THE PYTHON SPIRIT: DON'T BE FOOLED!!
- Shaolin MB Abrams Sr., PhD
- Jul 7, 2023
- 13 min read
Matthew 7:14-23; "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? 17, Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not everyone that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Acts 16:16-18; "16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the Most-High GOD, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”
In Acts 16:16, Paul and Silas encountered a young woman who prophesied to them through what Luke calls a “spirit of divination.”
However, the Greek word from which “divination” is translated is Python.
“Python” was a word associated with prophecy amongst the ancient Greeks and Romans, but because it was so well known in the ancient Greco-Roman world, the original readers of Acts would have made an immediate association when they read the words “spirit of python.”
Here is how they would have understood it. The most famous ancient oracle (prophetic center) was at the city of Delphi in Greece and was known as the “Oracle at Delphi.”
According to legend, the Greek god, Apollo, had slain a large female serpent--a python--at that site and the spirit of the python had remained. According to the legend, it now possessed the prophets and prophetesses who functioned there, “taking possession of their organs of speech moving and compelling them to give prophetic utterances.”
This was commonly known as the “python spirit” or the “spirit of python.”
At the height of its popularity, the prophetic oracle at Delphi maintained three priestesses/prophetesses who offered advice and counsel through the Pythian spirit to a continual stream of visitors including generals and government officials. Python is the name of the snake that guards the Delphic oracle, and it is also used from the early imperial period for a ventriloquist, through whom, as many think, a god is supposed to speak, and who is thus regarded as a soothsayer. The Delphic Pythia, like the ventriloquist, speaks in strange sounds.
Ventriloquist: One who speaks through another just as in divination, soothsaying and witchcraft:
Saul seeks the Witch of Endor: 1 Samuel 28:8 (AMP); “So Saul disguised himself by wearing different clothes, and he left with two men, and they came to the woman at night. He said to her, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up (from the dead) for me (the spirit) whom I shall name to you.”
Manasseh sacrifices children while consulting witches and the like:
2 Chronicles 33:8 (AMP); “And I will not again remove Israel from the land which I appointed for your fathers, if they will only be careful to do everything that I have commanded them in regard to all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given through Moses.”
Rebellious people consult the dead, witches, with whispers and mutterings:
Isaiah 8:19-20 (AMP); “When the people (instead of trusting GOD) say to you, “Consult the mediums (who try to talk to the dead) and the soothsayers who chirp and whisper and mutter,” should not a people consult their GOD? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? (Direct those people) to the law and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is because they have no dawn.”
Pythons are the constrictor type of snake. The python will strangle its food with its coils to kill it before eating it. Pythons are not poisonous and are generally not aggressive unless provoked.
MANNER OF ACTIVITY OF PYTHON SPIRITS (Characteristics)
Luke uses the “spirit of python” in regard to this slave girl probably because the spirit operating in her was like the one at Delphi. There is, of course, the possibility that she had actually been to Delphi and that is where she picked up this false spirit. It is important to note that what she said was true. Satan and demons have some knowledge and will reveal their “secrets” in order to impress and draw people into their destructive web. Only our GOD, however, is omniscient, i.e., all-knowing.
Here are some of the traits of the spirit of Python that are obvious in this narrative:
It loves to flatter: The prophecy of this young woman was not given to encourage or affirm but to flatter. We all need to give and receive affirmation and encouragement, but flattery is sweet talk that is insincere and self-serving. So many today, including leaders, are so starved for affirmation and approval that they are vulnerable to the flatteries of a deceiving, python spirit. Our security is in being so settled in YAHWEH’s acceptance and approval that we are no longer susceptible to the flatteries of a false prophetic spirit. Beware of those who use prophecy to flatter and, thereby, gain advantage.
It demands attention: This is indicated by the fact that she followed Paul and the others for “many days” continually giving forth her prophecy. Beware of those who use prophecy: the supernatural to thrust themselves into the limelight.
It loves to be seen and heard: This is indicated by the fact that she kept putting herself at the center of attention. Make note of those who use prophecy to make themselves the center of attention.
It wants to be important and in control: This is indicated by the fact that she directed her prophesying to the leaders of this new movement. Beware of those who use prophecy: supernatural to gain status with pastors and leaders.
There is often a monetary motive involved: This young slave girl was raking in a lot of money for her masters. I am afraid this same motive is at work in the charismatic/prophetic movement today, usually in very subtle ways. I once saw a man, who probably had a genuine gift of prophecy; express his desire to pray for everyone who would bring a $20.00 offering for his ministry to the front. As he prayed and then prophesied over each one, I saw women looking in their purses for money so they could go forward and get a “word.”
I believe this man was opening himself to a false spirit, the spirit of a python, by his devious actions.
METHOD OF ATTACKS OF THE PYTHON: In Acts 16:16 this girl stands in alignment with demons and speaks on behalf of the demonic. Paul said she had a spirit of divination; "pneuma puthon" which literally means spirit of python. This girl was possessing, indwelt, or inhabited by a controlling spirit of a python. From this, we can point out several things in noticing how a python attacks its victim and in this case a Body of Christ.
Python kills by following closely: Acts16:17 (AMP); “She followed after Paul and us and kept screaming and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most-High GOD! They are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!”
This girl followed Paul and Silas for many days. The word “follows” (katakoloutheo - Greek) is to accompany closely.
Python kills by constricting not crushing: A python wraps itself around its prey and every time the prey exhales it constricts so that the next breath cannot be taken and eventually the prey suffocates and is swallowed. The python spirit constricts your mind, speaking deceitfully, making light of what is exposed and announced by the Servant of YAHWEH, into your spirit to suffocate the Word of YAHWEH that is laid in your heart. One of the devil’s number one attacks is hopelessness, despair, discouragement, and depression; it weighs you down and makes us tired. This spirit will whisper in your ear all kinds of lies, torments, accusations, condemnation, depression, and despair. It makes life heavy. You often do not even know you are being attacked. Python attacks in this way, squeezing the life, breath, and joy of the LORD from our lives. It is even difficult to feel the LORD’s presence and you have to continually challenge the people to be hungry for YAHWEH and that HE can use them regardless of what they have been through. The python spirit breeds the Cellophane ceiling. The heaviness that weighs you down until you can’t breathe. It is like a spiritual cap in the spirit realm so YAHWEH's people can only climb so high in the spirit. It manifests with a sluggish weight during worship and weighs heavy on the countenance of the people in the meeting. Imagine in the natural carrying around a 200-pound snake on your shoulders and how that would weigh you down and make you sluggish. It also works with the spirit of procrastination, laziness, fear, and stuttering just to name a few. It slowly cuts off needed resource-love, encouragement, finances, hope, faith, joy, etc. The death process is slow, in fact very slow and almost unnoticeable. Pythons most often get their prey when their prey is not ready, watching, or ready.
In the Body of Christ and in life this experience can often be called a spirit of heaviness: Isaiah 61:3 (AMP); “To grant to those who mourn in Zion the following: To give them a turban instead of dust (on their heads, a sign of mourning), The oil of joy instead of mourning, The garment (expressive) of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So, they will be called the trees of righteousness (strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with GOD), The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
A python kills by pouring out and often works in conjunction with the spirit of Jezebel. The spirit of Jezebel is the serpentine spirit. A serpentine spirit is a demon that is in the form of a snake. It is cunning, sneaky, and a liar. The person that the spirit is dwelling on is sexually and sensually enticing, and seductive and will move their body like a snake at times or they may even hiss, or their eyes will change into snake eyes if a person has the spirit of discernment and the eyes of the HOLY SPIRIT.
When people lose their dream, they get complacent, apathetic, and wander off the path of YAHWEH.
Python spirits attack with words which is the slippery paste vomited by a natural python to enable it to swallow its victim. In Acts 16:16 this girl stands in alignment with demons and speaks on behalf of the demonic. Paul said she had a spirit of divination; "pneuma puthon" or the spirit of a python. Pneuma is breath, wind, or spirit, while divination refers to the art of obtaining secret knowledge, especially of the future, a counterpart of prophecy.
Divination can be understood from the Hebrew "qesem" used in:
Ezekiel 21:21-27 (AMP); “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the fork of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim (household idols), he looks at the liver (of an animal for an omen). In his right hand is the lot marked for Jerusalem: to set battering rams, to open the mouth calling for destruction, to lift up the voice with a war cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to put up assault ramps, and to build siege walls. It will seem like a false divination in their eyes, those who have sworn solemn oaths (of allegiance to Nebuchadnezzar). But he will remind them of their guilt (by rebelling and violating their oath), that they may be caught. “Therefore, thus says the LORD GOD, ‘Because you have caused your guilt to be remembered, in that your rebellion is uncovered, so that your sins appear in everything that you do, because you have come to mind, you will be seized with the hand (of the enemy). And you, O dishonored and wicked one (Zedekiah), the prince of Israel, whose day has come, whose time of final punishment is here,’ thus says the LORD GOD, ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; things shall not remain as they have been. Exalt that which is low and abase the high. A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! It shall no longer exist until He comes whose right it is (to reign), and I will give it to Him.”
Qesem which refers to evil omens was practiced by shaking or flinging down arrows, consulting teraphim, and "hepatoscopy" (looking at the liver) as if it were one of the arrows to be thrown down. Evil sacrifices and divination at road junctions: to set up battering rams, to call for a slaughter, to lift the voice with negative pronouncements, to set battering rams against the gates-entry, to heap up a siege mound, and to build a wall. Qesem divination manifests also in the casting of arrows; arrows-fiery darts of the enemy, consultation of images, and parting of the liver, how many prophetic and apostolic people have died of liver cancer through evil spells to pierce their liver. Python spirits attack by disguising themselves as a prophet; it speaks!
When a python constricts its victim, the head of the victim is close to its head as it uses its tongue to hiss over the victim to hear. The Hebrew word "nachash" means serpent and refers to that what hisses, whispers, a magic spell. Words of others-back biting, lying, division.
MANNER OF DELIVERANCE
Discernment: Many Churches in the modern charismatic movement would probably have put this young woman on their prophetic team, for what she prophesied was accurate and positive. Discernment is lacking because, in this postmodern world, the lines between true and false are being blurred and even erased. If this had been Paul’s approach, he would never have confronted the python spirit and cast it out, for what was being said was true.
Prayerful confrontation: Speak to the spirit and command me to come out from every point of habitation. There are human agencies and instrumentalities that must be confronted. There are sites and domains of darkness that must be challenged and bound. This is the moment.
Shout the Blood of Yeshua 7 times. Say, Oh LORD, by fire, we rescue our glory from the spirit of the python, in the name of Jesus. I take the chains of the spirit in my hands; I chain the heads of the serpentine spirits attacking my glory. Every python and serpentine spirit attracted to our life as a Believer be revealed by fire now in Yeshua's mighty name. You the Old Serpent delegating pythons and serpents to our lives, the LORD rebuke you in Yeshua's Name. Oh LORD, by fire, as many in our family and in the Body of Christ already tied and being suffocated to death by the python, I command, be released by fire. Anyone in our family and in the Body of Christ already being followed by python and serpentine spirit, locate and release them by fire. Every serpentine spirit delegated against my life, release me now in the Name of Yeshua!
Wherever pythons and serpentine spirits have come into our ministries and homes, we command them to crawl out and we bind them in Yeshua's name! Every spiritual weight and heaviness by reason of python spirits upon our lives, release in the Name of Yeshua Hamshiach (Messiah/Christ)!
As many who are already dying slowly because of the constriction of python spirits, locate and release by fire in Yeshua's Name!
I saturate my life with The Fire of the Holy Spirit, for casting out and removal of every serpentine spirit, In the Name of Yeshua!
Every Serpent that has made my body a hiding place (the body of my children, family members, spouse, home, workplace, present environment) Holy Spirit Fire locate and get out every serpent, In the Name of Yeshua!
I call upon The Fire of the Holy Spirit to cast every serpent in my body, in my life in the Name of Yeshua!
I employ The Blood of Yeshua to suffocate every serpent in my life (my children’s life, spouse’s life, family life) in the Name of Yeshua!
I take up The Blood of Yeshua as a shield of protection against every serpentine spirit attached to my life, In the Name of Yeshua!
Any power serpent that has swallowed my blessing, my breakthrough, (my children, my marriage, my finances, my spouses, my documents of breakthrough) vomit it out now by fire. I saturate my life, my dreams, my environment, spirit, and soul (my children, my spouse, my marriage) with the Blood of Yeshua for the destruction of every serpent. That which belongs to me but is in the belly of the serpent, Oh LORD arise on my behalf, and throw out of the belly of the serpent, all my blessings, all my breakthroughs, all my documents, my marital life, my glory, In Yeshua's mighty Name, Amen!
My glory in the belly of the serpent come out by fire, In Yeshua's mighty Name. Amen!
If my body has become a habitation for the serpent, Oh LORD arise and fill me with your Holy Spirit fire, In Yeshua's Name. Amen!
Father GOD let the foothold and the seat of the python be destroyed completely in my life, in the Name of Yeshua!
Let the Blood of Yeshua erase all the legal ground that the python & serpentine spirits have against my life, in the Name of Yeshua!
I close all the doors opened to the python & serpentine spirits in the Name of Yeshua!
Let the trap constructed by the python & serpentine spirits to stop the germination of the seed of my life be broken down completely, in the Name of Yeshua!
I command all the words contrary to YAHWEH’s words spoken by python & serpentine spirits against me to fall dead to the ground and bear no fruit, in Yeshua's Name!
I bind the python & serpentine spirits in my life, and I clear my goods from his possession, in Yeshua's Name!
You python & serpentine spirits of body destruction be bound, in the Name of Yeshua!
You python & serpentine spirits of mind destruction be bound, in the Name of Yeshua!
You python & serpentine spirits of financial destruction be bound, in Yeshua's Name!
Every battle waged against me by python & serpentine spirits, receive defeat, in Yeshua's Name!
Python & serpentine spirits, distributors of spiritual poison, swallow your poison, in Yeshua's Name!
All forces of python & serpentine spirits in my life rise up against yourselves in Yeshua's Name!
You demonic armies of python & serpentine spirits stationed against my life and the Body of Christ, the LORD rebuke you, in Yeshua's Name!
Every access to my life by the python & serpentine spirits, I block you, in the Name of Yeshua!
Let all evil thrones set up against me by python & serpentine spirits be destroyed completely, in the Name of Yeshua!
I fire back every arrow of python & serpentine spirits seven-fold, in Yeshua's Name!
Every python & serpentine spirit agent in my family or in the Body of Christ who refuses to repent, receives the baptism of pen disgrace, in the Name of Yeshua!
I rebuke all the python & serpentine spirits against the soundness of my mind, in the Name of Yeshua!
I WOULD RATHER BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN YESHUA...THEN COMFORTABLE WITH SATAN!!
"IF YOU'RE NOT WINNING SOULS FOR YESHUA...YOU DON'T WORK FOR YAHWEH...YOU'RE SELF-EMPLOYED!!"
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