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God's Odds
Author: Thetus
Tenney
"In the struggle of life, the odds are so often against us, but when we pray there is "an equalizing allowance" added to our human disadvantage. "
What are our odds against such formidable foes - rampant evil, violence, corruption, rebellion, unbearable stress, sickness, disappointment, despair, bondage, desperation, debauchery, perversion, etc.? What can we expect when we pit a praying minority against such overwhelming needs and overarching circumstances?
The odds may seem to be against us until God is brought into the situation - and then we have God's odds!
"Odds" can be defined as "unequal things or conditions - difference with respect to disadvantage OR an equalizing allowance to the competing part that is at a disadvantage."
In the struggle of life, the odds are so often against us, but when we pray there is "an equalizing allowance" added to our human disadvantage. God's odds - If God be for us, who can be against us? (Read Romans 8:31).
"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5).
The odds were against Peter escaping, but prayer and God gave him the advantage over his circumstances.
Circumstances of often become our prison and the odds are against us - but when prayer brings God into our circumstances, than the odds are for us.
Many of our biblical heroes found themselves at great disadvantages. The odds were against them - until, through prayer…
God smote the nation's enemy when King Hezekiah prayed. (II Kings 19:19, 20,35)
God healed the dying king when he prayed. (II Kings 20:5)
God delivered backsliding Manasseh from trouble when he prayed. (II Chronicles 33:9-13) God delivered and restored Jonah when he prayed. (Jonah 2:1-2) God righted the wrongs in Job's life when he prayed for his critics. (Job 42:10) God gave Daniel great skill and understanding when he prayed. (Daniel 9:20-22) God gave children in answer to prayer. (I Sam. 1:10; Luke 1:13) God brought salvation to Cornelius' household when he prayed. (Acts 10:31) God healed a crippled man when Peter and John went to pray. (Acts 3:1-7) God raised the dead when Peter prayed. (Acts 9:40) God saved the one thought impossible after bringing him to his knees. (Acts 9:11) God delivered a demon-possessed girl when Paul went to pray. (Acts 16:16-19) God shook and opened a prison when Paul and Silas prayed. (Acts 16:25) God opened the heavens when Elisha prayed. (James 5:18) God's odds… "If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
All of our needs and predicaments are represented here - handled by God and prayer! Whatever your needs - you have God's odds!
When God joins the praying minority, they become the mighty majority: "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19, 20).
The praying "twos and threes" often prevail with God and reverse hopeless situations. These intercessors "stand in the gap" and turn the tide. It is seldom the masses, more often the praying minority who turn the odds of need because of God.
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego turned the tide of a nation. Gideon (the least among the family) destroyed false worship; with a measly army of three hundred and the "sword of the Lord" he defeated a national enemy. Elijah, with his prayers, choked and then restored the economy of the nation. Jonathan and his armor bearer gained a great victory over an army against God's people. A women's prayer meeting drew the powerful Apostle Paul and opened up Europe to the gospel.
"One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you" (Joshua 23:10). This is God's odds!
When Jesus sent the disciples out he sent them"…by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits…and they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them" (Mark 6:7-13).
Jesus began the building of the church in a prayer meeting and he did it with about 25% of those who should have been involved. Paul told us there had been about five hundred who saw him last but only 120 of them went to the prayer meeting (I Corinthians 15:6; Acts 1:13-15). However, when John saw the church at the end of the church age, he saw a triumphant church with Jesus in the midst of it. He built his church with the praying few, and not even the gates of hell could prevail against it! It does not take the masses; the praying minority and God are the majority. Pray on, faithful warrior, God is for you and that gives you the advantage.
We are in a war, not a battle. Persevering prayer exerts continuing power.
"Don't be weary in prayer, keep at it" (Colossians 4:2 TLB).
"Always keep on praying" (I Thessalonians 5:17 TLB). "Pray all the time" (Ephesians 6:18 TLB).
May the praying minority of the mighty "twos and threes" remember the words of Jonathan and his armor bearer: "…it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is not restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few" (I Samuel 14:6).
God's odds are great! With a humble carpenter, a young virgin, and a tiny baby in a small town, God came into our midst, Emmanuel, overruled the evil system and changed the world!
If God be for us, who can be against us?
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