Johannine Warfare By Bro. John Michael Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. - Revelation 12: 17

Spiritual War Ally: God Weapon: Word (Truth) Effect of Weapon: Light Freedom Life Opponent: Satan Weapon : words (Lies) Effect of Weapon: Darkness Fear Death

In the Beginning… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. -John 1:1-3

What happened in the beginning… In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. - Gen. 1:1-4

What happened in the beginning… Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the ea So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. -Gen. 1:26-27

Can you see? God speaks to Man through the visible creation -CCC, n The beauty of creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator. - CCC, 341.

Two ways of Seeing Physical Sight: used to express natural perception of things enjoyed by all (1:14); and sometimes it denotes perception of supernatural things which only certain men can enjoy (1:32) but always in a physical sense. Spiritual Sight: used to express perception of an event of revelation which is spiritual and not physical (2:11; 12:45; 14:9).

What happened in the beginning… For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked… And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. -Gen. 3: 5-8

The Man Believes!WOR D Original Sin word Creation: In the Beginning

Then Word becomes Flesh And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' - John 1:14-15

What happened? A man and woman exchange wedding vows. They are married and are living happily together at home. The man hears rumor that his wife has been unfaithful. The man fearing that his wife has been unfaithful begins to search through her journals. Relationship is built upon the exchange of words Whos word does the husband believe? How does this affect the relationship? What inner response and action does the lie motivate?

What happened? A man and woman exchange wedding vows. They are married and are living happily together at home. The man hears rumor that his wife has been unfaithful. The man fearing that his wife has been unfaithful begins to search through her journals. The man searches her journals because he believed the rumor (lie) rather than taking his wife for her word (truth). The man now, in believing the rumor, has built a relationship with the liar not his wife! The lie that the man has believed has blinded him of knowing his wife's love. He is in the dark. He does not know her love. The relationship is dead!

R E L A T I O N S H I P GOD WORD Truth Light Life Satan Word Lies Darkness Death Whose word will we believe?

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:5 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:18-19

The Man Believes!WOR D Original Sin word Creation: In the Beginning WOR D

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. - John 1:9-14