One of the great ways to win the battle over fear is to trust in the sovereignty of God. If you’re living in fear people are bigger and more influential to you than God. You’re living in fear, because your vision of God is too puny!
Around here we are all familiar with the name Stonewall Jackson. He was the great confederate general during the Civil War. He was a strong Christian, with a rock solid faith. His name however was not Stonewall, but Tom. How did he get the nickname Stonewall?
Jackson had a strong unshakable belief in the sovereignty of God, that God is always in control even when it seems the world around is falling apart. At the first battle of Bull Run, while shells and bullets were flying around, Jackson stayed on his horse and remained calm and collected like nothing was going on. Brigadier General Bernard Bee saw this and told his own troops “There stands Jackson like a Stonewall. Men, let’s determine to die here with him.” After that battle Tom Jackson’s brigade became known as the Stonewall Brigade, and he would forever be known as Stonewall Jackson.
Jackson’s courage and composure really came out in this great battle. During the heat of the battle a messenger came and handed Jackson a letter to sign. He dismounted and when he did a canon ball blew up a tree that was near by. Wood chips rained down on Jackson. Without missing a step, he calmly brushed the wood chips from the paper and continued reading. He then mounted his horse like nothing happened.
Others saw this and were amazed at his composure when danger was all around. Someone asked him how he could do it. Jackson’s response was right on. If you’re living in fear, if people are bigger to you than God is, I pray that you’ll take to heart Jackson’s words, because they are true, Biblical, and reliable.
Jackson answered: “My religious belief teaches me that I’m just as safe on the battlefield as I am in my bed. The Lord has already appointed the day of my death so I need not worry about that. I live my life and prepare myself so I will always be ready to meet my Lord, when death does overtake me.” http://kastlercommentary.com/2007/07/23/trusting-god-in-the-midst-of-war-stonewall-jackson%E2%80%99s-faith/print/)
Psalm 56:11 – In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
![MCj03825850000[1]](http://www.arliewhitlow.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/MCj038258500001-300x300.jpg "MCj03825850000[1]")
Our unity is critical. In Jesus longest recorded prayer, just before his crucifixion he prayed this in John 17:21, “…that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Jesus prays that we might be one so that the world may believe.
Have you ever felt convicted? Something in your heart just didn’t feel right after you did something you knew was wrong. What was that? That was the Holy Spirit. One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to convict sin. Notice John 16:7-8 – Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: The “helper” spoken of here by Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and what a help he is.
