Then in one of his strong piled up climactic sentences Paul tells how the fight is to be won.  This sentence runs unbroken through verses fourteen to twenty inclusive.  There are six preliminary clauses in it leading up to its main statement.  These clauses name the pieces of armour used by a Roman soldier in the action of battle.  The loins girt, the breastplate on, the feet shod, the shield, the helmet the sword, and so on.  A Roman soldier reading this or, hearing Paul preach it, would expect him to finish the sentence by saying “with all your fighting strength fighting.”

That would be the proper conclusion rhetorically of this sentence.  But when Paul reaches the climax with his usual intensity he drops the rhetorical figure, and puts in the thing with which in our case the fighting is done—­“with all prayer praying.”  In place of the expected word fighting is the word praying.  The thing with which the fighting is done is put in place of the word itself.  Our fighting is praying.  Praying is fighting, spirit-fighting.  That is to say, this old evangelist-missionary-bishop says, we are in the thick of a fight.  There is a war on.  How shall we best fight?  First get into good shape to pray, and then with all your praying strength and skill pray.  That word praying is the climax of this long sentence, and of this whole epistle.  This is the sort of action that turns the enemy’s flank, and reveals his heels.  He simply cannot stand before persistent knee-work.

Now mark the keenness of Paul’s description of the man who does most effective work in praying.  There are six qualifications under the figure of the six pieces of armour.  A clear understanding of truth, a clean obedient life, earnest service, a strongly simple trust in God, clear assurance of one’s own salvation and relation to God, and a good grip of the truth for others—­these things prepare a man for the real conflict of prayer. Such a man—­praying—­drives back these hosts of the traitor prince.  Such a man praying is invincible in his Chief, Jesus.  The equipment is simple, and in its beginnings comes quickly to the willing, earnest heart.

Look a bit at how the strong climax of this long sentence runs.  It is fairly bristling with points.  Soldier-points all of them; like bayonet points.  Just such as a general engaged in a siege-fight would give to his men.  “With all prayer and supplication”—­there is intensity; “praying”—­that is the main drive; “at all seasons”—­ceaselessness, night and day; hot and cold; wet and dry; “in the Spirit”—­as guided by the Chief; “and watching thereunto”—­sleepless vigilance; watching is ever a fighting word; watch the enemy; watch your own forces; “with all perseverance”—­persistence; cheery, jaw-locked, dogged persistence, bulldog tenacity; “and supplication”—­intensity again; “for all the saints”—­the sweep of the action, keep in touch with the whole army; “and on my behalf”—­the human leader, rally around the immediate leader. This is the foe to be fought.  And this the sort of fighting that defeats this foe.