Preface
Hendrickson Christian Classics Edition

R.A. Torrey (1856-1928)
Some lives are remembered as the suns on which the constellations of history spin; others are remembered as the stars that stream in their wake. Why some people fire our imaginations and becomes symbols of entire eras or movements, and others live on only as one of history's footnotes, is a mystery. In the nineteenth century, Dwight L. Moody was one of those larger-than-life figures, a man whose name was synonymous with evangelism and education, whose name evokes the entire era of nineteenth-century revival and birth of the movement to rain Christian laypeople for service. In his wake, just as energetic and effective a servant as Moody, was R.A. Torrey, sometimes called the Elisha to Moody's Elijah.
Torrey came along side Moody to fulfill his vision for a training school, and in the process became a renowned Christian educator. He toured the world as an evangelist, served as a pastor, and authored over forty books-teachings on prayer, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and Anglicization-that are still favorites today. Torrey has been described as "a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner." It was said that daily he read the Bible in four languages, that he had a familiar working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. His entire life is a vivid example of a life lived in utter commitment to Jesus Christ, a fulfillment of Moody's proclamation: "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God's help, I aim to be the man." ...

Chapter 1: The Importance of Prayer

In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, in the 18th verse, indicated the importance of prayer with startling and overwhelming force:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."Â (Ephesians 6: 18)

Why is this constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer so needful?

1. Why Pray? Because There Is a devil 

 First of all, because there is a devil. He is cunning, he is mighty, he never rests, he is ever plotting the downfall of the child of God; and if the child of God relaxes in prayer the devil will succeed in ensnaring him. 

"For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this  darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (v.12-RV)

 "Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (v.13-RV)

Next follows a description of the different parts of the Christian's armor which we are to put on if we are to stand against the devil and his mighty wiles. Then Paul brings all to a climax in the 18th verse, telling us that to all else we must add prayer--constant, persistent, untiring, sleepless prayer in the Holy Spirit, or all else will go for nothing.

2. Prayer is God's Appointed Way to Obtain Things

to be continued.....