Freedom Calls

As children of the one true God, saved by His grace and our faith in Jesus Christ, we are called to be beacons of light in a world filled with darkness. 

In Judges 7:20, we find the inspiring story of Gideon, who, with a small band of 300 men, defeated the vast army of Midian. 

The key to their victory lay not in their numbers or strength, but in their obedience to God’s instructions and their willingness to shine and sound the trumpet of the Gospel.

Let’s explore the significance of Gideon’s battle cry, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” and how it applies to our lives as Christians. We will delve into the Scriptures and draw inspiration from the writings of great Christian thinkers, including Charles Spurgeon, C.S. Lewis, A.W. Tozer, Watchman Nee, and D.L. Moody.

**Shining Our Light**

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus commands us to shine our light before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This is precisely what Gideon’s men did when they broke their pitchers and let their torches shine. They revealed the light of God’s presence in their midst, and it struck fear into the hearts of their enemies.

As Christians, we must break the pitchers that conceal our light and let it shine for all to see. This means living a life of integrity, honesty, and compassion, and being willing to share our faith with others. As Charles Spurgeon wrote, “A Christian is a person who has been radically changed by the power of the Holy Spirit… He is a new creation, with a new heart, and a new life.” (1)

**Sounding the Trumpet**

But shining our light is only half the battle. We must also sound the trumpet of the Gospel, proclaiming the good news of salvation to all who will listen. In Romans 10:14-15, Paul writes, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

As Christians, we are called to be trumpeters of the Gospel, taking the message of salvation to a world in need. This requires courage, conviction, and a willingness to take risks. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.” (2)

**The Sword of the Lord, and of Gideon**

Gideon’s battle cry, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” reminds us that our strength and victory come not from ourselves, but from God. We are merely instruments in His hands, called to shine and sound the trumpet of the Gospel. As A.W. Tozer wrote, “The Christian is a person who has been invaded by the Holy Spirit… He is no longer the same person he was before.” (3)

And yet, we are not to be idle or passive. We are called to be actively engaged in the work of evangelism, using our gifts and talents to reach others for Christ. As Watchman Nee wrote, “The Gospel is not just a message, but a life… It is not just a doctrine, but a power.” (4)

The story of Gideon and his battle cry, “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!” reminds us of our call to shine and sound the trumpet of the Gospel. We are to be beacons of light in a dark world, proclaiming the good news of salvation to all who will listen. May we be inspired by the examples of Gideon and the great Christian thinkers who have gone before us, and may we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill our calling as Christians.

As D.L. Moody wrote, “The world is a great battlefield, and we are all soldiers… The question is, whose side are we on?” (5) May we be on the side of the Lord, shining and sounding the trumpet of the Gospel, until He returns in glory.

References:

(1) Charles Spurgeon, “The New Birth” (Sermon 234)

(2) C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity” (Book 4, Chapter 8)

(3) A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God” (Chapter 10)

(4) Watchman Nee, “The Normal Christian Life” (Chapter 10)

(5) D.L. Moody, “The Way to God” (Chapter 1)