A Very Real Enemy
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.
Prayer!
Acts 16:16 YLT
16 And it came to pass in our going on to prayer, a certain maid, having a spirit of Python, did meet us, who brought much employment to her masters by soothsaying
Soothsayings – sayings that sound Good , the tickleing of the ear.
Let me share with you today this scripture so that it is clear in this message this morning. This world in which we live in is being suffocated by this same spirit today.
The adversary knows that if he can get a grip on us he can squeeze the very breath from our spirit.
There is a story of a poor old town drunk that didn’t have a lot but he did have a old shack and a hen house with one laying hen. It happened that this hen was sitting on three eggs and this town drunk was excited because if these eggs hatched then there would be a chance for him to have more laying hens and more eggs.
Two of the eggs hatched but the third egg was still not hatched . One evening there arose a commotion in the hen house and he and his sister ran out to see what was taking place.
A big black snake had chased the hen and the chicks off the roost and had swallowed the egg whole. The siblings chased that snake out of the barn and watched as he slithered into a hole.
They grabbed a shovel and a hoe and desperately dug until reaching the big black snake.
He chopped off the snakes head and removed the whole egg from the snake returned it to its roost and kept his hope of one more laying hen.
This is a lot like what Satan tries to do with people today.
He tries to steal their joy there hope and squeeze the breath and life out of people.
John 10:10 (KJV)
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Church you need to be like the fellow who wasn’t going to let that old serpent win. You need to learn how to dig deep and cut the head off of the devil and get the victory.
I find it interesting that several translations use the term “spirit of Python” in our text. Satan appears the first time in scripture as a serpent who is more cunning then all of the creatures within the garden.
He comes to Eve and begins to plant doubt and twist the word of God in such a way as to deceive. He is squeezing the truth out of Eve and causing her to believe a lye which eventually causes a separation between God and Man.
A Python doesn’t poison its victim with venom but a Python slowly and methodically suffocates its victims by squeezing the breath out of them.
God had breathed into Adam and he became a living soul.
How often has the enemy tried to squeeze the breathe the very Spirit of God from you and me.
This young girl whom we read about in scripture was being let by a Spirit of Python, crying out as Paul and Silas were going to the place of prayer. They were going to pray they were going to the House of God, to church and this Spirit of Python shows up and becomes a big distraction to Paul.
The bible tells us that Satan is always looking to get an advantage on us. He is always trying to find that place where we are unsuspecting. Like a Python that waits for the right moment to slip himself around His pray and slowly but surely squeeze the life out of its victim.
2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
That’s one reason why so often people begin to feel bad on a Thursday night or a Sunday morning. The devil know if he can hinder you from getting to the house of God just a little more breath can be squeezed from you .
That’s why some will allow work or events, school activity and things to keep them from the house of God because a Spirit of Python will always bring distraction and try to keep you from getting closer to God.
That’s why some don’t think it’s important to be in prayer on Thursday night at 7:00 because the adversary has already gotten an advantage on some, and has allowed that spirit of python to begin to squeeze the very Breath of God out of some.
That’s why some want to blame God or the church for feeling burned out but in reality it the squeeze of the adversary and the distractions of the world that have caused the fatigue in their lives.
I have never heard of anyone praying too much that caused them to backslide or lose their desire for God.
I have never heard of someone praising God too much that has caused them to leave the church or to lose their love and desire for God.
If fact the thee keys into a intimate relationship with God are ….
1. Desire – The Lord will begin to reveal Himself as you fellowship with Him. It’s important to establish a meeting place with Him and wait for Him there. This is between you and God in your prayer closet, and it here that he reveals his will and plan for your life. You must desire intimacy with Him above everything else.
Psalm 19:9-10 (KJV)
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Psalm 27:4 (KJV)
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
2. Discipline- You desire intimacy with the Lord and the discipline yourself to have that time. Create an atmosphere where the Lord is welcome. Too often we allow the distractions and the spirit of Python to steel our time alone with God away. The adversary slowly again squeezes breath from us. Renew your mind in His word, discipline yourself and stop the Python from wrapping around you and choking the breath out of your spiritual life.
Job 36:10 (KJV)
10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity
Romans 16:19 (KJV)
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
.
3. Delight- Do you delight yourself in the things of God or do you find yourself thinking of other things you would rather be doing.
Psalm 119:16 (KJV)
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalm 1:2 (KJV)
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 37:4 (KJV)
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Romans 7:22 (KJV)
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
The Spirit of Python loves to distract us from our intimacy with God knowing that he is squeezing the breath out of our Spiritual man.
Jesus was an example to each of us and we read in scripture how often he would leave the crowds to go and renew himself in prayer.
Our enemy is very real and I am preaching this today that you would realize how real He is and ask yourself some Important questions .
