Faith Is . . . the Evidence of Things Not Seen
True faith is letting go and trusting God to work in our lives, resulting in the realization of our blessings.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes that true faith involves fully committing our concerns to God, much like sending a letter without holding onto it. He illustrates that distrust prevents us from receiving answers, just as unmailed letters remain ineffective. Simpson highlights that faith is not just belief but an active receiving of God's gifts, urging believers to trust and abide in Him to experience the fullness of His blessings. He references Psalm 37:5 to reinforce the idea that God works when we commit our ways to Him.
Text
True faith drops its letter in the post office box and lets it go. Distrust holds onto a corner of it and wonders why the answer never comes. In my desk are some letters that I wrote weeks ago. But there was some slight uncertainty about the address or the contents so they are yet unmailed. As yet they have not done me or anyone else any good. They will never accomplish anything until I let them go out of my hands and trust them to the postal system. This is the case with true faith. it hands its case over to God and then He works. There is an appropriate verse in Psalm 37: Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he [worketh] (v. 5). But He never works until we commit.
Faith is a receiving-or still better-a taking of God's proffered gifts.
We may believe and come and commit and rest, but we will not fully realize all our blessing until we begin to receive and come into the attitude of abiding and taking.
Sermon Outline
- True Faith
- Faith Hands Over to God
- Faith Receives God's Gifts
- Believes and comes to God
- Rests and abides in God's presence
- Takes God's proffered gifts
Key Quotes
“True faith drops its letter in the post office box and lets it go.” — A.B. Simpson
“Faith is a receiving-or still better-a taking of God's proffered gifts.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must learn to let go and trust God to work in our lives.
- Faith is not just about believing, but also about receiving and taking God's proffered gifts.
- Abiding in God's presence is essential to fully realizing our blessings.