Gideon gave his men two commands. Each soldier carried a torch hidden inside a clay pitcher. At the signal, they were to smash the pitchers, let the light blaze out, and blow their trumpets, shouting: "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon! The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!"

This is precisely what every Christian must do.

First, you must shine. Break the pitcher that conceals your light! Throw aside the bushel that has been hiding your candle, and shine. Let your light shine before men. Let your good works be such that when men look upon you, they shall know that you have been with Jesus.

But light is not enough. There must also be sound—the blowing of the trumpet. There must be active exertions for the ingathering of sinners by proclaiming Christ crucified. Take the gospel to them! Carry it to their door. Put it in their way. Do not suffer them to escape it. Blow the trumpet right against their ears!

And remember, the true war-cry of the Church is Gideon's watchword: "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" God must do it—it is his own work. But we are not to be idle. Instrumentality is to be used—"The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!"

Listen carefully: If we only cry, "The sword of the Lord!" we shall be guilty of an idle presumption. But if we shout, "The sword of Gideon!" alone, we shall manifest idolatrous reliance on an arm of flesh. No! We must blend the two in practical harmony: "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!"

We can do nothing of ourselves, but we can do everything by the help of our God. Therefore, let us in his name determine to go out personally and serve with our flaming torch of holy example and with our trumpet tones of earnest declaration and testimony. God shall be with us, and Midian shall be put to confusion, and the Lord of hosts shall reign forever and ever.