As residents of the United States, we are repeatedly inundated with the marketing of "Pop culture." The goal of every advertising campaign is to make a particular product or slogan an unavoidable part of every American's life. This has been done with success among many marketers by employing a "catch phrase." When advertisements are able to get a jingle or a particular phrase to "stick" in our heads, they have succeeded. Phrases like "Show me the money" and "Whassup" (not an endorsement of the product) have become commonplace in our lives. Sadly, the same tactics have been used in religious circles. Various terms and phrases have been implemented And popularized to influence spiritually minded individuals in a desired direction.

Although many of these man-made terms and phrases have surfaced over the years, we will focus on just one. You may have heard someone say, "The Lord laid it on my heart." This statement is typically used to justify a certain belief or practice of an individual. Such a response has become very common when one cannot support their claim with scripture. Now, there are certainly some very sincere people who have made such a claim. However, it is our purpose to examine the validity of such a notion by using scripture as the standard.

Our spiritual heart is the center of our intellect (Proverbs 23:7), emotion (Acts 2:26), will (Acts 5:4), and conscience (Romans 2:15). The heart can be a tremendous asset if properly guided. God makes it clear to every student of the Bible that the human heart must not be relied upon as the final authority. We will consider just a handful of pertinent scriptures.

God declared that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). Moreover, He warned of the unreliability of feelings (Proverbs 14:12). Feelings are not an infallible standard. A man or a woman can be sincere in their feelings, but wrong in their understanding of the facts! Both Saul of Tarsus and Cornelius are examples of men who were sincerely wrong (Acts 10: 1-2; 22:3-5). God demands both sincerity and an understanding of the will of the Lord (Ephesians 5:17).

Jesus said "you shall know the truth, land the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Now, compare that with what we read from Jeremiah 17:9. The heart is deceitful! It is only when we abide in His word (John 8:3 1) that the truth can set us free (John 8:32). God's word has the power to set us free from the bondage of sin. But when we choose to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6), it is power only in potential.

God does not intend to "lay" anything on our hearts apart from the truth of scripture. There is no need for "special revelation" since God Himself declared that scripture makes a man "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He said "complete." When we claim that God has spoken to us in a unique manner, we nullify His statement in the book of Second Timothy. Friend, do not be deceived by your own heart! When we are presented with scripture that convicts us, let us never allow our feelings and sincerity override the tangible facts of scripture. "This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life" (Psalm 119:50).

The Pantry
This week’s Pantry Item is coffee and creamer.

Youth Devo Tonight
The monthly teen group devotional and fellowship is scheduled for this evening, after services, here at the building. See Matt Faneuf for more information.

Directory Changes
Please add the following information to your directories:

MARTINEZ, Henry & Virginia
(Click Here for Directory Info)

OLIVER, Brice
(Click Here For Directory Info)

Did you ever notice on a coupon, "not good if detached"? The coupon was made of the same material as the rest of the ticket, but it was not good if detached. Its usefulness was dependent upon its relation to the rest of the ticket. How much is a church member worth when detached from the rest of the church?