THE TRANSFERRING OF SPIRITS
Numbers 11:16, 17, 25; 27:16-20; 2 Kings 2:15
One of the themes in Scripture that we do not talk about very much is the transferring of spirits. Yet it is a theme that occurs throughout the Scripture.
Spirit: “a disposition; a frame of mind; a mood.” It is a special attitude or frame of mind.
This transferring of spirits sometimes occurs when God selects a successor or successors. It is done to help the successor to accomplish God’s purpose.
Now, we transfer a lot of things:
*We transfer knowledge. We sometimes think this is the primary way to have revival or to see a church grow. But knowing what it takes to have revival or grow a church will not accomplish it. Not only do we have to know we have to act. Most of us don’t have a problem with knowledge. We know how to pray we just don’t pray. We know that when people are discouraged we need to encourage them, we just don’t.
A lot of times it is those who know the most who accomplish the least.
*We transfer wealth. Many have built great empires and transferred this wealth to an heir but that heir squandered it all away.
But when it comes to transferring of spirits we don’t talk too much about that. Maybe because we haven’t thought about it that much.
We have in Numbers the 11th chapter part of the story of Moses. The burden of the people became too heavy for Moses and he needed to share his leadership. He could not do the work by himself, he needed help. There was a transferring of the spirit that was upon Moses to the 70 elders so they could help carry the load.
In Numbers 27 we see where Joshua is about to become the successor of Moses. The transferring of spirits takes place. The spirit of Moses was transferred to Joshua. {Notice, they had to receive this for the transfer to be complete.}
In 2 Kings Chapter 2 the same thing takes place again. The spirit of Elijah was transferred to Elisha.
Listen up: Every church has a spirit, and it’s not always the Holy Spirit; every individual in that church has a spirit as well as every denomination.
Every congregation has a spirit. This spirit has usually been cultivated or developed over a long time. This spirit determines how people listen to a sermon, how they evangelize or how they react to change. For instance: if people have a spirit of analysis or sleepiness or wandering they are less likely to get much out of the sermon; if people have a spirit of timidity or fear they are not going to do much evangelism and if people have a spirit of resistance or nostalgia they want be open to much change.
Two churches that are close together can have the same doctrine and the same truth being preached but one is in bitterness and discord and the other is bursting with growth and unity. In some churches people can have a spirit of slothfulness or laziness or they can have a spirit of energy and work.
Some that are sitting here in this church right now, hearing this message; some will accept it and some will reject it. It all depends on your spirit. It will depend on if you have a spirit of openness or a spirit of close mindedness to the Word. If you come with a spirit that says, “I can’t get anything from the service” guess what, you want be disappointed.
In Isaiah 61:3 the Bible talks about exchanging the spirit of heaviness for a spirit or garment of praise.
In some churches there is a spirit of judgementalism. They size you up when you come in the front door.
Here comes an eye opener: people don’t join a church because of what that church believes. Nine out of ten will tell you that they joined because of a spirit of love.
Whether you realize it or not when you walk into church you carry a spirit with you. If enough people pick up on it or tune into it, you can transfer that spirit to them.
This happens when a person comes in with a critical spirit. Have you ever noticed how fast a spirit of criticism is transferred from one person to another? A person who comes into such an atmosphere with a spirit of joy feels out of place. And if your aren’t careful that spirit of criticism will be transferred to you. But praise God, if that spirit of joy in you is greater than that spirit of grouchiness it will begin to catch on and be transferred to people. We should not allow people to transfer these bad spirits to us.
1 John 4:4 says, …greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
In some churches the spirit of harmony prevails and in some the spirit of conflict or confrontation prevails. God only works in the spirit of harmony. He doesn’t work in a spirit of conflict.
Let’s look at a few Biblical examples briefly: {I am not saying these spirits exist in this church but they do give us something to think about}
The Lucifer spirit in Isaiah 14. This spirit wants the credit and glory for everything. Lucifer got tired of God getting all the credit. It is a spirit of pride and trying to exalt oneself above God. It is a spirit of rebellion and not submitting to authority [Isaiah 14:12].
The Saul spirit – it almost destroyed Israel. Saul was anointed and used of God but he reached a point where the Spirit of God left, he didn’t repent and became jealous of everyone God tried to raise up. A spirit of jealousy rose up. God can’t birth a powerful ministry in some churches because of a Saul spirit, a spirit of jealousy. People are afraid others will outshine them or challenge their authority.
In third John, John wrote about Diotrephes who liked to have the preeminence. This is a controlling spirit. Before any church can do anything this kind of spirit must be broken. You can’t control the Holy Spirit, there must be liberty. Yes he wanted to do a lot but it had to be done his way or not at all.
The ten spies had an unbelieving spirit. That spirit was transferred to the children of Israel and caused them not to enter into the Promised Land. {Turn to Numbers 13:25-33} Notice that Caleb had a different spirit about him.
Spirit of Ill Will. Judges 9:23. This was between Abimelech and Shechem.
Hannah had a sorrowful spirit in 1 Samuel 1:15 – “And Hannah answered and said, "No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.”
1 Kings 22:22 talks about a lying spirit – The LORD said to him, In what way? So he said, I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.
There is a spirit of bondage – For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. Romans 8:15
There is a spirit of the world – “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15
1 Corinthians 2:21 talks about a spirit of gentleness – “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?”
Spirit of Barnabas – a spirit of helps or encouragement. People with this spirit look for people who are down and hurt and try to encourage them.
Proverbs 16:19 talks of a humble spirit: “Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”
Proverbs 17:27 talks of a calm spirit: “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”
Exodus 28:3 talks of a spirit of wisdom: “So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest.”
Let me ask you: WHAT KIND OF SPIRIT DO YOU TRANSFER? WHAT KIND OF SPIRIT DO YOU HAVE?
Would The Church Explode In Growth And Power If Your Spirit Were Transferred To Everyone In The Church?
There are many problems in our churches today. What most churches don’t need is a new face lift, a change of name, a change of pastor, or a new doctrine or a new program. What most of our churches need is a new spirit, a change of spirit. Until there is a new spirit in them the church will never experience revival or growth.
Ezekiel 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”
We need to allow the spirit of Jesus to be transferred to us. His spirit of compassion, love, care, kindness, forgiveness, etc.
John 20:19-22 – “19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you. 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.”
He is ready to breathe or transfer a new spirit into us today if we will let Him.
