Transference of Spirits
2Sa 11:14 Now it came about in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent [it] by the hand of Uriah.
2Sa 11:15 And he had written in the letter, saying, "Place Uriah in the front line of the fiercest battle and withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and die."
2Sa 11:16 So it was as Joab kept watch on the city, that he put Uriah at the place where he knew there [were] valiant men.
2Sa 11:17 And the men of the city went out and fought against Joab, and some of the people among David's servants fell; and Uriah the Hittite also died.
Background for today's message:
David at a very low point in his life is at the cave Adullam, where he has what we would call a gathering of eagles. Men from all walks of life and nationalities, joined themselves unto him.
They are described as everyone who was in debt, everyone who was in distress, everyone who was dissatisfied.
They saw a leader they could believe in, a leader who was willing to work with less than perfect people. They became his mighty men of valor. It is interesting to note all the foreigners David recruited into his army: Ahimelech the Hitite, Ittai of Gath (Goliath's home town!); Ishbosheth the Canaanite, (#2Sa xxiii:8), LXX.; Zelek the Ammonite, (2 Sam 23:37) and of course Uriah the Hittite
Uriah I believe joined himself to David at the cave of Adullam. He became one of the David's mighty men of valor. Men whose bravery, loyalty, and ferociousness in battle are legendary. What David did to him, is one of foulest deeds in all scripture. The story is told in 2 Samuel 11, and 12.
In preparing for and preaching the message last week, something caught my attention I didn't speak on but I want to address a whole message to that subject: transference of spirits. In last weeks message I noted Saul came up with a scheme to kill David and it was simply this: David wanted to marry a daughter of Saul's and Saul basically said kill 100 Philistines as a dowry and the girl is yours. Saul thought that in the process of attempting to kill the 100 Philistines, David himself would be killed, and no blame could be laid at the foot of Saul, because after all, the Philistines would in fact be the ones who killed David.
What is interesting about this is that the same idea is the scheme used by David later in his attempt to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah. Chance? I don't think so. This morning I want to talk about something called transference of spirits, and just as importantly I want to talk to you about the power of words.
In the case of Saul and David, I think somewhere along the line David heard of Saul's plan, the word apparently got out, it is after all recorded in scripture. It may be the idea wasn't original with Saul, one of his cohorts may have mentioned it to him, or Saul may have consulted with others and bye and bye the word got out, and that is how the story wound up in our bible. I believe somewhere along the way David heard it, and it was like a virus that buried itself into his spirit waiting for the right opportunity of a compromised spiritual immune system to burst forth in all its horrible glory. When David committed adultery, hidden and suppressed seeds of the enemy watered by his actions sprang to life. The message today is about getting those seeds cleaned out of us, and keeping our spiritual immune system protected and healthy. Because like David we have heard things on tv, from friends, even stories of the failures of others, they become lodged in our spirit lurking for a time of compromised spiritual immunity to spring forth. Lets get them before they get us!
On the Powerpoint screen is a magnified picture of Velcro, and in it you can that the secret of Velcro, very simply is hooks and loops. Transference of spirits is when a hook of the enemy finds a loop in your spirit with which to attach a seed of evil.
In life there are good hooks and loops and there are bad hooks and loops. David in the cave of Adullam is an example of a good hook and loop. People from all over were attracted to his bravery, his vision, his compassion, and his zeal for the Lord, that transferred from him to them.
David in the case of Uriah is an example of a bad one and here is another that contrasts bad and good:
Joh 8:37 "I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
Jesus in this passage speaks about His word finding no place in the hearts of some people. These were people Jesus tried to connect with but they rejected. The hook of the word went out, but it found no loop of reception. In contrast to that there are many examples of scripture where His word was accepted, and most everyone in this room is an example of that truth.
The all important question is "what are you receptive to?"
Is there a way to improve our receptivity of good spiritual things, and decrease our receptivity of bad spiritual things? Yes, and yes.
First
So what exactly is transference of spirits?
It is the transfer from one person to another of a desire, or an attitude, whereby it takes root, germinates and then multiplies. It can be of good or bad things.
An example in the natural would be the flu. On the screen is a picture of a door knob loaded with nasties just waiting to get you when you touch a door. Every hand you shake, you are shaking every hand they shook since their last washing. Think about that the next time you ring a doorbell! Every been in a fast food restaurant and the worker sneezed. It's time to go somewhere else.
Have you ever been in a room, and the whole atmosphere changed when Mr. Grumples came in? Or Miss Sourpuss?
Another example is the look on momma's face. My wife transmits terror when the kids are hurt. I have seen it mirrored in their faces many times. She is relating to them as a mother, I try to be the great calmer. But parents transfer to their kids far more than their genes.
Some people transfer lust.
Some people transfer fear.
Some people transfer gotta have it. (Effective salesmen)
Some people transfer rebellion.
Some people transfer gossip.
How does this happen? How does this take place?
One way is through words
Ro 3:13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
1. Words are Containers
Joshua 5:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which [were] on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which [were] by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Joshua 2:11 And as soon as we had heard [these things], our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Words can contain more than vowels and syallables. Then can carry anger, joy, peace, resentment along with them.
Words can bring love and or hate with them. Powerpoint shows a woman being hugged by words. That is what a birthday card does.
Words can bring fear, or they can bring faith and cleansing:
John 15:3 you are clean through the word I have spoken to you
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her;
Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Reading the bible has a special ability to clean you. While you are reading it can almost be like the Holy Spirit takes a portion of the scripture and says you are not measuring up here. We repent and ask for forgiveness. Reading the bible can be like taking a spiritual bath.
2. Another way is through attitude:
Attitudes are contagious
Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's [son], which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Joh 12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
You will notice in John it is Judas with the bad attitude, but now look in the book of Matthew and I want you to pay special attention to who it is with the bad attitude:
Mt 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat [at meat].
Mt 26:8 But when his disciples saw [it], they had indignation, saying, To what purpose [is] this waste?
Bad attitudes can be spread around and can contaminate our spirit. We all know the story of the 12 spies. 2 said we can do it 10 said we can't. Israel listened to the attitude and fear of the 10 to their shame.
Fears speak 5x's louder that faith. 10 spies of fear, 2 spies of faith. You have to train your ears to hear the still small voice of faith.
Velcro hooks and loops. Lord give me godly loops
What voice is attaching itself to your spirit?
3. The third way is through crowd dynamics
In crowds people do things they never would normally do.
For example burn a police car in a riot situation.
Tell everybody in the world what you are eating/wearing/going to do like on facebook.
Dress like trekkies at a trekkie convention.
Group settings can have a powerful influence for us.
The thing about youth conventions is they create a powerful sense of unspoken peer pressure to be on fire for the Lord.
What can you do about it?
Is there a way we can protect ourselves from negative transference and improve our ability to receive good things. Yes and yes.
1. Avoid contamination
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Bad company corrupts good morals,
Can a man take fire into his bosom and not be burned?
Let me say this, there is a difference between getting dirt on you and getting dirt in you.
Jesus prayed not that God would take us out of the world, but that He would keep us while in the world.
Hospitals are loaded with deadly germs. A church functions as a spiritual hospital.
To be salt and light we have to be around people that have the capability of transferring to us wrong ideas, attitudes, and wrong behaviors. In life there are time you have to use public bathrooms, but do your best to keep from getting germs on you. I try to open public bathroom doors with my elbow, and if not I try to use the towel I cleaned my hands with. When all else fails I just open the door. I can't leave the world, but I can do my best to prevent contamination.
I have to shake hands with people on Sunday. I sometimes wish we greeted Japanese style. But I have the germ killing stuff in my office and try to use it after service. Avoidance is the better than remediation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So it is spiritually, we can't leave the world, but we need to be diligent and as best as possible we need to avoid the world contaminating us, our ideals, our views, our social mores, and our attitudes.
2. Daily Searching
Ps 140:5 The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set snares for me. Selah.
Ps 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
Ps 139:24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Ps 19:12 Who can understand [his] errors? cleanse thou me from secret [faults].
The first verse shows the fact the enemy is trying to trip us up. If we were to use a military analogy think of roadside bombs in Iraq. Our soldiers have to be ever vigilant. In the same way we have an enemy who is daily trying to trip us up.
The next two verses show David praying for God to search him and cleanse him from secret faults. This is a way of praying for things that may have attached themselves to us and could pull us down if they are allowed to grow in us. Daily searching for known and secret faults is a very good, and very biblical idea.
3. Daily Cleansing
The facts are in, washing of hands is the easiest, simplest and best way to prevent infection in hospitals.
David prayed:
Ps 51:1 ΒΆ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Ps 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Wash me thoroughly from my sin, a good prayer to pray every day. God wash out of me things I have picked up from others that have unawares sunken into my spirit.
4. Have faith in God and the power of His blood.
Some people are spiritual hypochondriacs. They hear a message like this and they start talking about all the things they have been infected with throughout their lives. There is power in the blood.
I believe more in the power of Jesus to cleanse me than in the power of the world to contaminate me.
All morning I have been talking about transference of negative things. I want to end with the transference of something positive. I believe that words can transfer negative things, but they can also transfer very positive things.
Christians from the earliest of times have had what they called creeds and confession. I believe there is something very powerful about reciting them. Here is a modern one, that I really like a lot:
I believe in Jesus
I believe He is the Son of God
I believe He died and rose again
I believe He paid for us all
And I believe He is here now
Standing in our midst
Here With the power to heal now
And the grace to forgive
I believe in You, Lord
I believe You are the Son of God
I believe You died and rose again
I believe You paid for us all.
And I believe You're here now
Standing in our midst
Here With the power to heal now
And the grace to forgive
The reason I like this song is because it not only is a confession of faith, and it not only speaks of what Jesus has done for us, it also takes Him out of the past and puts Him in the present. "I believe You are here now..."
We are going to close this message with communion and we are going to reverse the normal order we take in communion. Our practice is to normally take the bread first, today we will take the juice first, in so doing we will ask God to cleanse us from every fault. When Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me," He was saying, "the best way to honor my death is to accept all the pardon it purchased for you."
Close: Communion and hymn power in the blood.
