The Spirit of Python will Engineer Interruptions in Your Prayer Life:
Act 16:16 – 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:
It was no mistake this woman showed up when Paul was repairing to the place of prayer with his team. The enemy hates prayer and will do whatever he can to keep you off your knees. This is one of the greatest encroachments of the python spirit in the western world today. Prayer meetings are advertised on church bulletin boards across the country but the curious thing is nobody prays. We call it the Wednesday night prayer meeting but there is not corporate prayer, no intercession. Prayer times announced before services are ignored and early morning prayer initiatives are seldom supported by the people who are stressed out, overworked and don’t feel their need to adjust their schedules to give themselves to prayer. The pressure involved is a direct spiritual assault from the spirit of python.
The Spirit of Python Targets Young People with a Servant Mentality:
Act 16:17 – 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.
Verse 16 above describes the woman with the spirit of python as a DAMSEL. This is a young servant girl. Young people are long on energy and short on wisdom. They are quick to download information accessible in the spirit but they don’t always have the skill set to filter out the OTHER VOICES that don’t arise from the heart of God.
Paul tolerated this young woman for quite some time. Did he admire her energy? Was he looking for an exit strategy to pull her out of the snare of the enemy that held her captive? Paul continually surrounded himself with young people. Every place he went he was more prone to install young, motivated leaders before older more seasoned people. I believe this episode in Paul’s life was a course correction of his understanding of spiritual warfare.
In my life and ministry I have been privileged to have the assistance of many anointed and awesome young people who served tirelessly and many times without recognition or appreciation of the congregation or group. I never lose my esteem for their great heart and boldness and faith. But there are dangers as well for both the leader and the youthful interns that serve so willingly. You have to remember that that you cannot be both their father / mother in the Lord and their friend. Parents make this mistake all the time and it is a selfish choice that robs young people of the love and limits that are necessary to bring them to greater maturity.
The Spirit of Python Masquerades as a Great Advocate of Anointed Ministry:
In verse 17 above we see this young person tirelessly advocating and commending Paul’s ministry. This was not a vain effort. This woman brought her masters a lot of money because the people in the city loved and respected her. When she recommended someone the people responded. This woman from a human resources standpoint was a much more qualified front man for Paul’s ministry than Lydia was. Lydia was an out of towner and a business woman which in that day was not a very respectable lifestyle choice for women. When God puts a gateway person in your life they won’t always look the part or seem to have the clout in your chosen field to successful promote you in your assignment.
You have to use discernment. The spirit of python was seducing Paul the way the devil did Jesus in the wilderness temptation (Matt. 4:8-9). Paul stood to gain from this young woman’s influence and he paid a dear price for rejecting her support. The spirit of python will always equate CREDIBILITY with ANOINTING. The Spirit of Python will suggest to you that if you don’t have the endorsement and backing of man you will not fulfill your destiny. This is a despicable lie.
Jhn 5:44 – How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that [cometh] from God only
