INTRODUCTION

Another step we must consider is guarding our ears. What we hear or listen to is very important to our spiritual life. Some might ask, “What difference does it make what we hear or listen to?” Consider what James said about the power of the tongue:

MAIN DISCOURSE:

Indeed we control horses 🐎 🐎 by putting bits in their mouths that they may obey us and we turn their whole body. Behold also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are controlled by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. So like wise, the tongue is a little organ of the body but boasts for great things.

JAMES 3:3-6 AS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE POWER OF TONGUES:

In this illustration, Apostle James describes how a powerful horse is controlled by a small rope bit in its mouth, and how a ship is controlled by a tiny rudder. In the same way, the tongue, though seemingly insignificant, controls our lives. Whoever said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was very wrong. Words are very powerful. In fact, Proverbs 18:21 says, “The power of life and death is in the tongue. ”
Words can change a person’s life, words have the ability to direct a person — drawing him into a good and wise direction or an evil direction. Words can build a person up or even destroy him. If someone sits under good and godly parents who faithfully teach God's Word and attend a good church that teaches the Truth of the Bible, the "efficacy of tongue" will help direct him into what is good.

Likewise, if someone sits under ungodly teaching and ungodly conversations, such will affect his life negatively. This is especially true mostly when it comes to sexual immorality.
That is why, one of most powerful tactics of Satan is to influence people sexually through the music industry. Most of today’s songs are full of sexual oriented and graphic language. Some are essentially lyrical pornography— meant to control and guide people away from God and into sexual strongholds.

It is very sad to note that many Christians are prey to this tactic of Satan. Most of the Christians listen to ungodly and sexually charged music all day, then wonder why they can't control their lust and don't desire to read the Bible. Tongue directs their lives — leading them away from God into sexual lusts.
Psalm 1:1 says this: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers” (ESV). Some have called this the pathway of depravity. A person starts off listening to the “counsel” of the wicked, then he is standing in the way of sinners—practicing the same thing sinners do, and then they are in the seat of scoffers. Biblically, “scoffer ” or “fool” is used of those who mock holy things. Psalm 14:1 says the fool says in his heart that there is no God. First, these people were just listening. Perhaps like some Christians who listen to ungodly music, they will say, “I only enjoy it because of the beating; I don’t even listen to the words.” The next thing you will see, they are practicing sin, and one day they are mocking God and the practice of holiness. The devil led these poor souls astray by simply getting a hold of their ears.
In the same way, so many people raised in Christian homes with godly morals, such as will wait to have sex until marriage, are now sexually promiscuous just like the world. All these started with the wrong counsel— sexually charged musical lyrics, sexual dialogue from movies, internet pornographic films, nude pictures and sexually flirtatious conversations. Instead of following God and His standard, they mock what is holy and practice the worldly sexual ethics.

Who are listening to, who is speaking to you, and what are they telling you? Your conversations with friends are they full of sexual jokes and innuendo? The TV shows and movies you like are they promoting casual sex? If it is so, it is impossible for you to remain pure.
Paul said this in Ephesians 5:3: “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. ”
Apostle Paul said that there should not even be a “hint” of sexual immorality in the lives of those who believe in Jesus Christ. There are so many people who desire to be pure but their mouths, and the mouths of those they listen to are full of sexual hints that eventually bear fruit in their lives.
Are you guarding your ears? Satan keeps many Christians in bondage to lust by flooding their ears with sexual garbage.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to take out this garbage as remain clean.

REFLECTION:

1. In what ways does the enemy flood sexual temptation into our ears?
2. How have you seen or experienced the power of words, especially sexual words, in guiding one’s life?
3. How is God calling you to better guard your ears?
4. What other questions or thoughts do you have about this section?
5. In what ways can you pray in response? Take a second to pray as the Lord leads.