Reuben Archer Torrey traveled all over the world leading evangelistic tours, preaching to the unsaved. It is believed that more than one hundred thousand were saved under his preaching. Torrey married Clara Smith in 1879, with whom he had five children. In 1908, he helped start the Montrose Bible Conference in Pennsylvania, which continues today. He became dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (now Biola University) in 1912, and was the pastor of the Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1915 to 1924. Torrey continued speaking all over the world and holding Bible conferences. He died in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928.

Chapter 1 : The Importance of Prayer

In Ephesians 6:18 we read words that point out the tremendous importance of prayer, with startling and overwhelming force: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching in this with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

When we stop to weigh the meaning of these words and take note of the connection in which they are found, the intelligent child of God is driven to say, "I must pray, pray, pray. I must put all my energy and all my heart into prayer. Whatever else I do, I must pray."

The American Standard Version is, if possible, even more forceful: with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Note the alls: with all prayer, at all seasons, in all perseverance, for all the saints. Note the piling up of strong words: prayer, supplication, perseverance. Note once more the strong expression, watching thereunto, or more literally, "being sleepless thereunto." Paul realized the natural laziness of man, and especially his natural laziness in prayer. How seldom we pray things through! How often churches and individuals get right up to the verge of a great blessing in prayer and just then let go, get drowsy, and quit. I wish these words, "being sleepless unto prayer," would burn into our hearts. I wish the whole verse would burn into our hearts. But why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful?

First of all, because there is a devil. He is cunning, he is mighty, he never rests, and he is always plotting the downfall of the children of God; and if the children of God relax in prayer, the devil will succeed in ensnaring them.

This is the thought of the context of our passage of Scripture. Ephesians 6:12 says, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the lords of this age, rulers of this darkness, against spiritual wickedness in the heavens. The next verse states, Therefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and stand fast, all the work having been finished. Then a description follows of the different parts of the Christian's armor, which we are to put on if we want to stand against the devil and his powerful schemes. In verse 18, Paul brings it to a culmination, telling us that to everything else we must add prayer constant, persistent, untiring, sleepless prayer in the Holy Spirit, or else all that we do will be for nothing.

A second reason for this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining things, and the main reason for that which we lack in our experience, in our life, and in our work is neglect of prayer.

James brings this out very forcibly in his epistle, where he says that you have not that which ye desire because ye ask not (James 4:2). These words contain the reason for the poverty and powerlessness of the average Christian: neglect of prayer.

"Why is it," many Christians ask, "that I make so little progress in my Christian life?" "Neglect of prayer," God answers. "You have not that which ye desire because ye ask not."

"Why is it," many pastors ask, "that I see so little fruit from my labors?"

Again God answers, "Neglect of prayer. You have not that which ye desire because ye ask not."

"Why is it," many Sunday school teachers ask, "that I see so few converted in my Sunday school class?"

Still God answers, "Neglect of prayer. You have not that which ye desire because ye ask not."

"Why is it," pastors and congregations ask, "that the church of Christ makes so little headway against unbelief, error, sin, and worldliness?"

Once more, we hear God answering, "Neglect of prayer. You have not that which ye desire because ye ask not."

The third reason for this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that those men, such as the apostle Paul, whom God set forth as a pattern of what He expected Christians to be, regarded prayer as the most important business of their lives. When the increasing responsibilities of the early church crowded in upon them, they called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve tables; therefore, brethren, seek out among you seven men of whom you bear witness, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. And we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:2-4).

It is evident from what Paul wrote about praying for churches and individuals that much of his time, strength, and thought were given to prayer (see Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:15-16; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Timothy 1:3).

All the mighty men of God outside the Bible have been men of prayer. They have differed from one another in many things, but they have been alike in being men of prayer.

But there is a still weightier reason for this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer. It is that prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important part in the earthly life of our Lord.

For example, turn to Mark 1:35. We read, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place and prayed there. The preceding day had been a very busy and exciting one, but Jesus shortened the hours of needed sleep so that He might rise early and give Himself to much greatly needed prayer.

Turn to Luke 6:12, where we read, And it came to pass in those days that he went out into the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. Our Savior sometimes found it necessary to spend a whole night in prayer.

The words "pray" and "prayer" are used at least twenty-five times in connection with our Lord in the brief record of His life in the four Gospels, and His praying is mentioned in places where those words are not used. Evidently, Jesus spent much of His time and strength in prayer, and a man or woman who does not spend much time in prayer cannot properly be called a follower of Jesus Christ.

There is another reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer that seems, if possible, even more forceful than the previous reason, namely, that praying is the most important part of the present ministry of our risen Lord.

Christ's ministry did not close with His death. His atoning work was finished then, but when He arose and ascended to the right hand of the Father, He entered upon other work for us just as important in its place as His atoning work. It cannot be separated from His atoning work. Intercessory prayer, or praying on behalf of others, rests upon His atoning work as its basis, but it is necessary for our complete salvation.

This great present work by which Jesus carries our salvation on to completeness is told about in Hebrews 7:25: Therefore he is able also to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them. This verse tells us that Jesus is able to save us to the uttermost not merely from the uttermost, but to the uttermost. He is able to save us unto entire completeness and absolute perfection, because He not only died, but He also ever lives. The verse also tells us for what purpose He now lives: to make intercession for us to pray. Praying is the main thing He is doing these days. It is by His prayers that He is saving us.

The same thought is found in Paul's remarkable, triumphant challenge in Romans 8:34: Who is he that condemns them? Christ, Jesus, is he who died and, even more, he that also rose again, who furthermore is at the right hand of God, who also makes entreaty for us.

If we are to have fellowship with Jesus Christ in His present work, then we must spend much time in prayer. We must give ourselves to earnest, constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer. I know of nothing that has so much impressed upon me the sense of the importance of praying at all times and being constantly in prayer as the thought that this is the current main business of my risen Lord. I want to have fellowship with Him, and for that reason I have asked the Father that whatever else He may make me, to make me at all times an intercessor to make me a man who knows how to pray and who spends much time in prayer.

This ministry of intercession is a glorious and mighty ministry, and we can all have a part in it. The man or woman who cannot get to a prayer meeting at church can still have a part in this ministry of intercession. The woman who cleans offices for a living can have a part; she can offer prayers for the saints, for her pastor, for the unsaved, and for foreign missionaries as she cleans. The hardworking businessman can have a part in it, praying as he hurries from duty to duty or from appointment to appointment. Of course, if we want to maintain this spirit of constant prayer, we must take time and plenty of it when we close ourselves up in the secret place alone with God for nothing but prayer.

The sixth reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer is the means that God has appointed for us to receive mercy and obtain grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 is one of the simplest and sweetest verses in the Bible: Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of his grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. These words make it very plain that God has appointed a way by which we should seek and obtain mercy and grace. That way is prayer a bold, confident, outspoken approach to the throne of grace, the most holy place of God's presence, where our sympathizing High Priest, Jesus Christ, has entered in our behalf. Having, therefore, a great high priest who penetrated the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast this profession of our hope. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:14-15).

Mercy is what we need, and grace is what we must have, or all our life and effort will end in complete failure. Prayer is the way to obtain mercy and grace. There is infinite grace at our disposal, and we make it ours in reality by prayer. Oh, if we only realized the fullness of God's grace that is ours for the asking its height and depth and length and breadth I am sure that we would spend more time in prayer. The extent of our acquiring grace is determined by the extent of our prayers.

Who does not feel that he needs more grace? Then ask for it. Be constant, persistent, and untiring in your asking. God delights to have us often and persistently ask, for it shows our faith in Him, and He is greatly pleased with faith. Because we are not ashamed to ask, He will rise and give us as much as we need. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needs (Luke 11:8). Most of us know only little streams of mercy and grace, when we could know rivers of God's mercy and grace overflowing their banks!

The next reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer in the name of Jesus Christ is the way Jesus Christ Himself has appointed for His disciples to obtain fullness of joy.

He states this simply and beautifully in John 16:24: Until now ye have asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be fulfilled. "Made full" is the way the American Standard Version reads. Who does not want his joy filled full? Well, the way to have it filled full is by praying in the name of Jesus. We all know people whose joy is filled full; indeed, it is just running over, shining from their eyes, bubbling out of their very lips, and running off their fingertips when they shake hands with you. Coming in contact with them is like coming in contact with an electrical machine charged with gladness.

Why is it that true prayer in the name of Christ brings such fullness of joy? In part, because we get what we ask; but that is not the only reason, nor the greatest. The greatest reason is that it makes us realize even more that God is real. When we ask something definite of God and He gives it, how real God becomes! He is right there! It is great to have a God who is real and not merely an idea.

I remember once when I suddenly became seriously sick, all alone in my study. I dropped down on my knees and cried to God for help. Instantly all pain left me. I was perfectly well. It seemed as if God stood right there and had put out His hand and touched me.

The joy of that healing was not as great, though, as the joy of meeting with God. There is no greater joy on earth or in heaven than communion with God, and prayer in the name of Jesus brings us into communion with Him. The psalmist was surely not speaking only of future joy, but also of present joy, when he said, in thy presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Oh, the unutterable joy of those moments when we really press into the presence of God in prayer!

You might say, "I have never known joy like that in prayer." I might then ask, "Do you set aside enough time for prayer to actually get into God's presence? Do you really give yourself up to true prayer in the time that you do take?"

The eighth reason for constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer is that prayer, in every care and anxiety and need of life, with thanksgiving, is the means that God has appointed for us to obtain freedom from all anxiety, and the means of the peace of God which passes all understanding.

Be anxious for nothing, Paul says, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). At first glance, this seems to be the picture of a life that is beautiful, but beyond the reach of ordinary humans. That is not true at all.

Verse 6 tells us how the life is attainable by every child of God: Be anxious for nothing. The rest of the verse tells us how, and it is very simple: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. What could be plainer or simpler than that? Just keep in constant touch with God, and when any trouble or frustration comes up, great or small, speak to Him about it, never forgetting to return thanks for what He has already done. What will the result be? The peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

That is glorious, and it is as simple as it is glorious! I thank God that some are trying it. Don't you know anyone who is always calm and composed? Perhaps he is very agitated and flustered by nature, but troubles, conflicts, changes, and loss now sweep around him, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keeps his heart and his thoughts in Christ Jesus.

We all know such people as this. How do they manage it? Just by prayer that is all. Those people who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace that passes all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.

Some people let the hurry of their lives crowd out prayer, and then they waste much time and energy by constantly worrying. One night of prayer will save us from many nights of insomnia. Time spent in prayer is not wasted, but is time invested at much interest.

Copyright: Aneko Press