What Is Faith?
Faith is simply accepting the truth and aligning our minds with it, regardless of our personal desires or perceptions.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that faith is not an exclusive trait of a few superior individuals but rather the alignment of our minds with the truth of God's promises. He illustrates that faith is akin to recognizing a mountain's existence; it does not create or alter reality but acknowledges it. True faith is based on the objective reality of God's Word, which remains true regardless of human belief. Tozer asserts that our understanding of God must be rooted in His unchanging nature, and our faith is valid only when it corresponds with that reality. Ultimately, faith transforms our relationship with God's promises, affirming that He is who He says He is.
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Remember that faith is not a noble quality found only in superior men. It is not a virtue attainable by a limited few. It is not the ability to persuade ourselves that black is white or that something we desire will come to pass if we only wish hard enough. Faith is simply the bringing of our minds into accord with the truth. It is adjusting our expectations to the promises of God in complete assurance that the God of the whole earth cannot lie. A man looks at a mountain and affirms, "That is a mountain."
There is no particular virtue in the affirmation. It is simply accepting the fact that stands before him and bringing his belief into accord with the fact. The man does not create the mountain by believing, nor could he annihilate it by denying. And so with the truth of God. The believing man accepts a promise of God as a fact as solid as a mountain and vastly more enduring. His faith changes nothing except his own personal relation to the word of promise. God's Word is true whether we believe it or not.
Human unbelief cannot alter the character of God. Faith is subjective, but it is sound only when it corresponds with objective reality. The man's faith in the mountain is valid only because the mountain is there; otherwise it would be mere imagination and would need to be sharply corrected to rescue the man from harmful delusion. So God is what He is in Himself. He does not become what we believe. "I AM That I AM." We are on safe ground only when we know what kind of God He is and adjust our entire being to the holy concept.
Sermon Outline
- Definition of Faith
- Faith is not a noble quality, but rather accepting the truth
- Faith is not about persuading ourselves, but about aligning with reality
Key Quotes
“Faith is simply the bringing of our minds into accord with the truth.” — A.W. Tozer
“God's Word is true whether we believe it or not.” — A.W. Tozer
“I AM That I AM.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Faith is not about changing reality, but about changing our personal relation to it.
- We must align our minds with the truth of God's Word, regardless of our personal doubts or unbelief.
- God's character remains unchanged, and we must adjust our lives to the holy concept of who He is.