Riding with My King! Keys to Victory!

©Jennifer Lynn Easton Joy / שמחה איסטון לין ינייפר

September 30, 2001

In 1969, the year of my high school graduation, the movie Easy Rider was released. Although I never watched the movie, I understood the timing was symbolic to graduation - a simple parable to the passing of a test or season (Psalm 105:19). Last week a prophetic word was emailed to me, which included the subtitle Easy Rider, a simple confirmation that it is time to release this vision.

On September 30, 2001 while participating in a local corporate worship service, the Holy Spirit took me to a place of a living vision. I was seeking the LORD GOD in prayer concerning personal and ministry challenges. It seemed like I did not possess the strategies, expertise, knowledge, experience or understanding of how to effectively fight the spiritual battles before me at the time.

In the vision, YESHUA was riding on a magnificent white stallion, which was nothing compared to HIS Majesty and Glory. Clothed in illuminating white riding gear with a white cloak edged with iridescent fringe, HE rode over to me, reached for my hand, and immediately I was positioned behind him on this huge, noble horse. We were sitting upon a type of white leather garment which was not as confining or rigid as a saddle, yet it was securely fastened to the horse. It was as though we were one with the magnificent horse. I moved as close as I could to HIS back with my arms clinging tightly around His waist, my hands locked together. The horse was all stirred up, stomping his feet, snorting, and pulling at the reins which were held tight by the Master. YESHUA was very strong, confident and true. There was not an atom of anxiety, nervousness, fear or doubt in HIM. I had never experienced such confidence and strength like HIS.

HIS voice was truly like the sound of many waters, powerful and strong yet very kind and caring. Tilting his head towards me where I was hidden behind HIM, HE spoke, “Get ready to ride.” I do not remember responding with a single word as my voice had somehow got lost in my throat and the excitement of riding with My KING overtook me. It was as though I had waited my whole life for this moment in time.

Noticing details, which, is my nature, my eyes were aware of HIS arsenal of weapons strategically placed near his right leg. Anticipating with delight the training session about to begin. I did not want to miss one single thing.

1st Key ~ Never go in to Any Battle Without Knowing The Captain of The Hosts ~ YESHUA, Our Messiah.
2nd Key ~ Prepare Your Weapons in Advance.
3rd Key ~ Listen and Follow Instructions Implicitly.
4th Key ~ Completely Trust Your CAPTAIN.

We began riding. The stallion and my KING rode in perfect syncopated harmony…like an ancient composition of Mozart or Bach. As I was hidden behind his back, I could not see anything forward but was watching the scenery to the right as I leaned into HIM. I singularly focused my breathing to be in cadence with HIS as HE took very full, deep, slow breaths. The ride was completely effortless to HIM. Slowly, I began to relax my grip around HIS waist, realizing that HE would never let me fall off the stallion. The sound of a soft chuckle arose from within HIM, like a hot air balloon rising among the thermals and HE announced as only HE could, “You are safe with me.” Amazing how profound a truth sounds when spoken by the KING!

HE leaned to the right just slightly and pulled out this overwhelming huge, beautiful, long, narrow-blade silver, shiny two-edged sword. It made every sword I had ever seen on earth look like a tiny toy plastic sword comparatively speaking. The difference was not only ridiculous it was just staggering. I thought to myself, “No wonder HE wins all the battles!” HE chuckled again, “Ah, like my sword, do you? It is a good reason to ask me to come into battle with you!” Sometimes reality becomes real and it became very clear to me some battles in my personal life I had just taken on my own. Some, I thought were too insignificant to bother HIM with, and others I just was not paying attention to the details. Sometimes my eyes were not spiritually aware of all that was happening and in other situations I had created the battle by my own humanity. There was a shift in my paradigm at that moment and I knew I would never take spiritual warfare lightly. I knew I would never go into any battle without My KING. I knew that I would always be riding with the CAPTAIN of the HOSTS. My life changed dramatically in that moment in time, a radical, intrinsic paradigm shift of understanding.

The muscles in HIS back tightened as HE lifted the sword over HIS head and we continued riding true north. I leaned to the left to see what we were coming up against and nearly fell off the sure-footed horse in shock as I viewed a demonic army as far as I could see coming in full battle gear against us. I am thinking. . . The odds are not good here: 10,000 to one is not good. 100,000 to one is worse. As YESHUA senses my fear, HE commands my thoughts to immediately align with HIS. “Stay focused. Be Strong. Do not Waiver. Stay with ME.” There is something about HIM that just captures me. Intentionally, I riveted my eyes to HIS gleaming sword held high above his right shoulder and purposed not to look at the encroaching enemy. In my inexperienced thinking, we were way too close for comfort. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest did not comfort me. My hands tensely gripped HIS waist. I was thinking that I needed to pray or do something but there simply were no words. At a precise moment, with a force I shall never forget, HIS blade swung to the far left and with huge swinging movements HE took out row after row after row after row of the enemies of darkness. My confidence swelled to a new level and I was now riding with HIM in the harmonic cadence of the movement, the fear evaporated, the anxiety disappeared, and I was riding with My KING! Wahooooooooo! The battle lasted longer than I expected but HE never wasted a moment, never pulled back, never became disoriented or unfocused, and never lost the cadence, the movement or the strategic plan of the battle. I just could not keep from laughing out loud over the Victory!

5th Key ~ Stay Focused On HIM. Do Not Waiver.
6th Key ~ Never Pull Back When HE is Going Forward.
7th Key ~ Stay with The Battle Plan.
8th Key ~ Know which Weapon to Use.

Then we rode for a time. I was savored each moment of the ride as the stallion majestically galloped over the gentle, green, grassy terrain. Sensing another battle was coming, I noticed that I was not nearly as anxious and nervous as with the first battle. Before us was an exceedingly dark, thick, creepy forest and I pulled back on YESHUA, as I did not want to go into this place. Creepy, dark, places with icky crawling things are simply not my 'cup of tea". I felt HIM lean forward and I knew it was HIS answer. Sometimes HIS answer is in the slightest of movements.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I am thinking – “Why do you take me places that overwhelm me with fear?” HE did not pull out HIS sword and I wondered what HE was going to do. Stuck to HIS back like super glue, I was amazed at how frightened I felt considering the last amazing victory. The main difference being in the last battle, I could see the enemy and see the weapon the LORD was choosing to use. In this battle, not only was the enemy hidden, so were the LORD’s weapons. The moment we crossed the threshold of the dark forest, radiant, powerful beams of shooting light began emitting from HIS heart, dissolving the creepy darkness into a beautiful garden-like forest. Of course, the weapon was Light! It seemed more than obvious. YESHUA is the LIGHT. HE moves back the darkness. HIS light, HIS love, HIS power, HIS being dispels the darkness. Gradually HIS light transformed the entire darkness into a breathtaking, beautiful place. HE took the time required to transform each acre of the darkness to glorious light and timeless beauty as we sauntered through the tall evergreen trees and the velvety, mossy floor of the pungent forest. Melodic songbirds were flitting around us. As the light beams transformed the forest around me, they exposed the fears (darkness) within me. I wondered if I would ever be able to truly trust HIM. The KING of GLORY, assuredly there is no one else like HIM anywhere!

9th Key ~ Sometimes the Answers to the Battles are Obvious but Our Fears Hide Them from Us.
10th Key ~ Take the Time to Complete the Assignment. Leave Nothing Undone.
11th Key ~ HIS LIGHT is Always with Us.
12th Key ~ The Enemy Has Not Changed – His tactics are the same: Lie, Kill, Rob, Steal and Destroy.

The time in the forest was very healing, bringing me much greater peace and comfort. Clinging not quite as tightly, I rode in more synchronized rhythm with HIS movements. The motion of the rein was barely noticeable. The powerful white stallion took the message to heart and lunged forward in full gallop across a grassy field brilliantly adorned with colorful wildflowers. We then crested a small knoll that overlooked a valley. My heart sunk as I saw the enemy in the valley below us because I knew it meant another battle and I was so enjoying the ride. The LORD turned to look at me, holding my face in HIS warm, calloused hands, smiling with tenderness and strength. HE spoke, “Little One, The Victory is Always Mine!” Turning forward, HE pulled polished golden arrows with silver tips from a sheath. Yanking on the reins, HE pulled the stallion back into position. Strategically HE took out the enemy’s camp and they never even saw us or knew what hit them. This was my kind of battle ~ from a distance. With complete trust, I rested my head against HIS back and felt the pull of each arrow as it was released, amazed to be in a position of complete rest while fighting a battle.

13th Key ~ Trust HIS Battle Plan.
14th Key ~ Not All Battles are Hand-to-Hand Combat.
15th Key ~ The Victory is Always the KING’s.
16th Key ~ Positioning is Crucial.

We turned from the knoll and headed west toward another encampment. Entering through a narrow place of some sharp rock edifices, it felt as though a thousand eyes were watching from the dark shadows of the caves, cracks and crevices. Although I am sure HE knew what was coming, it was an abrupt surprise to me as dark warriors leap toward us. With quick precise action HE pulled out a different sword. Then with a strong, determined rhythmic motion in the shape of the eternity symbol, HE fought until the enemy was defeated. This hand-to-hand combat was too close for any comfort. The battle did not seem to surprise HIM. Never growing weary, HE remained consistently confident and strong. What amazed me the most was how very tender and kind HE was to me during the training session. I asked HIM, “How did you know they were there?” Sometimes HE speaks the most profound truth, “I hear what my FATHER is saying…” Realizing I had read that Scripture many times and now HE is quoting it to me. We laughed together. HIS Word is perpetual truth and eternally true.

17th Key ~ Listening is Equally as Important as Seeing.
18th Key ~ Fighting a Battle with The Enemy Does Not Alleviate Kindness to HIS Lambs, HIS People.
19th Key ~ The Word of The LORD is Still Living, Vibrant and Revelatory.
20th Key ~ When You Need Something...ASK!

The time with HIM is like nothing on earth and nearly impossible to adequately describe yet so divinely transforming and life changing. It seemed like it would be dishonoring to HIM not to share.

We rode for a while, as my face rested on HIS back. Mentally HE seemed preoccupied as if preparing for another battle. HE rode holding the reins with HIS right hand and HIS left hand was over mine imparting to me at the same time. I could feel the strength, energy, wisdom, truth, discernment, peace, integrity, nobility, life, love and kindness in the touch of HIS hand. As I was captured by HIS presence, the stallion who truly had the heart of a lion snorted loudly, jarring me to instant alertness. I looked around and could not see anything alarming and then noticed YESHUA was looking up toward the east. Then I saw it. My breath sucked in backwards like a vacuum in reverse. I had heard about the dragon but did not really believe it was real, just a type and symbol of the evil darkness, a mystical imaginative legend, a child’s fairy tale. Then YESHUA’s full attention was on this battle as HE pulled another sword from the arsenal, a gold two-edged sword with a very wide curved blade. HE strongly commanded, “Hang On! Do Not Let Go!” I knew that simple command would take the fullness of my focus, energy and strength.

The horse reared up, as the dragon flew close overhead, its putrefying stench sickened me. I pulled the KING’s White Cloak over my head, hiding from the terror, and hung on. I could tell by the sound of the pitiful screech that the sword hit the mark and I thought the battle was over. So, I pulled back the cloak and to my horror, the dragon was overhead, caught by the sword, wailing and fighting with all its might. The KING, completely focused with purpose and tense with action, began moving the sword with the grotesque dragon attached in a circular motion. The overtly large dragon began to spin into a humongous knot of writhing pain. The KING was totally focused, and I noticed HE sweat drops that were crimson in color as HE maintained HIS position with determination to win this one. All the previous battles seemed like child’s play compared to this one. In a strategic move the sword twisted through the dragon. The screaming beast went flying into a whirlwind of fire. Suddenly Elijah’s whirlwind came to mind and I had a new revelation of the power of GOD. Taking deep breaths, I relaxed my clenched hands around HIS waist. The snorting and stamping of the horse slowed and gradually his breathing returned to normal. With a release and recognition of a completed battle, the gold sword was carefully returned to the white leather sheath. The KING’s gentle demeanor returned. With painful agony and glorious victory, HE whispered, “It is finished!”

21st Key ~ The Battle is Real Not A Figment of Your Imagination.
22nd Key ~ Immediate Obedience is Essential to Life and Victory.
23rd Key ~ There Will Be a Cost.
24th Key ~ The KING Will Prepare You Completely for any Battle as You Choose to HIS Authority and Love!

Scripture References for further study: 2 Chronicles 20:15; 1 Samuel 17:37, 17:48; 17; Psalm 140:7; Proverbs 21:31; Zechariah 10:5; John 4:34, 5:19, 5:30, 8:29, 8:47, 8:55, 10:15, 17:4, 12:49; Ephesians 6; Hebrews 4:12.

Remember to take your KEYS! It is easier to open locks, doors, windows, and treasure chests with KEYS!

Key 1 ~ Never go in to any Battle Without Knowing The Captain of The Hosts ~ YESHUA!
Key 2 ~ Prepare Your Weapons in Advance.
Key 3 ~ Listen and Follow Instructions Implicitly.
Key 4 ~ Completely Trust Your Captain.
Key 5 ~ Stay Focused On HIM. Do Not Waiver.
Key 6 ~ Never Pull Back When HE is Going Forward.
Key 7 ~ Stay with HIS Battle Plan.
Key 8 ~ Know which Weapon to Use.
Key 9 ~ Sometimes the Answers to The Battles Are Obvious but Our Fears Hide Them from Us.
Key 10 ~ Take the Time to Complete the Assignment. Leave Nothing Undone.
Key 11 ~ HIS LIGHT is Always with Us. LIGHT Perpetually Invades Darkness!
Key 12 ~ The Enemy Has Not Changed – His tactics are the Same: Lie, Kill, Rob and Destroy.
Key 13 ~ Trust HIS Battle Plan.
Key 14 ~ Not All Battles are Hand-To-Hand Combat.
Key 15 ~ The Victory is Always The KING’s.
Key 16 ~ Positioning is Crucial.
Key 17 ~ Listening is Equally as Important as Seeing.
Key 18 ~ Fighting a Battle with The Enemy Does Not Alleviate Kindness To HIS Lambs, HIS People.
Key 19 ~ The Word of The LORD is Still Living, Vibrant and Revelatory.
Key 20 ~ When You Need Something…ASK!
Key 21 ~ The Battle is Real Not a Figment of Your Imagination.
Key 22 ~ Immediate Obedience is Essential to Life and Victory.
Key 23 ~ There Will Be a Cost.
Key 24 ~ The KING Will Prepare You Completely for Any Battle As You Choose to Honor HIS Authority and Love.

“O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle."
~ Psalm 140:7, NASB