I’ve recently been trying to work through a number of Christian classics left over from a widow’s move, books like By Searching by Isobel Kun (1959) and Marching Orders for the End Battle by Corrie Ten Boom (1969). Because the Ten Boom book is very likely out of print, I thought it proper to give it a full-blown summary. While this book by R.A. Torrey might still be in print (or at least more readily accessible through Moody), I still think its age allows for another full summary.

Before I share the summary, though, I want to reference a massively thought-provoking idea that arose from “Chapter 9: Hinderances to Prayer.” I’ve long struggled with the logic of Psalm 66:18 (KJV) for the norn-again believer:

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

I tend to disagree with Torrey’s conclusions about this verse, so much so in fact that I’ve written a whole essay on it—because these thoughts were way too long to add here! If you’re interested in reading more about it, I encourage you to check out the essay: “Hindered Prayers.”

The following summary contains mostly the chapter titles, headings and major thoughts, Scripture passages, and a few quotations that I thought were relevant. Torry didn’t do a great job organizing his thoughts into an outline format, but perhaps he’s just a product of his generation.

Chapter 1: The Importance of Prayer – Ephesians 1:16

The necessity of persistent prayer. “Why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so necessary? Because there is a devil.” (6) Pray for obtaining things. The reason we lack anything in life is due to neglect of prayer. James 4:2. Those men whom God set forth as a pattern of what he expected Christians to be–the apostles–regarded prayer as the most important business of their lives. Acts 6:2-4; Romans 1:19; Ephesians 1:15-16; Colossians 1:9; 1Thessalonians 3:10; 2Timothy 1 3.

The ministry of intercession. Prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important part in the earthly life of our Lord. Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12. “The words pray and prayer are used at least 25 times and connection with our Lord in the brief record of his life in the four Gospels, and his praying is mentioned in places where the words are not used.” (9) Praying is the most important part of the present ministry of our risen Lord. Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34. “If we are to then have fellowship with Jesus Christ and his present work, we must spend much time in prayer. We must give ourselves to earnest, constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer.” (10)

Receiving mercy, grace and joy. Prayer is the means that God has appointed for our receiving mercy and obtaining grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16; Luke 11:8. Prayer in the name of Jesus Christ is the way He Himself has appointed for his disciples to obtain fullness of joy. John 16:24. “Why is it that 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 is it the greatest. It makes God real… It is blessed to have a God who is real and not merely an idea.” (13) Psalm 16:11.

Freedom from anxiety. Prayer with thanksgiving, in every care and anxiety and need of life, is the means that God has appointed for our obtaining freedom from all anxiety and the peace of God which passes all understanding. Philippians 4:6-7. “Those persons who know the deep peace of God, the unfathomable peace which passes all understanding, are always men and women of much prayer.” (15)

Vehicle for the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the method that God Himself hss appointed for our obtaining the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13.

Be ready for his return. Prayer is the means that Christ has appointed so that our hearts will not be overcome with indulgence and drunkenness and the cares of this life. For the day of Christ’s return will come upon us suddenly as a snare. Luke 21:34-36; Ephesians 6:18.

We need to pray…because of what prayer accomplishes.

• Prayer promotes our spiritual growth as nothing else. Psalm 139:23-24; 51:2; 119:18; James 1:5; 2Corinthians 3:18.
• Prayer also brings power into our work.
• Prayer avails for the conversion of others.
• Prayer brings blessings to the church. “Prayer will root out heresy, smooth out misunderstanding, sweep away jealousies and animosities, obliterate immoralities, and brings in the full tide of God’s reviving grace.” (21) Psalm 119:126.

Chapter 2: Praying to God – Acts 12:5.

“Is not all prayer offered unto God? No. Very much of so-called prayer, both public and private, is not unto God. In order for a prayer to really be unto God, there must be a definite and conscious approach to God when we pray.” (23)

Coming into God’s presence. “If we want to pray correctly, these two little words must sink deep in our hearts, unto God.

Pray without ceasing. Luke 22:44; Hebrews 5:7; Romans 15:30.

Prayer and fasting. Romans 8:26; Daniel 9:3; Acts 14:23; Acts, 13:2-3.

Unity and prayer. Acts 12:5; Matthew 18:19.

Chapter 3: Obeying and Praying – 1John 3:22.

“The one who expects God to do as he asks Him must do whatever God bids him. If we give a listening ear to all God’s commands to us, He will give a listening ear to all our petitions to Him. If, on the other hand, we turn a deaf ear to His precepts, He will be likely to turn a deaf ear to our prayers.” (29)

We must do those things that are pleasing in his sight. “A true child is not content with merely doing those things which his father specifically commands him to do. He tries to know his father’s will, and if he thinks that there is anything that he can do that would please his father, he does it gladly.” (31)

Praying in truth. Psalm 145:18.

Chapter 4: Praying in the Name of Christ and according to the Will of God – John 14:13-14.

“When I go to God in prayer, it’s like going to the bank of heaven. I have nothing deposited there. I have absolutely no credit there. If I go in my own name, I will get absolutely nothing. But, Jesus Christ is unlimited credit in heaven, and He has granted me the privilege of going to the bank with His name on my checks. When I thus go, my prayers will be honored to any extent.” (36) Hebrews 10:19

Forgiveness in his name.

Knowing God’s will through His Word. 1John 5:14-15. We know his will according to his word. James 1:5; Luke 11:13; James 1:5. “Here is one of the greatest secrets of prevailing prayer: study the Word to find what God’s will is as revealed there in the promises. Then, simply take these promises and claim them before God and prayer with the absolutely unwavering expectation that He will do what He has promised in His Word.” (40)

Knowing God’s will by His Spirit. Romans 8:26-27. “First John 5:14-15 is one of the most abused passages in the Bible… When we know God’s will, there need be No ifs. This passage was not put into the Bible so that we could introduce ifs into our prayers, but so that we could throw our ifs to the wind and have confidence and know that we have the petitions which we asked for of Him.” (41-42)

Chapter 5: Praying in the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20; John 14, 16 and 17; Romans 8:26. “When we pray in the Spirit, we will pray for the right things in the right way. There will be joy and power in our prayer.” (44-45)

Praying with faith. Mark 11:24; James 1:5 -7; Mark 11:24;

How does real faith come? Romans 10:17.

Chapter 6: Always Praying and Not Fainting.

Importunity or shamelessness in prayer. Luke 11:5-8; Matthew 15:28; Luke 18:1-8;  Matthew 26:44.

Chapter 7: Abiding in Christ – John 15:7.

Abide in Christ. “To abide in Christ is to renounce any independent life of our own. We must give up trying to think our thoughts, form our resolutions or cultivate our feelings. We must simply and constantly look to Christ to think his thoughts in us, to form his purposes in us, to feel his emotions and affections in us.” (54)

Christ’s words in us. John 6:63. “It is not by moments of mystical meditation and rapturous experiences that we learned to abide in Christ. It is by feeding upon His Word, His written Word in the Bible, and looking to the Spirit to implant these words in our heart—to make them a living thing in our heart.” (56)

Chapter 8: Praying with Thanksgiving.

With Thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6 and 7. With Thanksgiving are 2 words often overlooked. “Doubtless one reason why so many of our prayers lack power is because we have neglected to thank God for the blessings already received.” (59-60) Luke 17:17. “Returning thanks for blessings already received increases our faith and enables us to approach God with new boldness and new assurance.” (60)

Examples. David, the apostles, and Paul are examples of Thanksgiving prayers. Psalms, Luke 24:53, Epistles.

Chapter 9: Hindrances to Prayer.

Selfish prayers. James 4:3; Luke 11:13

Sin hinders prayer. Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 139:23-24.

Who comes first? Ezekiel 14:3. “Idols in the heart cause God to refuse to listen to our prayers.” (68)  “When a man regards his wife’s pleasure before God’s pleasure, when he gives her the first place in God, the second place, his wife is an idol. God cannot hear his prayers.” (68)

Give in order to receive. Proverbs 21:13. Luke 6:38; 1John 3:22; Philippians 4:19.

An unforgiving spirit. Mark 11:25.

Husband and wife relationship. 1Peter 3:7. “Here we are plainly told that a wrong relationship between husband and wife is a hinderance to prayer.” (71)

Believe his Word absolutely. James 1:5-7.

Chapter 10: When to Pray.

Prayer in the morning. “Jesus chose the early morning hour of prayer.” Mark 1:35.

Nights of prayer. Luke 6:12. “Nights of prayer to God are followed by days of power with men.” (77)

Prayer before and after a crisis. “Jesus Christ prayed before all the great crises in his earthly life.” Luke 3:21-22; Luke 6:12-13; Luke 9:18-22; Luke 22:39-46; Mark 1:35-38. “Jesus Christ prayed not only before the great events and victories of His life, but He also prayed after it’s great achievements and important crises.” Matthew 14:23; John 6:15.

Never too busy. “Jesus Christ gave special time to prayer when life was unusually busy.” Luke 5:15-16; Mark 3:20; Mark 6:31, 33, 46.

Pray at all times. “Jesus Christ prayed before the great temptations of his life.” Matthew 26:36; 1Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18.

Chapter 11: The Need of a General Revival. Psalm 85:6; 119:126.

“A revival is a time of quickening or impartation of life. As God alone can give life, a revival is a time when God visits His people. By the power of His Spirit, He imparts new life to them. Through them, He imparts life to sinners dead in trespasses and sins.” (83-84)

Revival in ministers. “The results of a revival in ministers are: The ministers have a new love for souls…. The ministers receive a new love for and faith in God’s Word… Revivals bring to ministers new liberty and power in preaching.”

Revival in Christians. “The results of a revival in Christians generally are as noticeable as its results upon the ministry. In times of revival, Christians come out from the world and live separated lives… In times of revival, Christians receive a new spirit of prayer… In times of revival, Christians go to work for lost souls… In times of revival, Christians have new joy in Christ… In times of revival, Christians receive a new love for the Word of God.”

Revivals influence on the unsaved. “They bring deep conviction of sin…conversion and regeneration.” John 16:7-8.

Why general revival is needed. Look at the doctrinal state of the church. “Look at the fads and errors which have sprung up out of the loss of faith. Christian Science, Unitarianism, spiritualism, universalism, metaphysical healing, etc. etc, a perfect pandemonium of the doctrines of devils.” (89) Look at the spiritual state of the church… “Neglect of the Word of God goes hand in hand with neglect of prayer to God.” (90)  Look at the state of the world.

Pray for revival. Psalm 85:6; Ezekiel 37:9.

Chapter 12: Prayer before and during Revivals.

The first great revival in history. Acts 1:14; 2:4, 41-42, 47.

Others great revivals. “The great revival under Jonathan Edwards in the 18th century began with his famous call to prayer. The marvelous work of grace among the Indians under Brainerd began in the days and nights that he spent before God in prayer.” (96) … Charles Finney in New York 1830.

Persistent prayer results. D.L. Moody 1857.

Prayer knows no boundaries. Ulster, Ireland 16th century. Ireland 1859. Zechariah 4:6

Church– wake up!

©2023 E.T.