Shake It Off!

Uncharted Territory

Acts 28:1–10 ESV

1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

Shutter Island

Snake Spirits, namely Python, attack when you are taking new territory for Christ

Whether it be a region or a higher level in the spirit.

Paul was on his way to Rome.

28:4 Greco-Roman lore spoke of fugitives who escaped shipwreck only to be killed by poisonous snakes.

The comment “this man is a murderer.” was based on the belief in Greek mythology that the fates align against people who commit evil.

Justice In Greek mythology, Justice was a goddess—the daughter of Zeus and Themis.

Talk about Lady Justice.

Justice was believed to establish and control people’s fate.

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I’m Not Too Fond of Snakes.

Talk about the natural/spiritual realm correlation.

Genesis 3:14 ESV

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

The snake was not a literal serpent.

It was not literal in terms of physical.

Ancient Egyptians would have understood this.

This was common knowledge in ancient Mesopotamia.

They would have thought that the gods were up to something...

According to Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament), Volume 1.

The Egyptians revered the serpent because they feared it for its power and danger, but they also honored the serpent because, at times, it offered protection. Thus, they regarded the snake as a friend, protector and enemy, and the personification of the sacred and the profane. Some snakes were to be worshiped; others were considered incarnations of evil. Serpents in Egypt are also connected with occult wisdom. The ureaus is sometimes invoked as a magician. In this regard, it may be no coincidence that the Hebrew word used for snake here (nāḥāš) evokes the similar sounding and perhaps etymologically related verb (nḥš), meaning “to give omens.” “Many gods, especially the primeval gods, were represented in serpent form. The earth god Geb had a serpent’s head; the ‘serpent who created the earth’ was worshiped at Thebes. Serpent deities controlled human life and the passage of time.”

Tread on Serpents

Luke 10:19 ESV

19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

‌Pythons

Snakes and Serpents are referenced over 80 times in the Bible.

Snakes love to stalk their prey.

Many snakes will attack you from behind when you are unaware and vulnerable.

“Serpents are wise enough to know when to seize the moment and strike. They understand there’s a kairos time to attack.” - Rick Renner.

According to National Geographic, pythons strike at you and grab you with their teeth: “They’ll seize the prey item with their teeth and simultaneously wrap their coil around it and squeeze. And when the victim inhales, that’s the time they squeeze a little bit harder to the point where you can’t get a breath anymore.”

The Python spirit seeks to inflict wounds on you with accusations and spiritual blows to your body.

This spirit will also work through the hurts and wounds of your past, magnifying unresolved pain to stop or hinder your prayer life and stop you from accomplishing your God-given mission.

When Python attacks, it feels like a torrent!

According to Merriam-Webster. A Torrent - “tumultuous outpouring: rush; a violent stream of a liquid (such as water or lava).”

Explain the Michigan attack!

“Python rushes at you in violence with a demonic outpouring of witchcraft. Remember, this spirit is essentially a spirit of divination.” - Jennifer Leclaire.

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Vipers

Vipers are assignment killers

Vipers are religious spirits.

Matthew 3:7 ESV

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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Cobras

There are various kinds of snakes are associated with demons.

‌African witchcraft and Hinduism.

The cult of the Python is well-known in Africa,

Most African curses are ultimately energized by a Python spirit, which may also manifest as Leviathan.

‌2.In Hinduism, these are known as “naga” spirits, and the King Cobra is considered the most powerful.

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Snakes Are Subtle

Proverbs 30:18–19 ESV

18 Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand: 19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a virgin.

“Sometimes, the Python’s work in our lives is so subtle that we don’t immediately discern its tracks—or stop it dead in its tracks—which is why we need to be wise like the serpent. Remember, the snake moves into a territory camouflaged.” - Jennifer Leclaire.

‌Snakes and Sorcerer’s

Acts 13:4–12 ESV

4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Don’t Test God!

1 Corinthians 10:8–9 (ESV)

8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

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Apostles Bring the Presence

T‌he Python spirit knows it has no authority in a city that prays in the presence of God.

Python Attacks occur when you are on an apostolic assignment.

Snakes attack right before a breakthrough.

Snakes distract people from praying, so they can’t fulfill their purpose.

Python would rather watch you lick your wounds than pray to a healing God.

Python would rather hear you complain or gossip than take your problems to a miracle-working God.

Python would instead distract you with attacks, trials, and persecutions than see you press into a gracious God for deliverance.

Late in the Midnight Hour!

Acts 16:16–26 ESV

16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

You Have theAuthority to Shake It Off!

Mark 16:18 ESV

18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

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