It is God's desire that we all come to spiritual maturity, but many Christians today remain spiritual infants — depending on others to feed them rather than feeding themselves, crying and whining to control others, not working or reproducing. Satan, sin and self are the biggest hindrances to spiritual growth in our lives. God gives us a desire for spiritual maturity, but we cling to sin or strive for victory in our own strength. It is God who brings the growth. God doesn't want our flesh to take any part in the victories in our life. He alone gets the glory. Jesus doesn't come into our lives to be our helper or assistant. He comes to be Lord and Savior, taking complete control and authority. Many of us are living with far less than God has planned for us because we don't have the faith to be fully surrendered to Christ.

In this message Pastor Carter speaks about a type of unbelief that he discovered in His heart for which he is very thankful. He goes on to say this type of unbelief neither doubts nor accuses God. Pastor Carter’s cry here is, “Lord, increase my unbelief”. What does all this mean? These are some examples of Pastor Carter’s unbelief: He won’t ever believe that your life is insignificant to the kingdom of God. He does not believe that God cannot use you for His purposes and that your life cannot be used for the glory of God. He does not care how strong you may argue that you cannot be used in God's kingdom, he will never believe it. It is time for God to be God to us. He takes ordinary people and fills us with the Holy Spirit to do extraordinary things.

As Saul, Paul was an up and coming leader, a man of ambition and recognition; but when he came to Christ, he came humbly — not seeking recognition or followers. His focus shifted from himself to bringing glory and honor to Christ. The church is to be built upon the foundation and person of Jesus, not on the personalities of men. Paul lived in a place of complete dependence upon God. Many of us, if we were honest, trust ourselves more than we trust God. Some of us will even lean on Christ a little bit, treating him like an assistant or consultant, wanting Him to help us help ourselves. Spiritual wisdom comes when we fully surrender all control to God. The ways and plans of man are contrary to God, and in His love He will thwart our plans in order to bring us to the end of ourselves.

What if God is calling you to do something beyond yourself and He is inviting you to join Him and do a miraculous work? Would you run from Him or towards Him? Jesus took a bagged lunch from a young boy and fed multitudes. God is calling His church back to a child like faith. He is looking for those who would come and say God take the little bit I have and use it for your glory. You are invited to bring your bagged lunch to Jesus and ask Him to multiply and distribute it. God is raising up a generation with a heart that will burn once again for the glory of God and the souls of men.

If you are in a place of bareness and vulnerability this message is for you. Jesus is inviting us to believe Him for miraculous power in these places of bareness. Don’t resent these seasons because it is the place where we become most aware of our weakness and God's strength. If we are weak in the natural we will be enabled to move out in the strength of God. God's strength works to better mature to those who know they are weak.

If you knew today that you only had six months to live what would you do differently? This message gives you some examples of what you might want to do differently. You might want to begin to understand how God feels about His children and stop putting away from your mind the fact that sin separates the lost from God forever and do everything you can to share His love with them. Maybe you would make every known wrong right or get out of every wrong relationship or put away doubtful practices and stop pushing God to see how far you can go. What about being reconciled to God and man as much is humanly possible? For those who make the choice to walk away from sin, and whose value system falls in line with the heart for lost humanity God promises to give you the power of the Holy Spirit. God's power is evident in a holy and transformed life.

Tenants of a New York City apartment building were calling 911 because their building was shaking. The operator told them not to worry; that it was just a train passing by and they would be okay. Those vibrations ended up causing the building to collapse. The world portrays sin as acceptable and even enjoyable — it won't hurt you! Just as those little vibrations caused that building to collapse, sin in our life escalates and causes our life to collapse. In the midst of it all, God provides a refuge, a way out, through His Son Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians Paul is writing to a church out of order and out of sync with God. He greets them knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He has started in them, but there are issues that need to be addressed. There are times when rebuke and correction are necessary. Sin left unchallenged will continue to grow. Paul's first and primary concern is division — not sexual immorality, drunkenness, or other sins that had arisen in the church. Division starts in the heart and results from walking in the flesh and relying on ourselves rather than being Spirit-filled and Spirit-lead. Holy unity comes when we fully surrender to Christ, doing all things for His glory and put others above ourselves.

In 1 Corinthians Paul is writing to a church out of order and out of sync with God. He greets them knowing that God is faithful to complete the work He has started in them, but there are issues that need to be addressed. There are times when rebuke and correction are necessary. Sin left unchallenged will continue to grow. Paul's first and primary concern is division — not sexual immorality, drunkenness, or other sins that had arisen in the church. Division starts in the heart and results from walking in the flesh and relying on ourselves rather than being Spirit-filled and Spirit-lead. Holy unity comes when we fully surrender to Christ, doing all things for His glory and put others above ourselves.