Chapter 19

Transference of Spirits

This topic explains the belief that a person’s inner character, attitude, or spiritual condition can be influenced—positively or negatively—through close association, leadership influence, or spiritual practices. Using Numbers 11:17, it shows how God transferred the spirit upon Moses to seventy elders for shared leadership. The story of twelve spies whom Mosses sent is seen where Joshua and Caleb’s faith was overshadowed by ten spies’ fearful report, showing how a “negative spirit” can spread through a community and lead to rebellion and poor decisions. The human spirit is the inner life or “candle” of a person, which can be strengthened by the Holy Spirit or weakened by sin, criticism, and wrong influence.

The prevention of negative spiritual influence is through

(1) controlling your own spirit through self-discipline

(2) guarding your tongue from gossip, criticism, and harmful speech

(3) guarding your affections by being selective in emotional attachments,

(4) carefully choosing your associates, (5) protecting your senses by avoiding harmful media such as violence, pornography, and occult content, and (6) exercising caution with the laying on of hands, ensuring spiritual purity in those who impart influence.