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What does the Bible say about transferring spirits?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
The idea of "transferring spirits" is that someone can transfer an evil spirit to another person by touching or being near him. Those who teach this concept tell others not to associate with friend...

July 01 2013 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Image41 Ezekiel Kimosop
Transfer of spirits from one person to another is a strange concept which is certainly not biblical. Believers are indewlt by the Holy Spirit and a spiritual invasion into their lives is not possible (1Cor. 3:16). Likewise the Spirit of God cannot cross over into an unclean vessel. 

This unbiblical concept is commonly found among some charismatic churches in Africa where certain aspects of traditional African mysticism is mixed with the Christian faith creating a dangerous concoction of beliefs that do not find any support in Scripture and even border on heresy. 

Many believers in such churches live in fear because their teachers have led them to doubt the security promised in Scripture. These teachers usually mislead their congregations into believing what is nowhere found or taught in the Bible. 

This concept is closely related to another set of unbiblical teachings on the so called "foundational curses" which are equally popular among the same churches. The propagators of these teachings insist that a believer must undergo a deliverance ministry to "remove" or cast out demonic altars laid down by their ancestors over their lives that this is the only way that they will be secure after they come Christ. 

I have come across some preachers who teach that believers can be possessed by demonic forces which are sent from a Satanic agency, usually from among their unbelieving relatives believed to be deeply involved in high occult. The preachers conduct "deliverance" sessions in their churches as part of regular church services. 

I have a lot of reservations on this teaching because it denies the power of the protection available in Christ to those who belong to him.
It is therefore unbiblical to teach that a believer is open to demonic attacks and possessions when scripture does not support that view. 

My view is that we should allow scripture to speak into our circumstances of life rather than interpret scripture on the basis of personal beliefs or experience.

July 15 2014 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Kristy Howell
As a Biblical counselor for over 20 years, my thoughts about the possibility of transference of spirits has come from observance in listening to many people who have attested to a demonic influence in their lives, particularly through the act of sexual intercourse. One woman in particular comes to mind, who described an evil harassment through nightmares, spiritual confusion and intense fear after committing sexual sin, being "yoked" or forging a "soul tie" with a man who practiced witchcraft. She subsequently sought forgiveness from God and verbally renounced the yoking together (bonding) that occurred with the man, cutting the soul ties that were formed through disobedience in sexual sin.

According to Strong's concordance, the Greek word for "yoked" is "Heterozugeo" which is defined as " to come under an unequal or different yoke, to be unequally yoked." Paul uses this same word in 2 Corinthians 6:14 where the apostle is forbidding Christians to have intercourse with idolaters.

I also have observed the negative spiritual effects on believers that cause me to consider the possibility of transference both through association with immoral people ("Do not be deceived : "Bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Corinthians 15:33) or through generational sin patterns, where iniquity flows through family lines. This can take place when an ungodly ancestor has opened a door to a particular sin, making the family line vulnerable to spirits. ("You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." Exodus 20: 4-6) 

This is why we read of the many Biblical heroes repenting for the "sins of the fathers.":

Nehemiah: ("The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers." Nehemiah 9:2)
David ("Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us; Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, For we are brought very low." Psalm 79:8) 
Daniel ("O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us." Daniel 9:16) 
Currently, because of the accomplished work on the cross by Jesus Christ, we have the wonderful opportunity to exercise our authority in Him and cut off these dark, spiritual entities that have negatively influenced us.

These scriptures, and more, give me the confidence that transference of spirits is a legitimate spiritual experience, but we can have hope as Christ-followers that "deliverance from evil" is still a valid appeal in the Lord's prayer. After all, we can rest on this truth: "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4)!

K. Howell
(all references are in New American Standard)

April 07 2014 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Frederick Thomas Rom 3:4 ...let God be true...
Transferring spirits
It is my opinion that transferring evil spirits is not possible without God allowing it. No evil spirit can be transferred to a Christian as God is our faithful protector.
At the cross all generational curses stopped Gal 3:13 But by becoming a curse for us Christ has redeemed us from the curse that the Law brings; for the scripture says, "Anyone who is hanged on a tree is under God's curse." 
A Christian can be demon oppressed but not demon possessed. At our born again experience God took possession of us and we became His children, His property, filled with His Holy Spirit and there is no room for evil spirits. They the evil spirits now work from outside attacking us
Eph 6:10 - 18

Concerning “children suffering the evil consequences of their fathers’ sins”
Jeremiah 31:29

In those days — after their punishment has been completed, and mercy again visits them.
fathers... eaten... sour grape... children’s teeth... on edge — the proverb among the exiles’ children born in Babylon, to express that they suffered the evil consequences of their fathers’ sins rather than of their own (Lam_5:7; Eze_18:2, Eze_18:3).
Jer 31:29 "When that time comes you won't hear the old proverb anymore, Parents ate the green apples, their children got the stomachache. 
Jer 31:30 "No, each person will pay for his own sin. You eat green apples, you're the one who gets sick. 
Jer 31:31 "That's right. The time is coming when I will make a brand-new covenant with Israel and Judah. 
Gal_6:5, Gal_6:7-8; Jam_1:15

There are instances when Christians can hand a disobedient Christian over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, but not to be possessed by Satan.
1Co 5:5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.(good purpose) 
Thou this “Christian” sinned it was still up to the Christians by God’s approval to give him over to Satan. No evil spirit entered him while committing these terrible sins. 


Isa 54:17 But no weapon will be able to hurt you; you will have an answer for all who accuse you. I will defend my servants and give them victory." The LORD has spoken. 
weapon: Isa_54:15; Psa_2:1-6; Eze_38:9-10; Mat_16:18; Joh_10:28-30; Rom_8:1, Rom_8:28-39
1Ti 1:20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. (good purpose) 
2Co 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. (Good purpose)

Shalom

April 23 2014 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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100 3307 Andy Joseph
I agree with Richard Robinson. Spirits can be transferred to the unbelievers as they are not in the safety of God's protection.

January 13 2020 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Richard Robinson
I think all the responses are valid, however they are a assuming the person is a believer. Consider the person that isn't a believer and is raped. In my experience the vast majority of these individuals have battles with perversion, especially with homosexuality. Also the Holy Spirit is indwelling, is that not a transfer? Just interjecting another thought. The bible says for us not to ignorant of Satan's devices.....

November 20 2017 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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