The Power of Prayer: And the Prayer of Power by Reuben A. Torrey

The Power of Prayer: And the Prayer of Power Reviews

• 
  Yewande Olamiju

  This is my second time reading this booklet.
  
  If you need to have a prayer-life like that describe in the book of Acts then I recommend this book.
  
  This is my second time reading this.
  
• 
  I. Madreia S.

  Rating: 4,5
  
  I'm always on a hunt for good devotionals and Godly advice and I've read quite a few of them since last year's lockdown and this one didn't disappoint either. I'm so humble for the fact that this was put together from the work that was done in the '90s and it still applies to today's world, culture, and faith journey for each one who reads this, whether they are a believer or not. I strongly advise you to give it a chance and not back off or be afraid of the topics that you face here. I thought I knew how to pray and how and when God answers my prayers, but I was wrong and while reading it, I had to dig deeper into my soul. In the midst of it, I learned a great lesson; to never assume I know something well or great enough because there's always room for more wisdom, truth, and understanding. This was truly magical and I'd recommend it.
• 
  Phillip Talbot

  This book has a lot of good theological view points on prayer. It is very straightforward in expressing the need for praying people. Below is one paragraph that perfectly sums up the topic of this book and how straightforward it is.
  
  '"Why is it," many a minister is asking, "that I see so little fruit from my ministry? Why are there so few conversions? Why does my church grow so slowly? Why are the members of my church so little helped by my ministry, and built up so little in Christian knowledge and life?" And again God replies: "Neglect of prayer. You have not, because you ask not."'
• 
  Joelle

  As a whole, this book was theologically solid. Every now and then, it seemed to border on prosperity Gospel, though. Also, because it is a collection of sermons which would have been heard, not read, some of the chapters (and even paragraphs) can become very repetitive. It read surprisingly quickly. I do believe I grew in my Christian faith as a result of reading this book.
• 
  Luke

  Amazing book on prayer. Very helpful.
• 
  Philemon Ng

  Invigorated and expounded on my understanding and desire to pray in power
• 
  Lee Rubsam

  I found this book trying. Mr. Torrey was a hard taskmaster about praying absolutely perfect prayers, if one wants answers. Most people would utterly give up and expect nearly no answers to prayer after reading this.
  
  Example #1:
  The wife who pleads before God's throne for her unsaved husband to be converted, because she cannot bear for him to experience eternal suffering in hell, is said to be praying selfishly, so that she may not receive her answer. Why? Because her whole motive in praying should be that God would be glorified through the husband's conversion. (I think God would be glorified by each and every person's conversion, but Mr. Torrey makes it all hinge on the wife's sole motive being God's glory and nothing else.)
  
  Example #2:
  Page after page asserts that people will not get answers to prayer if they are not obeying God on every point they are aware of in His Word. Have any of us attained such perfection in our own ability? What about the righteousness of Christ being our claim, rather than our own perfection? Are we not continually growing into being conformed to the image of Christ? Of course, we should not be willfully sinning, but that did not seem to be what was presented here.
  
  The last third of the book was mostly an angry rant against the Church. Mr Torrey did not seem to know how to differentiate between church goers who do not know the Lord in the first place and those who do. There was the same lack of differentiation between apostate pastors who deny the core beliefs of the Church and true pastors.
  
  There were some excellent exhortations along the way, such as praying for our pastors that they would be set ablaze for Jesus, rather than criticizing them for how they fall short. Praying for revival and the salvation of souls was mentioned often, as was setting aside more time for prayer and the Scriptures.
  
  I realize that in the time Mr. Torrey lived, the Church was quite a mixture of grace and works, with grace being mostly understood for entrance into salvation, while works and willpower were the dominating mindset for ongoing Christian living. We find this often among books by mighty prayer warriors of that era. They did not seem to understand continued grace for holy living, which flows forth from being led by the Spirit, rather than from our zealous endeavors to keep the Law.
  
  In summary, meeting umpteen conditions for answered prayer and his insistence that we can expect no answers if we do not completely meet those conditions was off-putting and discouraging for me.
• 
  Stinger

  I had never before read any works of Torrey, the man so important to the founding of Biola, the school I attend. He presents cogent arguments concerning prayer in this book, yet the most powerful aspect of the book is not the argumentation as much as the stories he shares of God at work in response to persistent and serious prayer. I question some of Torrey's conclusions, as they verge on legalism, yet his book had a positive influence on me. This morning before attending church meetings, I prayed with a brother in Christ over the college ministry, of which I am a part.
  
  I should also mention that a section of the book I found especially helpful concerned hinderance to prayer. It was enlightening as well as encouraging to me that I should love my wife liberally if I am to expect God my Father to answer my requests liberally. Even more so, praying the will of God is key.
  
  I recommend this book to those interested in learning more about the power of prayer, yet at the same time the reader must beware of the author's tendency toward legalism.
• 
  Scott Cheatham

  This book is a collection of messages delivered 100 years ago to Torrey's students. I love these types of books as Torrey speaks of 'today' being the 1920's. It's very interesting to see what the leadership was struggling with at that time. New philosophies regarding God's Word, schools like the University of Chicago whom Torrey routinely criticized for their liberal theology. Not much has changed.
  
  Torrey is awesome here calling us back to a faith that is genuine and strong. I highly recommend this book.
• 
  Andy Febrico Bintoro

  You could read this book for free on google play books.
  
  this book is a great and balanced one about prayer. maybe this book also written to answer the new age movement in that age, for not to claimed any promise in the scripture. this book not a step by step how we should pray, more to the concept of what we ask in our prayer.
• 
  Dan Hamman

  The Greatest Need in the Church Today
  
  The Bible tells us that "if my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My Face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14. This is what America needs today.
• 
  Esther Dan

  Powerful
  
  A faith-filled, power packed read that inspires you to get on your knees & pray like never before. Not in a religious way, but more like a revolutionary way. There is something like reading books that have been written decades ago, it’s carries so much substance & transformation
• 
  Byron Flores

  Es un buen libro que exhorta a orar y nos ayuda explicando las porciones de la Biblia que nos guían a hacerlo. Hay partes doctrinales que no estoy de acuerdo y el final del libro es un poco “raro” pero en general es un buen recurso.
• 
  Susana-Andre Reis

  Chapter 9, “hindrances to prayer” is an eye-opener to the question of why we don’t see our prayers answered more often. Overall, in spite of being largely a collection of addresses from the author from about 100 years ago, it is still very much relevant in 2022.
• 
  Heather

  Audiobook and e-book.
  
  Very old book, but the lessons are relevant. Society is still struggling with similar issues, and the Word of God remains true. Some of his stories are boring and repetitive, but the nuggets of wisdom surrounding them are worth it.
• 
  Mary Lyon

  Every pun intended....this is a powerful book of prayer. Some of his application is a bit strict, but the teaching is solid. My prayer life has benefitted from reading this book.