OPERATION PYTHONDethroning The False Prophet

by Paula Cross

© Copyright 2012 - Paula Cross

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Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION,Copyright ©1984, 2005, 2010 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All RightsReserved. KING JAMES VERSION quotations are marked with KJV and are public domain. Scripturequotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004,2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All RightsReserved.

Cover: Photos by Lane Erickson, Sunheyy and Honored; contributing photographers of Dreamstime.com.Cover Layout Design by Paula Cross. Interior Photo by Kagenomai, a contributing artist of deviantart.com.Disclaimer: The usage of these images is not necessarily an endorsement of the photographers other artistic endeavors.

The passages quoted from Encyclopaedia Britannica are kindly permitted "By courtesy ofEncyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., copyright 2012; used with permission."

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Material quoted from the book Secret Teachings of all Ages: Wonders of Antiquity by Manly P. Hall; 1928 -[Copyright not renewed] are public domain.

Excerpts quoted from pg 50-51 of John G. Lake - His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith; Published by KCPKenneth Copeland Publications, Fort Worth Texas. ©1994 Kenneth Copeland Publications.

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Acknowledgments

First, I would like to thank God for bringing me into His truths. I wasin such darkness but now I’m free. Praise You, Lord, for all of Your Wondersand Love that make it possible for a dead person to actually discover undeserved,abundant LIFE!

Next, I would like to thank my four children for believing in me even inour darkest moments. Despite the rocky roads, I could see faith in their eyeswhen I'd declare for the 784th time that God would indeed bring us out of struggleand into His goodness. They believed in me more than anyone else on this planetand for this I am eternally grateful! They are my gifts from God, my inspiration,and my pride!

Last, but not least, I want to thank my husband, Michael, who is a mostremarkable man! He gives true meaning to the term partnership. I couldn't askfor a better teammate! He complements me in every way and was so kind as toedit this book! We're single-handedly launching this project and his input,attentiveness, help, patience, and intelligence (which saved me from some prettyembarrassing mistakes) are irreplaceable. I am humbled at his love for me and hisimmeasurable contributions to my efforts! (Incidentally, this is Michael's firsttime editing anything ever!)

There are a few other nameless folks I'd like to thank as well who, intheir own ways, supported and believed in me. The goodness they spoke into mylife strengthened me and will always remain as treasures in my heart.

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 07

Preface - One Python, Many Faces……………………………………………………………….....10

Prologue - So Very Far Removed………………………………………………………………………13

1. The Beginning Of A Dark Kingdom.................................................................15

2. Understanding the Kingdoms…………………….……………………………………………….26

3. The Rise of The False Prophet........................................................................35

4. It’s Just a Namesake………………………………......................................................48

5. Dancing With The Devil..................................................................................62

6. When You Seek Me With All Your Heart........................................................75

7. Confounded By Constriction………..................................................................90

8. Python... And Our Finances......………………....................................................104

9. Condemnation: One Slick Tool.....................................................................118

10. Praise, Power, and Position..........................................................................126

11. Victory Nay Embraced……………………………………………………………………….….....137

12. Law VS Grace…………………………………………………………………………………………….148

13. Withstanding The Resistance………………………………………………………….…………159

14. Forever Abiding............................................................................................174

My Heart’s Desire Evaluation……..…………………………………………………………..........187

Introduction

It’s no secret…. The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy. But once we areredeemed and since we are children of a MIGHTY God, aren’t we supposed to be victorsover darkness? Why do dark clouds still follow some of us? And why does God notrescue us from their power? Why, for some of us, are there struggles at every turn? Withcurses still dominating our lives even after we’ve ‘broken them off’? Why do we keepgoing in the same cycles of defeat? Where is our God?

I’ve been perplexed over this for years. I’m a Christian. And my God isMaster of the Universe! He is the ALMIGHTY! And His Word promises that I wouldhave life and have it to the full. Yet, despite being a daughter of the Most High, thedarkness is what has prevailed over my soul and the circumstances of my life. I couldn’tunderstand how things could be this way… until now.

Curses are rightfully to blame but it is my contention that there is a muchbroader picture that needs to be recognized and understood.

After giving my life to the Lord and spending more than twenty yearsconsciously following Jesus Christ but suffering at the hands of darkness, I havediscovered the truth and long to tell the world. In a nutshell, I belonged to God butALLOWED a very dark entity, called Python, to reign over me.

The spirit of python, a powerful ruler of darkness, is being exposed likenever before. In fact, this mighty ancient worker has accomplished too many victories tonumber yet is painstakingly nervous because of what the Holy Spirit is doing right thisvery moment! What He is doing for you… What He is doing for me. Glory be to our God.Eyes are being opened and the python is losing ground in lives of even those he’s had themost deeply rooted generational grip upon.

The fact is the python spirit’s origin is rooted in mythology. But kid younot, the profound faith in the ancient Greek’s system of beliefs and false gods emanatedfrom their culture which gave the devil a grand platform!

Introduction

This book will establish just who the spirit of python is and how it can bethat our lives today are so adversely affected by this strong man of old even when andespecially after giving our lives to the Lord. We will discuss how the introduction ofpython had its premise in idolatry and divination yet how a vast empire emerged whichinfiltrated the Church of God. It will be shown that the spirit of python is more than asingular principality but is an elaborate operation hell-bent on wiping out all that isspiritually true, right, and holy.

In 1996 I saw a vision of something coiled around my body and later Godtold me it was a python which was the first time I’d ever heard of such a thing. And it wasthe only time I was aware of the entity being at work in my life until 2009 when Godrevealed that I, like many in the church, had been one of the spirit of python's long termprojects. The Holy Spirit revealed to me how it is that this spirit is actually an empire ofdark forces out to stifle the church and ultimately, the POWER of GOD.

The teachings in this book will provide a solid overview of the heart of thespirit of python’s empire, its origin and agenda. We’ll look at the very methodical tacticsthrough which he rules the hearts of man and confounds the body of Christ, what it takes toovercome him, and my very personal, supernatural encounters with the Holy Spirit Whowalked me out of the spirit of python’s grip over the course of two long decades.

Many books have been written which address the powers and principalitiesof darkness but what is different about Operation Python is what I believe to be the well-rounded revelation the Holy Spirit has released for this new season we have entered. Let’sface it, despite all the teaching about the enemy’s works against us, the church remains insuch a weakened state and too many voices have been muffled or snuffed out altogether.While it appears I’m blaming the devil for our failing or suffering as believers, let memake it clear here and now that every ounce of evil victory ultimately is because we’vepermitted it. True, the dark kingdom is strategically working right in our midst. He’sclever to ensnare and deceive us and often times has his hand in our lives before we areeven born via generational curses! But we are ignorant and just mosey along, oblivious,applying half-truths here and there, clueless to the fullness that Christ offers us, andwhimsically strolling along in our walks with our Lord saying one thing one minute butdoing something different the next.

Lo, the enemy spoken of in this book is mighty, make no bones about it.But aren’t we taught that God is FAR superior in every way? The powers of darkness arebut microscopic in scale to God and the endless sea of His Majesty, Power, Wonder, andGlory. So, how is it that those of us who belong to the Mighty God can be so hindered bythe prince of the air? Does our God not care? Is the Lord weak against some of theworkings of evil? Does the devil get over on God? Are there tricks up Satan’s sleeve thatmanage to evade God’s omniscience?

Introduction

By the time you have finished reading this book and completing theincluded worksheets, I pray you will understand better what's been going on in your lifeand will be better equipped to move mightily forward into the plans God specificallydestined for your life - and out of the grip of Python.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Hosea 4:6 KJV. Theverse is reflecting more specifically ‘the knowledge of God’ but I assure you that it ties into lacking knowledge of who our enemy is. Further, Jesus told us in John 8:32 NIV,“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

I hope and pray that prior to this book being read by anyone that God firstprepares every mind and spirit. Please read and come into agreement with the followingprayer before continuing to the first chapter:

Father God, I pray that You bless all readers and guard their hearts andminds in Christ Jesus. Anoint this book so that each and every time it is read,understanding will flow and spirits will come into alignment with truth. May allreceive revelation and power to rise up and surrender every aspect of their liveswhich gives power to dark authority. Let the anointing be so strong that familiarspirits will become mute and ineffective. Bind every spirit that attempts to stopappointed readers from picking up the book. Bring everyone’s mind into focus andclear out the spirits which cause confusion. I bind every hindering spirit that setsitself against this book and attempts to come between a reader and the message Youwish to convey, precious Holy Spirit. And I ask You, Father God, to set numerousangels about the readers, Lord, and lift them, fill them with your Spirit. And, opentheir minds to comprehend the full breadth of the truth in order to be transformed.Encourage, them, Lord, even now, that the spirits which stood so powerful againstthem for so long...are actually…powerless. Lead them to take a stand as they graspthe truth. Deliver them and reprogram their minds where the spirit of python wouldtry to maintain a hold or regain entry. And finally, Father God, help them to finishthe book in its entirety and bring them to complete understanding of all You wantthem to know and a complete comprehension of who they are in You and who You arein them. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, Amen.

Preface - The Many Faces Of Python

It’s important to establish that, according to the revelation I believe the Lordgave me, the spirit of python is but a surname given to the false prophet who oversees anentire system of demons. I know this is a new concept. What has been understood is thespirit of python is just one type of demonic, (specifically prophetic) worker but, based onmy experiences as well as scripture and other factors, we aren’t talking about a type ofdemon. We’re talking about an empire that is responsible for the demonic workingsagainst believers in Christ, the body at large, and even the world!

We talk of many spirits such as the spirit of witchcraft or pride, the spirit ofJezebel, or even the spirit of death, to name a few. When somebody has an ongoing issuewith a particular behavior or sin, such as jealousy, for example, they are thought of aspossibly having a spirit of jealousy. Jesus said to the woman with the bowed back that shewas loosed from the spirit of infirmity. Likewise, Jesus commanded the deaf and mutespirit to come out of one particular boy. So, we see how demons are often named oridentified according to their works or assignment.

In the mid 90’s, after studying the spirit of witchcraft, it seemed that thespirit of witchcraft and later, the spirit of Jezebel were all you heard about and howprominent they were in the church. Indeed, they certainly were and still are, but Iwondered if we overused the names. I’d think, “Aren’t there other demons at work, too?All we’re talking about is two workers. What about the others? And what are their namesand what are they doing???”

Later, as the spirit of python was addressed more I witnessed its namebeing used for several different types of demonic influence. Something about this troubledme because I couldn’t understand how one name, the name of a snake, no less, hadconnections to so many variations of influence.

Such as how God revealed to me the name of the entity that had been avidlyworking against me all my life as the spirit of python. Outside of what the Lord directlyspoke to me at that time in 1996, however, I had no additional revelation until a decadelater when God broadened my understanding to this spirit’s tactics compared to my limitedunderstanding birthed in the 90’s. Suddenly, I started hearing teachings about this spiritbut one person would teach concerning one thing while other teachers touched oncompletely different aspects.

I essentially asked God to clarify all this to me. After all, the spirit ofpythos (python) is what is named in the Greek translation of Acts 16:16 where the woman

Preface

was referred to as having a spirit of divination. Yet, I heard ministers teaching how thespirit of python is much like the natural python in the way it conquers its prey byconstriction - and that the enemy does this to believers by isolating them or discouragingthem for the purpose of putting out their fire for God and rendering them powerless.Meanwhile, I had had a personal encounter with God a decade earlier concerning a curse ofpoverty where the Holy Spirit referred to what I saw in a vision as being a python. Butwhat did all these have to do with each other? Was the woman with the spirit ofdivination in Acts 16 being constricted or isolated? And why wasn’t she under a curse ofpoverty if she was under the influence of the spirit of python like I was? I was confused.How could one spirit be the author of so many different forms of demonic workings inpeople’s lives? Aren’t there more definitive ‘names’ for the specific nature of theindividual types of attacks or influence? Why not just call the spirit of divination the"spirit of divination", the spirit of isolation the "spirit of isolation", and the curse of povertythat was over my life the "curse of poverty"? I wasn’t getting how all the faces of pythonamounted to being named one single spirit. Again, one python spirit suffocates byoppressing someone while another spirit of python is devouring someone’s finances whileanother foretells the future???

So, I began researching the spirit of python’s origin and it all came togetherin a most extraordinary way. It’s simple yet so profound! The truth is I discovered that thespirit of python is actually a namesake the false prophet took on (who is actually thecounterfeit equivalent of the Holy Spirit) due to ancient practices and belief systems.Through the ages, the devil has been operating via an expansive platform but the spirit ofpython (the counterfeit holy spirit) actually oversees a vast system of demons workingfrom that platform together for a single, unified agenda. And while there are in factspecific spirits such as witchcraft - which the spirit of python (false prophet) employs - thespirit of python is the overseer of the entire operation. Such as the spirit of Jezebel. I willshow that this spirit is under the headship of the empire set up by the python spirit. So,even though the lesser minions who have other names are the ones implementing Python’sorders, we refer to the lot of them as Python.

It’s like if John Doe is in the U.S. military and is overseas and personallyencounters the enemy, even if they discover his name, he’s more than likely still referred toby the enemy as “the American.” That's what we do when we don’t know the specificname - we refer to them according to their group or classification. I believe this is why allthe demons who are assigned to implement the false prophet’s agenda are referred to as thespirit of python. One might be a spirit of self-loathing (knew him personally) whileanother might be the spirit of religion while yet another is the spirit of Jezebel. But if wehaven’t been given the specific demon’s identity and if these demons are working withinthe system of “Operation Python”, we will naturally classify them all as the python spirit.

If this is too difficult to swallow, consider things further then… The Lordgave me the vision of the snake coiled around my body and said it was responsible for thecurse of poverty that was over me. Was the snake poverty itself? Or was the snake the onewho influenced the circumstances to keep me in poverty?

Preface

Concerning the curse of poverty, God didn’t show me a vision of my handsbound in chains despite the fact that everything I put my hands to was cursed. He didn’tshow me a visual of being blocked by walls of interference which I had often felt werearound me as I would try to get a job and such. Those would have been accurate visions asto how the spirits kept me in poverty. But the Lord wasn’t showing me a vision to confirmthe curse of poverty or even to demonstrate their procedures. No. God was showing mewho was in charge. He showed the python coiled around me because He wanted me toeventually figure out that it was via the false prophet that all the curses were beingimplemented against me.

Now, add that to something that happened a decade later where the Lordspoke to me that the reason I had been mistreated in the various ways I was by otherbelievers (rejected, belittled, falsely accused) wasn’t because they were bad Christians butbecause the spirit of python was working to keep me isolated. The spirit of python? But itwas the spirit of rejection working in the one scenario, it was a condescending spirit inanother, and an accusing spirit in another situation. These were all unique assaults yet theLord classified them as the spirit of python. Why?

This was merely the beginning of my understanding. I didn’t start to put itall together until 2009 when I looked into the origin of the python spirit. That’s when it allmade sense. That’s when I realized why the Lord kept naming the various demonicinfluences as… Python.

Prologue – So Very Far Removed

Thank you, Lord, that You have sought me out - to save and deliver mefrom darkness, from my ‘self’, and from all of my wrong programming. Lord, even after Ifound You, received You and boldly became a citizen of Heaven, Father, I was so farremoved from the ways of Your Kingdom. My affiliation and understanding of the worldand all the power the prince of the air had over my mind, life and soul were so strong, ranso deep, that I have really struggled with walking in the fullness of my Heavenlycitizenship.

But, Father, I realize, now… I realize now that being a part of YourKingdom offers so much more to me than I ever conceived! You did not die for me so thatI can spend eternity with You only! You died so that the prince of the air would no longerget away with ruling my earth life! You died so that I really could be the head and not thetail! So that I would be a blessing in this temporary realm!

Father, until You sent Your Son to die our death, we had no ability toovercome the devil and his forces! We had no authority to smite him. We had no powerto break free from his grip or influence. We were powerless against the principalitieswhich worked tirelessly to ensnare us and dominate our lives. All we might have had waswill power but what good is will power when the supernatural masterminds ofdarkness even manage to manipulate our wills? When they infiltrate our minds andinundate us with temptation? When they twist us and contort our systems of values andmorale?

Oh, Lord… You died to provide us Your superior, mighty authority andpower against the relentless dark system. I was so oblivious.

Looking back over the years since You wrote my name in the Book of Life,I see how the enemy worked tirelessly to keep me from discovering the power andauthority You provide. The devil didn’t care anymore that I was saved. All he cared aboutwas ensuring that I was ineffective for Your Kingdom!

Father, I couldn’t understand after I was born of Spirit why it was that Yourpower seemed void in my life. Why it was that the promises of the Bible weren’t myexperience. Things always happened contrary to Your Word! I was the tail and not thehead despite trying so hard to believe and achieve. Even as I devoted myself to yourservice, I was still powerless and held down. Everything continued to happen to keep meunder, set back, and struggling. No matter what I did there was a dark cloud hovering over

Prologue

it! I’d wonder where you were in it all. Well, now I know you were there all along. I seewhere you were trying to reveal to me what was going on! But I wasn’t listening and Iunwittingly permitted the spirit of python to maintain control over my life.

Thank You, Lord, for not giving up on me. For relentlessly pursuing meand opening my eyes to your truth! Lord, I am sorry that I didn’t press into You sooner.Forgive me. And thank You for rescuing me and not stopping until You did! I knowbetter now. I know now that there is a power of HOLY KINGDOM MIGHT within MEthat is no longer subject to the deceptions and power of darkness.

Father, You give me authority to trample the enemy. But I know thisauthority only manifests if I’m “in” You. So, help me to be completely “in” You at alltimes… forever more! Amen.

Chapter OneThe Beginning Of A Dark Kingdom

The Beginning Of A Dark Kingdom

Let’s begin by establishing the bottom line of the devil’s agenda. Note, Isaid ‘devil’ and not the spirit of python. This is because Python is merely the name givento the vast platform we are discussing in this book but behind every platform of darkness isthe same prince; Satan. And before we can appreciate any given platform, we really needto get a solid grip on Satan’s overall agenda.

It’s no mystery… Satan opposes God and seeks to be the god of heaven andearth. But despite being the prince of the air after being cast out of heaven and down toearth, without a platform to work through in the natural "material" realm of the earth, hehad no kingdom! Oh, he had a company of demons. But who did he have to rule?Nobody. So, therefore, no kingdom. But it wouldn’t remain this way for long.

We know the story quite well where Satan tempted Eve in the Garden ofEden which brought sin into the world but do we understand the depth of how and what heaccomplished here? The truth of his identity was that he had no rights in the earth becauseman was the one who was granted dominion over it. Man was the possessor. Satan wasmerely present and wandering with no platform; no authority. So, if he wanted a platformthrough which to operate in the natural, he’d have to establish it through mankind, hence,his trickery in the Garden.

This was how Satan launched his kingdom. Yes, Adam and Eve’sdisobedience in the Garden is widely understood as ‘the fall of man’ and is why sin is nowour nature. But while these are the results of sin entering our realm and certainly dorequire our attention, this wasn’t all that was on the devil’s mind. You see, since his goalwas to rule that which God created he would have to infiltrate the natural kingdom to setup a supernatural kingdom within it.

The definition of “kingdom” in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: a) arealm or region in which something is dominant; or b) an area or sphere in which oneholds a preeminent position.1

1“By permission. From Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition©2011 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated)"

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