accepted in their own country....what makes you accepted in your own country....when the words are hard....

So sad that so many are willing to turn away when I'm just trying to help...

I've never turned away when someone gave me a hard word...

It doesn't really hurt...just makes me apathetic towards my relationships.

That's not how I wanted to start a new year....

Won't be how I end it.

I promise.