The Spirit of Python: Satan's Neutralizing Weapon for Believers

Python is a weapon of attack “the adversary” uses to entangle and neutralize many unsuspecting believers. Yes, believers! Now I’ve heard other ministers teaching on this spirit over the years, but hardly paid attention. (Because…..in my sarcastic voice… it was NOT affecting me, so I’m good. So I thought!). However, I was preparing to minister at a conference a few years ago when God started dealing with me about this spirit through a dream. In the dream, I could see several people standing in front of their seats from the platform I was sitting on. But they were just gazing ahead (instead of worshipping) waiting for the service to start. Then I noticed they were all holding white bags that looked like pillow cases. Inside those bags were snakes! Even more concerning was how they seemed comfortable with holding their bags of snakes. Even more startling was how it seemed like they knew the snakes were in the bags but seemed unbothered. Meanwhile, I turned to look behind me and there he was………… a huge python snake quietly watching from behind the scenes. When I noticed him, I jumped up and ran over and started pounding his head with my fist until he retreated and disappeared. Later I ministered at the conference and shared this dream with the congregation but they just stood there gazing at me (just like in the dream). And I could feel a wall go up blocking the people from receiving what I shared. What I now know is that dream wasn’t just about that particular church. It was about the sleeping giant. It was about the Body of Christ as a whole.

Around 18 months after that dream I experienced a supernatural encounter one night as I slept. While sleeping I woke up in the spirit and there was a python wrapped around my arms and torso! This was not a dream (or a drill), my spirit man was awake while my flesh was still in a state of sleep. (If you ever had an experience like this, pray. IT WAS REAL). Although I could not see the snake, I could perceive his size by way of the spirit. He was large. He was not squeezing me but rather limiting my mobility. I couldn’t move my arms. I tried to pray in tongues. I tried to call on Jesus. But I could NOT move and could barely speak. I was completely defenseless. The python was so confident in his grip he started wagging his tail (as if to boast) as I struggled to break free. But folks….my spirit man was entangled. Again, what was so interesting was the fact that I could NOT see him; yet, I could feel and perceive him. When I finally woke up I thought, “Lord what just happened? What’s going on? Why did that happen? I’ve been praying and spending time in your presence!” But God was exposing how the spirit of python had attacked and was holding me (and other believers) and the gifts in me hostage in order to stop me from fulfilling my purpose. That spirit slipped in with plans to slowly constrict and squeeze the life out of me, my substance and gifts and control me with religion and legalism. But I thank God for waking me up! The thief was caught and I am now walking in liberty. Now I can see clearly! God is redeeming lost time and the thief must repay everything he stole! However, God woke me up to expose this spirit operating in “the Church” so others can be freed.

Now let’s shift gears and look at python in the Bible. In Acts 16:16-18, the Apostle Paul and his ministry team were traveling through Macedonia, evangelizing, praying; and, as I like to say, minding their Kingdom business. They were so effective that Satanic forces took notice and launched a fake gospel campaign to distract them. Satan used a woman whom the Bible says was “possessed with the spirit of divinity” to begin crying out “these are the servants of the most High God which show us the way of salvation.” This woman was mimicking and mocking the true Gospel. This campaign carried on for days until Paul commanded that spirit to come out of the woman and she was set free. (Needless to say her gift was so profitable that her slave owners had Paul and his team thrown in prison for disrupting their economy. But that’s another story for another time.)

Now let’s break down the word “python” a little further so you’ll understand his function and tactics. Python is another word for divinity. Now if you’re like me you’re wondering how we got the word python from the word divinity. I’m glad you asked! The word python comes from the Greek word “puthon” which means inspiration, soothsaying, or to foretell the future. Python actually mimics the prophetic. However, python is a form of witchcraft designed to slowly control and seduce us away from the true presence and power of God to bring us under his power (or spell). Python (or Satan) wants to squeeze the Spirit of God right out of us. And for those of us with prophetic gifts, he wants to hijack that gift and/or stop us from using it all together! Python does this by seducing us to come under his control and believe, come into agreement with or ultimately accept the lies of another “gospel” that merely resembles the true Gospel. But first he has to lull us to sleep so he can slither in quietly.

Python knows a little yeast can infect a whole batch of dough (Gal 5:9) and cause us to eat a corrupt loaf of bread (another gospel) if we are not careful. Remember Jesus (who is Word manifested and the basis of the Gospel we preach) is the Bread of Life! Our very wise adversary knows that in Jesus and God’s Word, there is power, spirit and life! Python’s job is to TRY and stop the Gospel and the transforming power of God’s Word. He wants to take our focus of Jesus, and corrupt the Gospel through religion, legalism, and control. This is a form of witchcraft. Yep! In fact, witchcraft, which means “to cast spells” is also another word for divinity.

Now Paul challenged these spirits in the church at Galatia by confronting them with this rhetorical question: “O' foolish Galatians who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth? (Gal 3:1)” Paul then goes on to say, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the [works of the] flesh? (Gal 3:3)” You see Paul was addressing python and his friends (witchcraft, religion and legalism) whom the Galatians had allowed to slide in their midst and corrupt their belief system. In other words, the Galatian church had come under the influence of another gospel. They were being lead away from the TRUE Gospel, from TRUE relationship with God, and from TRUE worship into legalism and religious works. Folks… religion is NOT the same as thing as a real relationship with God. The religious spirit only mimics God. I know it looks like it is real because religious ideology can be so closely aligned with the truth of the Gospel. However, religious people are just operating in a form (a shape or structure) that looks like God (2 Tim 3). But it is NOT God! The problem is, where religious works operate, Jesus is omitted, and the ACTS of the Holy spirit are limited or squeezed out. The power and the Spirit of God is not the force driving religious acts, the works of the flesh is. There is NO good thing in the flesh! And again, like the woman in Acts 16, the religious spirit sounds like it’s promoting the Gospel but it is NOT.

Let’s pause and reflect right here….. Think about Adam and Eve (as a picture of the church) and how listening to the snake caused them to pervert what God said right before they commenced to eating. In fact, God did NOT tell them don’t touch the Tree of Knowledge, He said don’t eat from it (Gen 2:16-17, Gen 3:1-6)! See how they corrupted what God said after communing with Satan?? Eventually, as a result of their compromise, they ate from the tree, they lost their authority, and then they died spiritually. (Just like many of today’s dead churches.) Remember in 2 Tim 3:5-7 how Paul warned “the Church” about a “form of godliness” and to “turn away.” He also warned how deceivers would “creep in houses (the church)” and “lead silly women (the church) laden with sin captive” who are “always learning but never gaining the knowledge of the [actual] truth.” [FYI: Laden means carrying baggage. Remember what I said about the bags earlier?] And family, Satan is bold with his seducing lies! Look at how he twisted the meaning of scripture even when he tempted Jesus, who was actually God walking in the flesh (Matt 4:1-11)!!! But unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus passed the test because He responded with the REAL truth of the Word! So can you! But you have to know the Word for YOURSELF! You need YOUR OWN relationship (not religion) with God! And, you need the Holy Spirit to illuminate your spirit with a revelatory understanding of God through His Word!

Folks we must understand the spirit of python is moving through “the church” is real, strategic, and often more subtle than many of us realize. He does not always come as a bull in a China shop. He seeks to constrict quietly. He seeks to seduce, distort, and then slowly pull us away from God through religious legalism and witchcraft. Meanwhile, at the surface, it looks like we’re walking in freedom and truth. But as both the Word and even my own experiences revealed to me, python works under the guise of the Gospel to control, contort, constrict, silence, and/or completely shut us down. Python seeks to rock the Body of Christ (especially prophetic people) to sleep through a fake gospel. But we cannot allow ourselves to be rocked to sleep or remain sleep any more. We must wake up and stay awake (Eph 5:14-15). We must be grounded in the truth and led by the Holy Spirit of God. Me must not be formed or fashioned in the ritualistic, religious or performance-based works of the flesh.

Now…..…would the REAL Body of Believers stand up! If that is you then get up now, drop the baggage, and shake yourself loose! For it is now time to be set free so you can freely walk in your God ordained purpose!

If you want to shake python off your life I encourage you to JOIN ME in reading the decree below! As we collectively declare the Word, know there is power and strength in numbers. Read the declaration below out loud as often as you should because there is power in the spoken word!

Deliverance from The Python Spirit: Lord I repent, turn away from, turn my back on, and renounce the the spirit of python and all his seducing works (deception, religion, legalism, and witchcraft). I ask you to expose every area of my life that has been infiltrated by python and as you expose I cut ties from his power. I ask you to open my eyes and reveal who you really are in my life and draw me closer to you through your word. And as you draw me closer to you I ask that you reveal to me who I really am in you. I ask you to help me become a true worshipper and teach me how to worship in spirit and in truth. As you draw me closer to you in worship and teach me your word and your ways. As you said in John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Help me follow you. Help me recognize your voice and build a personal real relationship with you. And restore me in every area of my life where python and his works consumed or stole. Now spirit of python, I know the truth, I will continue in the truth, and the truth has set me free (John 8:32). I have repented therefore you have no more legal ground in my life. I command you to come out of me and loose your hold on me and those my bloodline. In the name of Jesus and go from my life now!

—I look forward to receiving your testimony of freedom!

Food Addiction: Another Secret Weapon: Remember how Satan caused Eve submit to her appetite in garden (Gal3:1-6)? And, Esau sold his birthright for a pot of “stew” (Gen 29-34). Now we know why it was so important for Jesus to pass that same test of his appetitie (Matt 4:1-11). Appetite (and in this case I’m talking about food) is how our sneaky adversary works to destroy us. That devil works hard to slowly and patiently to bring us in to slavery through vices like unhealthy eating habits. This includes overeating (gluttony), constant snacking or eating when we are not truly hungry (no self-control), and consuming the wrong foods (your body is your temple folks). Through poor eating habits our adversary (who is ALWAYS looking for way to do us in) can open a door to destroy us with sickness and disease. Think about it, even some chronic illness like diabetes and high blood pressure can be controlled or avoided altogether through proper diet (and exercise)! Oh, and did you know that obesity (often caused by overeating) is considered a chronic disease that can shorten your life? Let that sink in…..

Friends…. food addiction is often overlooked and in come cases accepted as the norm. And if you think about it, you will be surprised to see how much time we spend thinking about food or prioritizing our next meal. Our adversary has managed to induce many of us into food intoxication as we use and abuse food for comfort or reward. This is a form of idoltary. Meanwhile, some of us are occupied with praying for and even judging the other person struggling with a drug addiction. But guess what …..food addiction is the same thing! (Now let THAT sink in!) Matter of fact, I was just reading a health-related article that shared how sugar is a major underlying contributor to food addiction. The article also noted how sugar can stimulate the brain in ways similar to other addictive substances. In fact, some researchers suggest sugar can be just as addictive as certain drugs. This might explain why many of us struggle to control the appetite. (Let this sink in.)

Is that you???? Is your appetite out of control? Do you eat too much or too often?? Is food on your mind too much? Join me in confessing the deliverance decree below. And I encourage you to decree this confession over your life as often as you see fit! Oh and check out this great podcast on YouTube: Breaking the Stronghold of Food: Conquering Food Addiction - with Pastor Vlad Savchuk at Hungary Generation (How ironic is that name 😁). I look forward to receiving your testimony of freedom!

Deliverance from Food Addiction: My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I will be a good steward of my body.  I break agreement with and renounce the spirit of gluttony, greed and food addiction.  My belly is not my God. I will not be destroyed through an uncontrolled appetite (Phil 3:19).  I will not indulge in gluttony and be brought to poverty (Prov 23:21).   But I will Walk in the Spirit, and I will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16) and be greedy because I have self-control (Gal 5:22).  I will eat the bread of life and I will eat the scrolls which is the word of God (John 5:5; Ez 3:1),  and I will live by the word of God and not food (Matt 4:4).   I cannot live by food alone (Matt 4:4) so I will not practice idoltary by overindulging in or prioritizing food.   Instead, I hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matt 5:6) and I am filled with the Spirit of God who will quench every thirst.  I drink from the waters of the Holy Spirit and I will never thirst again (John 4:14).  I prioritize eating the word over food.  Therefore, I taste and see that the Lord is good because my trust is in Him and I serve Him not food or fleshly appetites (PS 34:8; Gal 5:22).   Command food addiction and eating disorders to come out of me, loose your hold, and go now in the name of Jesus!