Part I

At  The Door

After the seventy returned rejoicing that devils were subject to the NAME of Jesus. He said to them. ” … I have given you power to tread upon scorpions, serpents, and over ALL the power of the enemy. Mark 16:17 … And these signs shall follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons …

In the picture you see the vine beginning to curl around the young twig, if it continues to grow it will embed itself into the branch restricting growth and development. Eventually, if left unattended the tree will be completely overcome by this invasive vine that will destroy it. You can cut away at it but that which has grown into the branch is impossible to separate from the original plant. There are no cures for the deeply imbedded grooves that have distorted  the original design, and intent, the tree was purposed for. With my pruner in hand I reached up and cut the vine and began to remove its intertwinement from off the branch, it broke away from this one part, where the vine and the tree seemed inseparable.

As I worked the vine a way from the tree, the Lord began to speak to me regarding the ravages of a life long battle with all those things that restrict, constrict, and distort the truth of who we are, in the Kingdom of God. Today we can surrender all our tomorrows and place into God’s hands the debris of broken yesterdays. What is impossible with man, is possible with God. Some how, He will redeem what has been lost. But, today is the day for salvation. Somewhere, a new beginning needs its chance to start. Today, I cut the vine wrapped around a tree. From this time forth, that constricting vine is finished, the effects of it from here on out are no more. But, the root is still in the ground. Therefore more will spring up and trouble the tree after it. A picture for the scripture that says, “These things come not out but by fasting, and by prayer” says The Lord.  

Once the bonds of Satanic strongholds are broken, the work of the Holy Spirit continues breaking up the hard ground of our heart, where roots flourish, the hand of God, through follow up prayer ministry, and teaching, is now able to reach down into the root systems of that which is profitable, and unprofitable, dividing the sources, and separating them. This ensures success, in remaining free from  bondage, for the bible says that when an unclean spirit leaves a man he goes out into dry places, and then after a time returns to regain entry, finding the ” house” it came from swept clean, and empty, bringing back more evil spirits with it, and the condition of the one delivered of the evil spirits will become worse than what their condition was in the beginning. Jesus going on to say, “So it will be in this last generation”. (Mathew 12:43-45) This is because the HOUSE needs to be not only cleansed, but FILLED, full of the Holy Spirit. Who is our teacher, comforter, and guide, even the SPIRIT of truth. Being filled with the Holy Ghost, as described in the second chapter of Acts, completes the act of deliverance. Enabling us to move forward, learning to stand against the wiles of the devil that includes casting down imaginations.

 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge and wisdom of God, and bringing into captivity every thought, to the obedience of Christ …

In other words, the only thing that should be bound in chains are the devil’s lies. Deliverance is a ministry of patience, and persistence, power and prayer. Often followed by healing ministry of the mind and body. Also, provided in the body of Christ the gift of the working of miracles, to bring forth the completed work, that one may experience fullness in the restorative power of God. There to be pursued, for the promises of the Father are yes, and amen. Yet, it is a journey that needs a beginning; a road that needs a traveler, once the decision is made to seek all that God has for us, all that we need to arrive will be there along the way.

Part II

What Lies Beneath  

In part one I show the reader photographs of a tree limb that had been overcome by an invasive vine that had  twisted  around the trunk of the tree and embedded itself deep into the tree branch. This is a prophetic illustration of the effects of the  demon spirit Python. A powerful spirit that seeks to infiltrate Apostolic moves of God (sent to establish the new) to constrict their growth and divert their purpose. We see this spirit addressed in Acts 16:16.

Though divination was how Python manifested through the servant woman. The nature of Python restricts, constricts, and distorts; squeezing the life, and the breath of God, from its victims. It destroys the true composition, and form of what the new work of God is suppose to be. The original design that God created. The ravages of Python leaves behind it the debris field of what could have been. IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS, and all to often moves of God. We see the deceptive operation of the Python spirit in Acts 16:16 where the damsel who was possessed with a spirit of divination followed Paul’s team who was in the city to bring an apostolic work, in Philippi. Although, the female servant seemed to be there to encourage their endeavors, publicly proclaiming their intentions, even declaring God as THE MOST HIGH, yet, she was possessed of a spirit of divination, called Pythos in Greek. Scriptural proof that not all that glitters is Gold.

In the world we live in today she would have made it into the board of directors, or appointed a deaconess, but Paul discerned the source of inspiration, and the plot of the enemy. PYTHON was there to restrict and distort, the move of God. To choke it out, replacing it with the power already in control in that city. When ever you feel a Christian gathering is being constricted, and the Holy Spirit quenched, or a service being diverted away from true worship, this is the work of Python, an evil spirit that joins with every demonic player of the power of the air to be a spiritual counterfeit, snaking its way into the sanctuary of God. This evil spirit may not even possess an individual, but could be oppressing them. The best way I have found to stop this spirit from quenching the work of the Holy Spirit is to do exactly what Paul did, stop what you’re doing, turn around and drive out that spirit in the name of Jesus, until it is gone. We need to cut off the head of operations, of Python. In this city the very thing that had it under control, sent out an agent of Satan to bring an Apostolic work into its control. I like to think that the damsel possessed of this spirit became a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, a sister in the Church of Phillipi.

Those under the control of an unclean spirit, will do one of two things, they will run towards the anointing that breaks the yoke, or away from it, depending on whether they want to be free or not. That is why those under control of unclean spirits habitually disappear out of a meeting when ever the anointing begins to fall, had they wanted deliverance the human spirit would have willed themselves into the presence of God. This is why we would see Christ approached by screaming devils, the human spirit, wanting freedom brought them into the presence of God willing to be set free. Had the demons had their way, they would have stayed away. The Lord showed me this  in illustration when we attended a Church service where the presence of God fell mightily upon  the people who were lost in worship. The Lord spoke to me to observe,  the outer hub began to teem with nervous  energy while the foyer began to fill with people.  No crying demons just chatty, nervous, and distracted people.  It is said we need to clean up our alters, this may be true, but we need to clean up our foyers, and parking lots, as well.  To often the outer court influences inner court experiences. Even shutting them down.  The outer court should have no influence whatsoever,  on the moves of the Spirit. A climate not conducive for luke warm fish will not attract them. We don’t have to lift a finger to clean up the altar when we let the fire of God do it for us.

At Your Feasts, In your Presbytery

Notice in scripture the manifested demons actually bowed down and worshipped Jesus.  The stronger, more powerful demons, who operate in those who are in authority, the perfectly possessed, you can say, are quite capable to with stand the anointing, and function around it, because they have influence to shift atmosphere that is compatible for them, they can do that with manipulative powers of agreement to quench the Holy Spirit, what they cannot stand is exposure. That is why, so often, the Jewish leaders opposed Christ, vehemently, when he exposed their wickedness.  It is more disturbing when those under the control of Python go undetected, slipping into leadership, and the various administrations of God’s house, to put it under a death grip, doing what ever it can do to shut down the atmosphere of worship, that releases the power of God that will expose its darkness and drive it out. Pythos is an operative of Satan that seduces the un-discerning making them admirers aņd followers by divination, when it has control in the hierarchy of a church it would never support  pure abandonment in worship, but begin to pull attention to itself, less the power of God is released. A genuine move of God almost always requires one to go somewhere different than they have ever gone before, in repentance, and committment. History reveals to us that the  earmarks of an out pouring are extended, hilarious, and abandoned,  worship. The kind that the Michaels of mockery jealously despise, of whom the Davids of dance defy, in the joy that the Holy presence of God is brooding over His people.

We have seen Pythos, find its way through various aspects of church functionality that seems to have a hand in changing the course of a meeting, or interrupt the atmosphere away from worship, away from the manifest presence of God, away from the word. Python goes after “breath” it operates best when given voice, what ever pythos can do to “chill” the atmosphere, taking “breath” or giving voice to redirect flows and currents, away from anointed word, and ministry; but more so, away from worship that brings in the manifest presence of God. One reason that would be is because anointed worship charges the atmosphere with power on a corporate level, taking the focus off of one man, and directing it to the Lord of Hosts, who, in turn, pours out His Spirit upon the body of Christ, corporately, who ultimately, is whom God has appointed to manifest the manifold wisdom of God. This kind of power released into the Church on a corporate level not only exposes principalities of darkness, but defeats them, and by the nature of true worship destroys the influence of LEVIATHAN (to twist) who is king of ALL the SONS of PRIDE. Does it not say with the High praises of God in our mouth and a two edged sword in our hands we will bind kings with fetters of iron?

Ephesians 3:8-11 … to me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things…  His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

From denominational obligations, to self pity devils testifying their troubles every time there is open sharing; our enemy wants only one thing, to slow down momentums of the anointing of God. To quench the wick of the fires of revival. This is what the prince of the power of the air was attempting to do with the damsel who had a spirit of divination with Paul’s work. A soul that desires to be set free, will ACT OUT, because he is literally moving toward the anointing that will set him free. That is why, often, demons cry out in an anointed service, especially if the ones who are there are known in the spirit realm to be those who cast out devils, in Jesus name. Have you ever known a minister that always seems to have a “runner” or a “cryer” in their meetings? It is because their reputation proceed them in spiritual realms, as one who will not mess around with demon control.

When the power of God is present, unclean spirits realize their time is short, and begin to rage. Satan himself knows  his time on this earth short, society itself rages.  The spirit of divination, Pythos  [Gk.] acts like a Python snake. Before its victim even knows it is wrapped around them, the constrictor begins to squeeze the life of God out of them. Whether, it is an individual, a family, a city, a church, or denomination- Python restricts and distorts moves of God, and Godly advancements of His anointed. The most deceptive aspect of its operation is when that spirit moves among us in our believers meetings, and gatherings. Where ever there is the beginnings of a genuine move of God, the prophet’s anointing is  imperative to its success, acting in the spirit of Elijah, making way  the paths of the Lord;  whose anointing precedes the APOSTOLIC  work  to establish  the new, in the midst of the people, bringing in renewal. Consequently, to counterfeit the work, Python is not far  away and if  it can, the first thing the restrictor and his running mate will seek to accomplish is to replace prophetic ministry with an imposter.  Prayerfully supporting the genuine, will naturally remedy the pestilence  of the false. For that is what the office of the prophet ensures.

We are not to KNOW THEM by their accurate prophetic words, their worship, nor their enthusiasm, we are to KNOW THEM by their fruit.  It is one thing to let a prophet speak and the others stand and judge the prophecy  (forbid not prophecy) but it is an entirely  different set of rules to recognize the office of a prophet as it operates (foundationaly) in our midst. At the arrival of a genuine move of God, there will be many standing at the train station, to greet it, one of those greeters will be the prince of the power of the air, seeking access, that it might begin to move in the administration of the things that God is doing amidst the people, to stop that move from advancing through out the core of the city in an apostolic move of God. Python snacks on new beginnings, he is the running mate of leviathan, the king of all the sons of pride. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, dominions, and mights, and wickednesses in high places.  Often,  the “restrictor” manifests in atmospheric opposition; where those leading worship feel they are hitting up against a counter system, again, subject to the power of the name of Jesus.  The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God … Sometimes we just have to stop everything and directly address the atmosphere, demanding that it bows to the name of Yeshuah.

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert …”

Jesus said, “I have given you power to tread upon scorpions, and serpents and over all the power of the enemy.” This is why fasting and much prayer, repentance, yielding, and tarrying, ( waiting on the Holy Spirit ) is the key to all revivals, renewals, and awakenings; not that they come to us, for as long as the Holy Spirit is given place among us, there is breath, to blow the coals, to fan the flames; but rather,  to knock back the constrictor of breath, that in turn quenches the fires of renewal. This is why the house must be shaken before any new move of God can stick, for often in our very structures, even with in our own members, are those things that routinely, and habitually, resist the Holy Spirit, wether it be through an individual, an office of authority, denominational obligations, pageantry, calendared events- the traditions of men will render the word of God in-affective, when our appointments over rule His visitations upon us. To often the move of God is suspended, rather than are schedules. We keep our appointments with men, but what if the Lord’s visitation upon His people doesn’t end before our next calendared event? Who has precedence? Should not it be the one who is the head of the Church? Obviously, our routines have long EXCLUDED the moves of the Spirit, for we would have no need of renewal if they had not. So then should not routine be the first thing to yield in our pursuits of Him? Remember, this  admonishment; Quench not the Holy Spirit.

Our fervent prayers are those things that bring us to the brink of break through, over, and over again, only to be pushed back by an unwillingness to yield to the reformations that can carry them. You do not sew a new piece of garment to the old. You do not put new wine into old wine skins. So many weep before the Lord for renewals, but cannot facilitate them because they are not willing to throw out the manual of former rains, and let God do a new work in the latter. Let us be the clay in the potters hands, willing to be formed to accommodate the new things God is doing  in the earth.

dee barnes                          NeWinePouring.com