The Python Spirit
“It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." She continued doing this for many days.
But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment." Acts 16:16-18. This market place at Delphi was a seat of Satan for demonic information, which brought in much wealth. It was a place where people came to hear the oracle to get future predictions through false prophetic utterances. It was called “the center of the world” by the Greeks. The word Python from Greek mythology, believed the Pythian serpent guarded the oracle of Delphi until Apollos slew it later; this word was applied later to soothsayers and diviners. The oracle was a surrendered priestess and was the most powerful woman of the classical world. This slave girl in Acts 16, was one of the best soothsayers of the city, meaning she was chosen and most yielded to the principality of the land and could hear demonic sources very well. She brought in much money for her accuracy. Until Paul had enough of its interfering with his assignment and evicted the spirit of divination out of her.
The Spirit of Python is a witchcraft divination structure. Not only is it in operation in the world through the Occult structures; such as new age, crystals, psychics, fortune telling, mediums, Ouija boards and horoscopes. It can and does operate through the false prophetic and its mixture within Gods people and His church. Python working in the false prophetic will use seduction, manipulation, flattery, mammon, fame and lying suggestions towards its victim. One can be easily deceived if one is not discerning by Holy Spirit. These false utterances will be mixed with half-truths which will cause one to believe a lie. It can say all the right things but in a wrong spirit, just as the slave girl did. The motive to prophecy had evil intentions. Isaiah 2:6 says, for you have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob because they are filled with influences from the east, and they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike bargains with the children of foreigners.
The spirit behind Python is out for self-exaltation, power and control. It can use false humility and looks for places of alignment that will give it a platform to prophecy. People that are gifted in the prophetic and have unhealed soul wounds of rejection, insecurities or abandonment will be an easy prey for this spirit to operate. Those corrected rebellious can also be a target. It is a predator and seeks to find a host to work through to release its poisonous venom into its victim. It will often cause soul ties and will keep the victims coming back for more predictions! When it is in operation, it gives worship to Satan.
One must stay pure in heart with one’s gifts. They are not ever taken from you, so you are accountable to keep them operating in holiness. All will give an account of how we used them to help others come to know JESUS more intimately. Python will try to get one to prophecy on demand. Never prophecy under pressure or because of manipulation from others. It will not be pure, have accountability when prophesying. Prophesying for profit or on demand can open your spirit to divination. Never prophecy to draw a crowd or get in a money line to receive one! You are operating in a wrong spirit and will yield to idolatry and mammon. Never prophecy to prove you are anointed or gifted. This is immaturity and pride which will open you up to destruction and your platform will be faulty and will fall. Those who use you for your gifts will never value who you really are in Christ. Never yield to flattery in your gift or you will take ownership of its power. God is to get all the glory, it is only He that can give revelation by Holy Spirit to you.
Python is a restricting spirit that squeezes its prey slowly. It wants to suffocate the breath out of you to destroy. We find it wraps around the body and can bring in infirmity spirits. It doesn’t just bring oppression in areas of health, but it will choke one’s finances. It can work in sorcery, drug addictions and potions also pharmakia. In Delphi it is said that they would use a mild leafy plant to get false prophetic hallucinations, thus sorcery. It can come through ancient healing arts and magic or divination to alleviate pain. It’s no different today with drug use! If the root is unholy so are the branches. We also find it in generational curses of open doors to divination. Many times, this stronghold can be mixed with seer gifts in the bloodline. Those in a church with this spirit will be unsubmitted to authority, rebellious, unteachable, gossips, slanderers and backbiters. Those who have been poisoned by it can experience infirmities, depression, a lack of vision and creativity in the body.