The Ear Gate and the Eye Gate
There are two main entrances into our inner man, the eyes and the ears. Both God and the devil them to speak to the spirit of man. What we see and what we hear often form who we become. For that reason, we must be wise and cautious concerning both what we see and what we hear. That which we see and hear effects our thinking, our emotions, and our believing. We have five physical senses that connect us to the physical realm but only the eyes and ears can connect us to the spiritual realm. Perhaps that is why God gave us two eyes and ears while we only have one mouth, one nose etc. Perhaps the two represent the connection to the two realms.
In scripture it often speaks of God opening our eyes and opening our ears. Seers of old were given visions and often the prophets heard the “word of the lord” that is God spoke to them. Man lives in in a 3-dimensional physical realm, but the truth is, there is also a spiritual realm where God, angels, demons, Satan, the redeemed saints and the unsaved lost dwell. This realm is so vast that the scripture says concerning just the heavenly realm: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9. Again the two gate are mentioned here declaring that all that man could see on earth or the heaven or hear or believe could not be compared to the scope, beauty and glory of heaven.
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There is a principle that few Christians grasp, which is that although both Satan and God desire to communicate to man through his eyes and ears God prefers to use the ears first and Satan prefers to use the eyes first. We will see this through many examples in the scriptures.
The eyes and ears are likened to gates, doors or even windows because they open up to either let things in or let things out. They are two-way portals connecting the spirit or soul of man with the spiritual realm. The Eyes and Ears are the spiritual connection and means of communication between the physical and spiritual. Satan who knows this, has used this with mediums, occultic practices, witchcraft and even false prophets. The war between good and evil, Angels and demons and God and Satan are being fought in the arena of man’s heart, mind and soul and they both are speaking to the ears of man and the eyes of humanity to draw man to one side or the other. How do we discern who is speaking and who is revealing what? The bible says that in the last days many would be deceived. It is not God who deceives but Satan and Satan often will appear as an angel of light (or an innocuous serpent in a garden). If our first parents were deceived what hope is there for any of us. There is a pattern and when we recognize it, we can determine its source.
PRIORITY OF PORTALS
I once heard Chuck Missler say that God's portal is often through the ear but Satan's portal is usually through the eyes. This really struck me profoundly and provoked me to search the scriptures to see if this pattern existed. First, I went to Genesis and looked at the very first words of the bible and made an interesting discovery. It says that “And God said... (That is he spoke. The audible came forth first) let there be light.” then it says "And God saw that the light was good!” He Said then he saw. The audible came before the visual. He continues with creation with this pattern “He said let there be... and He saw that it was good." There it was. In everything he created He said first, then He saw!Words are sound waves and are meant for hearing. No doubt the angels heard the words first and then saw Gods creation. God spoke. This is not for the eye but for the ear. What we hear is based upon sound waves what we see is based upon light waves. More on that later. So sound waves came before light waves.
Next I went to the end of the bible and in the last chapter of the book of Revelation John says “I John, am the one who heard and saw these things." Notice the order. Though some translations have this reversed, most translations always put hearing before seeing. The Greek word for heard is akouo, which means to hear, to understand to perceive by the ear what is said, to comprehend. This is more than physically hearing, it is understanding and comprehending what is being said.
The Greek word here for saw is blepo, which means to see, discern with the bodily eye, to perceive by use of the eyes, to look and discover. Again, this is more than just seeing physically but entails understanding and perception.
John says in the first chapter of Revelation
“I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send it to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.” Rev. 1:9-13
John first heard a voice then he saw the Lord. This pattern is often repeated in the scriptures. God spoke to Abraham to call him out of the land of Ur than later appeared to him. (Gen.12: Gen. 17:1)
God first speaks to Moses in a burning bush and then reveals himself on Mt. Sinai. (Gen 3:4, Ex. 24:9,100
We often hear the term “Seeing is believing” The truth actually is “Hearing is believing”. The scripture says "Faith (believing) comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
With the Lord, usually first comes the hearing and then comes the seeing. The audible first, the visual second. Someone once said “Often faith comes from hearing and doubt comes from seeing”. The Twelve Spies saw the giants in the land and it caused doubt. Let’s first look at the eye gate and how this is the first choice for the enemy to sow deceptive and doubt and gain entrance into the heart of man.
THE EYE GATE
“...For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16
Interestingly the scripture warns against the lust of the eyes. It doesn’t say the lust of the ears. Something about what we see is enticing, stimulating and provocative. It is often the clincher in the deal with sin. In the book of Genesis although the serpent planted doubt in Eve about the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil it wasn't till she looked upon it and the scripture say:
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.” Gen. 3:6
David was a man after Gods own heart but he was a man. After many years of obedience to God and being persecuted first by King Saul and then his own son Absalom, he became king. While everything was going well he walked up to his balcony and saw Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop. He called for her and slept with her and when she got pregnant he had her husband killed. This cost him his child and had he not repented it could of cost him his kingdom if not more. All because of the “lust of the eyes.
Satan loves to put things before the eyes of man to trip him up or lure him into traps. There is also a saying that says “Looks can be deceiving.” Abraham's nephew Lot had the choice of land for his herd and picked what looked like the best land for himself in the Jordan Valley which was well watered leaving the remainder for Abraham. However, the Jordan Valley contained the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot pitched his tent near Sodom. Eventually we find him living in the city with his wife and daughters. We know the story. The city was so wicked the Lord sent angels to pull his family out before he destroyed it but he lost his wife in the end. Abraham gave Lot the choice but what looked to good to the eyes, ended up being to his own great loss!
One of the ten commandments deal with coveting. This pertains to the lust of the eyes. It is desiring what others have or to have something you shouldn't have. The dictionary says coveting means: to yearn to possess or have something; to feel desire for what belongs to another.
Naaman came to the prophet Elisha to be cured of Leprosy. Elisha told him to go to the Jordan river and dip himself in it 7 times and he would be healed. Eventually he did so and returned to offer the prophet a gift of ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Elisha refused any payment so Naaman left. Elisha's servant Gehazi however went after Naaman and asked for some silver and 2 changes of clothing which he got. When he returned to Elisha the prophet said “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” Gehazi coveted with his eyes and ended up with leprosy. Probably not wise to take a leper’s clothes!
“For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16
When Jesus was in the wilderness the devil tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (self-preservation). After 40 days of not eating he tempted him to turn stones into bread which he could do (lust of the flesh). He tempted him to cast himself off the temple wall to see if the angels would preserve him (pride of life). Then in Matthew it tells how he tempted him with the lust of the eyes:
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”. Matthew 4:8-11
Jesus saw the kingdoms of the world under Satan's control and was offered them. This was a real desire otherwise it wouldn't be a temptation. Perhaps Satan was offering all of mankind without the need of redeeming it. This would indeed be a temptation because then Jesus wouldn't have to go to the cross. But the cost would be bowing down and worshiping His creation; the fallen one, the rebel angel who had caused a war in heaven. Jesus refused and the devil left.
The eyes were created by God and they are not evil. They are however vulnerable. We are to be careful what we set before them and put a guard over them. Psalms says: “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.” (Psa. 101:3); “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity (Psa 119:37).
When men discovered how to send wireless signals through the air in the 1800s it led to a transmitter and receiver and the radio was invented. It was the first device to allow for mass communication both nationally and international. In the 1900 it further developed and radio programs were broadcasted to nearly every home. It initially broadcasted variety shows, music and gospel programs. After World War Two it expanded to Comedy and Sports. Interestingly in the 30's and 40's many people were building their own radio kits and the government came in to regulate the industry dictating who could build transmitters and who could build receivers.
Families would sit around the radio in the evenings and listen to a variety of clean shows including many Christian programs. In the late 40s, TV was invented and in 1946 there were only 6 TV stations in the nation. So again, First came the radio then the TV. The radio actually brought the family together and entertained and informed them and was fairly clean. Even TV initially was censored often by Pastors and religious groups. But Hollywood grew and they kept pushing the envelope and eventually stopped all censorship. They created a Rating system leaving the censorship up to the recipient not the source. Bad idea!
As stated earlier, the radio and television operated by the usage of a transmitter and a receiver! It is the same basis as Alexander Bells telephone but without wires. Marconi is credited for inventing the radio, perfecting the long-range radio and ultimately the wireless telegraph. Radio waves are simply invisible light waves. Marconi initially used a transmitter and receiver to send a radio signal to ring a bell at a distance without wires. This was limited to short and long sounds, dots and dashes and thus he used Mores code to develop the telegraph (Side note but interesting: eventually the telegraph was installed on luxury liners and the Titanic and rescue boats communicated by it causing the Postmaster general of Britain to say “Those who have been saved, have been saved through one man, Mr. Marconi...and his marvelous invention.”). Marconi was offered free passage on Titanic before she sank, but had taken Lusitania three days earlier so he could get paper work done.
Today TV and Movies and the internet appeal to the eyes and are causiing an increase in sin, ungodliness and deception. We must seek the Lord fervently in prayer so that we can hear his voice again. LET THE EAR GATE DOMINATE THE EYE GATE. Close your eyes to the world and open your ears to the him who says “My sheep know my voice!" Let us be careful what we see and be mindful of what we hear!
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.” Gen. 3:6
David was a man after Gods own heart but he was a man. After many years of obedience to God and being persecuted first by King Saul and then his own son Absalom, he became king. While everything was going well he walked up to his balcony and saw Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop. He called for her and slept with her and when she got pregnant he had her husband killed. This cost him his child and had he not repented it could of cost him his kingdom if not more. All because of the “lust of the eyes.
Satan loves to put things before the eyes of man to trip him up or lure him into traps. There is also a saying that says “Looks can be deceiving.” Abraham's nephew Lot had the choice of land for his herd and picked what looked like the best land for himself in the Jordan Valley which was well watered leaving the remainder for Abraham. However, the Jordan Valley contained the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot pitched his tent near Sodom. Eventually we find him living in the city with his wife and daughters. We know the story. The city was so wicked the Lord sent angels to pull his family out before he destroyed it but he lost his wife in the end. Abraham gave Lot the choice but what looked to good to the eyes, ended up being to his own great loss!
One of the ten commandments deal with coveting. This pertains to the lust of the eyes. It is desiring what others have or to have something you shouldn't have. The dictionary says coveting means: to yearn to possess or have something; to feel desire for what belongs to another.
Naaman came to the prophet Elisha to be cured of Leprosy. Elisha told him to go to the Jordan river and dip himself in it 7 times and he would be healed. Eventually he did so and returned to offer the prophet a gift of ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Elisha refused any payment so Naaman left. Elisha's servant Gehazi however went after Naaman and asked for some silver and 2 changes of clothing which he got. When he returned to Elisha the prophet said “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” Gehazi coveted with his eyes and ended up with leprosy. Probably not wise to take a leper’s clothes!
“For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16
When Jesus was in the wilderness the devil tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (self-preservation). After 40 days of not eating he tempted him to turn stones into bread which he could do (lust of the flesh). He tempted him to cast himself off the temple wall to see if the angels would preserve him (pride of life). Then in Matthew it tells how he tempted him with the lust of the eyes:
“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”. Matthew 4:8-11
Jesus saw the kingdoms of the world under Satan's control and was offered them. This was a real desire otherwise it wouldn't be a temptation. Perhaps Satan was offering all of mankind without the need of redeeming it. This would indeed be a temptation because then Jesus wouldn't have to go to the cross. But the cost would be bowing down and worshiping His creation; the fallen one, the rebel angel who had caused a war in heaven. Jesus refused and the devil left.
The eyes were created by God and they are not evil. They are however vulnerable. We are to be careful what we set before them and put a guard over them. Psalms says: “I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.” (Psa. 101:3); “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity (Psa 119:37).
FROM THE EAR TO THE EYE
Today, television and the internet is full of filth for the eye with sex, homosexuality and porn feeding the lust of the eyes and body. We must return to Gods word and put our eyes on it so we can listen to Him speak to our heart again,When men discovered how to send wireless signals through the air in the 1800s it led to a transmitter and receiver and the radio was invented. It was the first device to allow for mass communication both nationally and international. In the 1900 it further developed and radio programs were broadcasted to nearly every home. It initially broadcasted variety shows, music and gospel programs. After World War Two it expanded to Comedy and Sports. Interestingly in the 30's and 40's many people were building their own radio kits and the government came in to regulate the industry dictating who could build transmitters and who could build receivers.
Families would sit around the radio in the evenings and listen to a variety of clean shows including many Christian programs. In the late 40s, TV was invented and in 1946 there were only 6 TV stations in the nation. So again, First came the radio then the TV. The radio actually brought the family together and entertained and informed them and was fairly clean. Even TV initially was censored often by Pastors and religious groups. But Hollywood grew and they kept pushing the envelope and eventually stopped all censorship. They created a Rating system leaving the censorship up to the recipient not the source. Bad idea!
As stated earlier, the radio and television operated by the usage of a transmitter and a receiver! It is the same basis as Alexander Bells telephone but without wires. Marconi is credited for inventing the radio, perfecting the long-range radio and ultimately the wireless telegraph. Radio waves are simply invisible light waves. Marconi initially used a transmitter and receiver to send a radio signal to ring a bell at a distance without wires. This was limited to short and long sounds, dots and dashes and thus he used Mores code to develop the telegraph (Side note but interesting: eventually the telegraph was installed on luxury liners and the Titanic and rescue boats communicated by it causing the Postmaster general of Britain to say “Those who have been saved, have been saved through one man, Mr. Marconi...and his marvelous invention.”). Marconi was offered free passage on Titanic before she sank, but had taken Lusitania three days earlier so he could get paper work done.
Today TV and Movies and the internet appeal to the eyes and are causiing an increase in sin, ungodliness and deception. We must seek the Lord fervently in prayer so that we can hear his voice again. LET THE EAR GATE DOMINATE THE EYE GATE. Close your eyes to the world and open your ears to the him who says “My sheep know my voice!" Let us be careful what we see and be mindful of what we hear!
