Surviving the Shaking

How to Get through What’s Ahead

David W Palmer

(John 16:33 NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus is very encouraging and comforting when he tells us that he has overcome the world. But he is also very straight when he tells us that in the world we “will” have “tribulation”—all kinds of challenges and difficulties. And this can only increase when the normal fiery trials of Christian life are augmented by the super-shaking and birth pains of our time. Thankfully, Jesus is fully aware of this and shows us how to survive what’s coming:

1. Do not Depend on the world; it is controlled by the enemy

(John 16:33 NKJV) “… In the world …”

Jesus says that we are still “in the world,” even though he chose us out of the world. He adds that his people are “not of the world”; that is the reason the world hates us. This leads to many trials, temptations, opposition, and attacks. This is normal for Christian life:

(John 15:19 NKJV) “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Jesus’s prayer to his Father shows that he is well aware of the “evil one” and his work against his people. Our Lord prayed that Father would “keep” us “from the evil one” because we are not of the world:

(John 17:15–16 NKJV) “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. {16} They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

The Holy Spirit, through the apostle John, later spelled this out very clearly. He stated that the “whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19 NHEB):

(1 John 5:19, 21 NLT) We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. ... {21} Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.

God is warning us that the whole world and its system—which is a counterfeit of, and replacement for, God’s system—is of the devil. Father wants us to live in the world as foreigners here, as ambassadors—our true citizenship is in heaven:

(Philippians 3:20 NKJV) “For our citizenship is in heaven, …”

(1 Peter 2:11 NLT) “Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

(2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT) “So we are Christ’s ambassadors …”

Ambassadors remain citizens of their homeland while representing their king or government even though they are living in a different kingdom/country. That’s who we are. Like ambassadors, our provision, security, identity, and citizenship is from heaven. We are not of the world, and we owe it no allegiance; we are simply in it to represent God to it. So let’s not get entangled with the world, its system, or its ruler:

(2 Timothy 2:3–4 NKJV) “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. {4} No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Furthermore, the Hols Spirit warns us very clearly not let any dependence on the world’s (enemy’s) system get into our hearts:

(1 John 5:21 NLT) “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”

He thus shows us that dependence on, or entanglement with, the world and its system would be false worship; it will take his place in our hearts. This could only lead to disillusionment, confusing guilt, and very unwise obligations … to demons and demonically controlled systems.

2. Don’t Be Surprised by Fiery Trials

(John 16:33 NKJV) … In the world you will have tribulation .…”

Our Lord simply states this as a fact of life: you will have all kinds, varieties, and intensities of tests and trials. In fact, the Psalms say: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19 NKJV)

Added to the normal Christian’s experience—of fiery trials from living in the world and not being part of it—will be increased shaking. To survive this, we need our whole life founded 100% on the unshakeable rock of God’s word:

(Hebrews 12:25–29 NLT) …“Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” … only unshakable things will remain. … our God is a devouring fire.

3. Stay in Joy and a Flow of Life from God

(John 16:33 NKJV) “… be of good cheer …”

“Good cheer” = daring, boldness, courage in your stand and confession of God’s word. Stay in his presence in his secret place. This is crucial, because the joy of the Lord is your strength. And without this strength, you cannot overcome:

(Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV) “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

4. Receive, Declare, and Overcome with the Living Word

(John 16:33 NKJV) “… I have overcome the world.”

Who is the “I” in this statement. Obviously, it is Jesus. But this is what God’s word says about Jesus:

(John 1:1, 14 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... {14} And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us …

Jesus is the living word, having his word come alive in us, obeying it, and brandishing it like a sword is the only way to survive and thrive in what’s coming.

Today, I encourage you; to survive the shaky, fiery times ahead of us:

Trust Jesus 100% with your life and have no dependence on the world and its systems

Live by faith … everyday for everything

Abide in God’s secret place and breakthrough to him daily, so you can walk in this world clothed in his glorious presence—in manifestation on you and all around you

Worship Father in Spirit and in Truth

Live and walk in the spirit