Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. 34 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. 35 He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. (NIV)

Warren Wiersbe tells the story of when a group of British pastors were discussing the advisability of inviting D.L. Moody to their city for a mission. One man asked, ”Why must it be Moody? Does D.L. Moody have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” Quietly one of the other pastors replied, ”No, but it’s evident that the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on D.L. Moody.”

Having encountered Gideon, we know he was not naturally heroic. It was the Spirit of the Lord who made the difference. When the Spirit does the work through us, we can’t take the credit. All the glory must go to God.

‘Just change a few details and the story of Gideon can be the story of any Christian today. We won’t be called to fight Midianites, but we’ll surely be called to fight other enemies just as bad – false teaching, worldliness, ungodliness, and idolatry of every kind; and if we are faithful, God will add our names to His list of ”heroes of faith.” Tom Hale

 ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. (Zech.4:6)

‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

“Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom