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. 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 fun ctioned there, “taking possession of their organs of speech moving and compelling them to give prophetic utterances.”[iii] 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.
pýthœn 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. 1 Sam 28:8 Saul seeks witch of Endore, 2 Chronicles 33:8 Manasseh sacrifices children while consulting witches and the like, Is. 8:19,20 Rebellious people consult the dead, witches, with whispers and mutterings.
Pythons are of 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 “spirit of python” in regards 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 a spirit of python that are obvious in this narrative.
1. 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 God’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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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—a spirit of python—by his devious actions.
Method of Attacks of 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 pneuma puthon or spirit of python. This girl was possesses, 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 church.
Python kills by following closely – vs. 17
This girl followed Paul and Silas for many days. The word “follow” (katakoloutheō- 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 deceit, making light of what is exposed and announced by the servant of God, into your spirit to suffocate the word of God that is laid in your heart. One of the devils 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 God and that God can use them regardless of what they have been through.
The python spirit bread the Cellophane ceiling. Heaviness that weighs you down until you cant breath. It is like a spiritual cap in the spirit realm so God's people can only climb so high in the spirit. It manifests with a sluggish weight during worship and weigh 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 church and in life this experience can often be called a spirit of heaviness. Is. 61:3.
A python kills by pouring out and often works in conjunction with a 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 are sexually and sensually enticing, 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 wonder off the path of God.
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--neuma puthon or spirit of python. Pnuema 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. qesem which refers to evil omens was was practiced by Shaking or flinging down arrows, consulting teraphim, and hepatoscopy (looking at the liver) qesem 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 pronuncements, to set battering rams against the gates-entry, to heap up a siege mound, and to build a wall.
Qesem divination manifests also in casting of arrows - Arrows-fiery darts of the enemy, consultation of images and parting of liver—how many prophetic and apostolic people have died of liver cancer through evil spells to pierce their liver.
Python spirits attack by disguising 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; whisper, 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 post modern 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 I to come out from every point of habitation. There are human agencies and instrumentalities that must be confronted. There are sits and domains pf darkness that must be challenged and bound. This is the moment.
1. Shout the blood of Jesus 7 times. Say, Oh Lord, by fire, we rescue our glory from the spirit of the python, in the name of Jesus.
2. I take the chains of the spirit in my hands, I chain the heads of the serpentine spirits attacking my glory
3. Every python and serpentine spirit attracted to our church/life be revealed by fire now in Jesus mighty name
4. You the Old Serpent delegating pythons and serpents to our lives, the Lord rebuke you in Jesus name
5. Oh Lord, by fire, as many in our church/family already tied and being suffocated to death by the python, I command, be released by fire.
6. Anyone in our church/family already being followed by python and serpentine spirit, locate and release them by fire
7. Every serpentine spirit delegated against my life, release me now in the name of Jesus
8. Wherever pythons and serpentine spirits have come into our ministries and homes, we command them to crawl out and we bind them in Jesus name.
9. Every spiritual weight and heaviness by reason of python spirits upon our lives, release in the name of Jesus Christ
10. As many who are already dying slowly because of constriction of python spirits, locate and release by fire in Jesus name
11. I saturate my life with The Fire of the Holy Ghost, for casting out and removal of every serpentine spirit, In the name of Jesus.
12. Every Serpent that has made my body a hiding place,{ the body of my children, family members, husband, home, workplace, present environment } Holy Ghost Fire locate and get out every serpent, In the name of Jesus.
13. I call upon The Fire of the Holy Ghost to cast every serpent in my body, in my life in the name of Jesus.
14. I employ The Blood of Jesus to suffocate every serpent in my life, {my children’s life, husband’s life, family life} In the name of Jesus.
15. I take up The Blood Of Jesus as a shield of protection against every serpentine spirit attached to my life, In the name of Jesus
16. Any power serpent that has swallowed my blessing, my breakthrough,{my children, my marriage, my finances, my husband, my documents of breakthrough} vomit it out now by fire.
17. I saturate my life, my dreams, my environment, spirit and soul {my children, my husband, my marriage} with the blood of Jesus for the destruction of every serpent.
18. That which belong 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 Jesus might name, Amen
19. My glory in the belly of the serpent come out by fire, In Jesus might name. Amen
20. If my body has become a habitation for the serpent, Oh Lord arise and fill me with your Holy Ghost fire, In Jesus name. Amen
21. Father Lord, let the foothold and the seat of python be destroyed completely in my life, in the name of Jesus.
22. Let the blood of Jesus erase all the legal ground that the python & serpentine spirits has against my life, in the name of Jesus.
23. I close all the doors opened to the python & serpentine spirits in the name of Jesus.
24. 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 Jesus.
25. I command all the words contrary to God’s words spoken by python & serpentine spirits against me to fall dead to the ground and bear no fruit, in Jesus’ name.
26. I bind the python & serpentine spirits in my life, and I clear my goods from his possession, in Jesus’ name.
27. You python & serpentine spirits of body destruction be bound, in the name of Jesus.
28. You python & serpentine spirits of mind destruction be bound, in the name of Jesus.
29. You python & serpentine spirits of financial destruction be bound, in Jesus’ name.
30. Every battle waged against me by python & serpentine spirits, receive defeat, in Jesus’ name.
31. Python & serpentine spirits, distributors of spiritual poison, swallow your poison, in Jesus’ name.
32. All forces of python & serpentine spirits in my life rise up against yourselves in Jesus’ name.
33. You demonic armies of python & serpentine spirits stationed against my church/life, the Lord rebuke you, in Jesus’ name.
34. Every access to my life by the python & serpentine spirits, I block you, in the name of Jesus.
35. Let all evil thrones set up against me by python & serpentine spirits be destroyed completely, in the name of Jesus.
36. I fire back every arrow of python & serpentine spirits seven-fold, in Jesus’ name.
37. Every python & serpentine spirits agent in my church/family who refuses to repent, receive the baptism of pen disgrace, in the name of Jesus.
38. I rebuke all the python & serpentine spirits against the soundness of my mind, in the name of Jesus
