Linked UP Worship — April 26, 2026
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Title: Look Up
Topic: What the Bible Says About the Times We’re Living In
Topic: What the Bible Says About the Times We’re Living In
Foundation text:
Luke 21:28
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28 When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
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Introduction:
We are living in a time where everything feels accelerated…. news cycles, global tensions, cultural shifts, moral confusion, economic pressure. People are asking:
We are living in a time where everything feels accelerated…. news cycles, global tensions, cultural shifts, moral confusion, economic pressure. People are asking:
a. What is going on in the world?
b. Where is this all headed?
c. What does this mean for me?
But as believers, we are not called to interpret the world through the news. We are called to interpret the news through the Word of God.
God is not surprised by current events. He already spoke about them, through His Son.
b. Where is this all headed?
c. What does this mean for me?
But as believers, we are not called to interpret the world through the news. We are called to interpret the news through the Word of God.
God is not surprised by current events. He already spoke about them, through His Son.
Look up - in the sense of reversal, rise, be elated, to unbend (straighten up).
Redemption - ransom in full, deliverance, salvation.
Redemption - ransom in full, deliverance, salvation.
Luke 21:25-27
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25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
26 Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
26 Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
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Jesus didn’t say panic, He said look up. 4 Key Points:
POINT 1: THE BIBLE FORETOLD THESE TIMES.
a. The Last Days Are Characterized by Instability.
POINT 1: THE BIBLE FORETOLD THESE TIMES.
a. The Last Days Are Characterized by Instability.
II Timothy 3:1-5
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1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
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Paul describes:
1. Lovers of self
2. Lovers of money
3. Boasters
4. Proud
5. Blasphemers
6. Disobedient to parents
7. Unthanful
8. Unholy
9. Unloving
10. Unforgiving
11. Slanderers
12. Without self-control
13. Brutal
14. Despisers of good
15. Traitors
16. Headstrong
17. Haughty
18. Lovers of pleasure rather than God
19. Having a form of godliness, but deny its power
1. Lovers of self
2. Lovers of money
3. Boasters
4. Proud
5. Blasphemers
6. Disobedient to parents
7. Unthanful
8. Unholy
9. Unloving
10. Unforgiving
11. Slanderers
12. Without self-control
13. Brutal
14. Despisers of good
15. Traitors
16. Headstrong
17. Haughty
18. Lovers of pleasure rather than God
19. Having a form of godliness, but deny its power
b. Jesus Described Global Disturbance.
Matthew 24:3-8
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3 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
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Jesus describes:
1. Deception
2. Wars and rumors of wars
3. Nation against nation
4. Kingdom against kingdom
5. Famines
6. Pestilences
7. Earthquakes
*These are not random; they are prophetic indicators.
1. Deception
2. Wars and rumors of wars
3. Nation against nation
4. Kingdom against kingdom
5. Famines
6. Pestilences
7. Earthquakes
*These are not random; they are prophetic indicators.
c. Knowledge and Activity Increasing.
Daniel 12:4
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4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
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1. Technology explosion
2. Information overload
3. Constant movement
Key Insight: Current events are not chaos; they are confirmation.
2. Information overload
3. Constant movement
Key Insight: Current events are not chaos; they are confirmation.
POINT 2: CURRENT EVENTS REVEAL SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS.
a. Spiritual Deception Is Increasing.
a. Spiritual Deception Is Increasing.
I Timothy 4:1-2
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1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.
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Paul describes:
1. False doctrines
2. Cultural compromise
3. Truth being redefined
b. Good Is Being Called Evil.
1. False doctrines
2. Cultural compromise
3. Truth being redefined
b. Good Is Being Called Evil.
Isaiah 5:20
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20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
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We are watching:
1. Moral confusion.
2. Truth becoming relative.
3. Biblical standards being challenged.
c. Love Is Growing Cold.
1. Moral confusion.
2. Truth becoming relative.
3. Biblical standards being challenged.
c. Love Is Growing Cold.
Matthew 24:12
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12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
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We’ll see:
1. Increased division.
2. Lack of compassion.
3. Rise in offense.
Key Insight: What’s happening externally is revealing what’s happening internally in the human heart.
1. Increased division.
2. Lack of compassion.
3. Rise in offense.
Key Insight: What’s happening externally is revealing what’s happening internally in the human heart.
POINT 3: THE BELIEVER’S RESPONSE TO CURRENT EVENTS.
a. Don’t Fear, Stand in Faith.
a. Don’t Fear, Stand in Faith.
II Timothy 1:7
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7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
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Fear is the default response of the world. Faith must be the response of the believer.
b. Stay Anchored in the Word.
b. Stay Anchored in the Word.
Hebrews 13:7-9
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7 Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.
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Hebrews exhorts us:
1. Culture changes.
2. Truth does not.
c. Walk in the Spirit, Not the Flesh.
1. Culture changes.
2. Truth does not.
c. Walk in the Spirit, Not the Flesh.
Galatians 5:16, Galatians 5:22-25
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16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
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We don’t live and walk like the world:
1. We’re not reactive.
2. We’re not emotionally unstable.
3. We’re not driven by fear or anger.
d. Stay Focused on the Mission.
1. We’re not reactive.
2. We’re not emotionally unstable.
3. We’re not driven by fear or anger.
d. Stay Focused on the Mission.
Mark 16:15, Mark 16:20
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15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
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Current events are not a distraction. They are a signal that time is urgent.
People need hope. People need truth. People need Jesus.
People need hope. People need truth. People need Jesus.
POINT 4: CURRENT EVENTS SIGNAL OPPORTUNITY, NOT DEFEAT.
a. Darkness Creates a Platform for Light.
a. Darkness Creates a Platform for Light.
Isaiah 60:1-2
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1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.
2 For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.
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When darkness increases, light becomes more visible.
b. The Church Should Be Advancing.
b. The Church Should Be Advancing.
Matthew 16:13-18
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13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
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We are not losing. We are advancing.
c. God Is Still Moving.
c. God Is Still Moving.
Even in chaos:
1. People are getting saved.
2. Lives are being transformed.
3. The gospel is spreading.
Key Insight: Current events are not the end of the Church; they are the stage for the Church.
1. People are getting saved.
2. Lives are being transformed.
3. The gospel is spreading.
Key Insight: Current events are not the end of the Church; they are the stage for the Church.
CLOSING:
Let me ask you:
1. Are you interpreting life through fear, or through faith?
2. Are you watching the news more than you’re in the Word?
3. Are you ready for the times we’re living in?
Let me ask you:
1. Are you interpreting life through fear, or through faith?
2. Are you watching the news more than you’re in the Word?
3. Are you ready for the times we’re living in?
Luke 21:34-36
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34 But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.
35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.
36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.
36 So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
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CALL TO ACTION:
1. Get rooted in the Word.
2. Strengthen your prayer life.
3. Stay Spirit-led daily.
4. Be bold in sharing your faith.
We are not just living in current events, we’re living in prophetic times. And God has positioned you for such a time as this.
1. Get rooted in the Word.
2. Strengthen your prayer life.
3. Stay Spirit-led daily.
4. Be bold in sharing your faith.
We are not just living in current events, we’re living in prophetic times. And God has positioned you for such a time as this.
