Podcast Summary: Times Square Church – Sermons

Episode: "Fire Snatchers"
Date: July 6, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Tim Dilena (TSC.NYC)

Overview

In this passionate sermon titled "Fire Snatchers," Pastor Tim Dilena calls the church to awaken to their mission: rescuing souls from spiritual destruction and leading them toward salvation in Jesus Christ. Using vivid analogies from recent tragedies, biblical stories, and his personal experiences, Tim encourages Christians to be as relentless and courageous in saving lives spiritually as elite firefighters are in rescuing people from literal flames. The message centers on equipping and inspiring listeners to become “fire snatchers”—those who reach into danger to rescue others by the power of God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Call to Rescue: A Volunteer Army for a Billion Souls

• Times Square Church’s mission is to reach one billion people for Christ, emphasizing that believers should not be content with personal salvation alone ([03:00]).
• Reference to the French Foreign Legion’s motto as a parallel for Christian determination:

  “If I falter, push me on. If I stumble, pick me up. If I retreat, shoot me.”
  — Pastor Tim Dilena ([04:35])

• Every Christian is called to be part of this “elite” yet volunteer spiritual army, advancing without retreat.

2. The Wildfire Analogy: The Courage of Hotshots

• Tim recounts the devastating LA wildfires of January 2025, highlighting the bravery of “Hotshot” firefighters who enter the most dangerous parts of a fire ([07:00]).
• Hotshot Story:

  “Out of nowhere, while I was in this fire... I had this arm reach through this wall, grab me and jerk me to clean air. I felt pure joy surging through me that we even got out alive.”
  — Firefighter testimony ([11:40])

• This image serves as a metaphor for what Christians are called to do: reach into spiritual fire and rescue others.

3. Scripture Foundations: The Fire and the Snatch

• The book of Jude describes this spiritual work as “snatching them out of the fire” ([15:55]).
• Recognizes the gravity of spiritual danger, referencing Solomon’s description of sin (esp. sexual immorality) as playing with fire (Proverbs 6) ([18:05]).
• The story of Abraham and Lot: Abraham acts decisively to rescue Lot from destruction, modeling intervention for those who’ve made poor spiritual choices ([20:58]).

4. Fire Snatching Principles: Practical Lessons from Abraham

Pastor Tim offers five principles, each grounded in Abraham’s rescue of Lot.

i. Get All the Help You Need

• Abraham didn't rescue Lot alone; he mobilized 318 trained allies ([25:50]).
• Application: Get prayer support, enlist others, especially for loved ones in spiritual danger.

  “Moms and dads with prodigals—get as many people as you can praying for your sons and daughters. You are not alone.”
  — Tim Dilena ([26:10])

ii. Get Trained People Involved

• Not just anyone can help; seek out spiritually trained and experienced believers (e.g., Teen Challenge, Victory Outreach) ([30:06]).
• Distinguishes between professional and spiritual help, emphasizing the need for Spirit-filled deliverers.

iii. Birth Certificates: Born Again & Belonging

• Effective rescuers must themselves be born again, not merely religious or professionally trained ([32:27]).
• The power of prayer comes from righteous, Spirit-born believers; not everyone’s prayers are equally effective.

iv. Initiative: Don’t Wait to Be Asked

• Like Abraham, step in before being invited—don’t passively wait while others perish ([36:45]).
• Subway story: Tim diffuses a tense situation, leading to a divine encounter and conversation about faith, showing the importance of acting when led ([39:00]).

v. Every Fight Is a Night Fight

• Rescuing souls often happens in darkness—spiritual battles are “night fights” ([41:45]).
• Ultimately, “Hell is strong, but God is stronger.” ([44:26])

5. Stories of Fire Snatching

• Vivid testimonies:
  • Rescue of a church leader from a crack house ([27:55]).
  • Physical healing in hospital after faith-filled prayer ([33:24]).
  • Spontaneous ministry moment on New York subway ([39:00]).

6. Cultural and Global Vision

• Times Square Church’s outreach through media—languages, LED walls, global webcast—is “fire snatching” for the digital age ([45:01]).
• The “Pentecost Project”: Reaching the world in their own languages, inspired by Acts 2 and responding to closed countries’ requests ([46:26]).
• “God is going to help us fight this night fight. ... I want the gospel on LED, I want the gospel online, I want to go fire-snatching all over New York City and all over the world.” — Tim Dilena ([48:41])

7. Jesus: The Ultimate Fire Snatcher

• Isaiah 53 read as the prophecy of Christ taking on the fire for humanity, rescuing through His sacrifice ([52:20]).
• Story of the orphan & the man with scarred hands:

  “The scarred and marred hands settled the issue. Look at me now, folks. Those hands on Calvary settle the issue.”
  — Tim Dilena ([56:35])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Mission:

  “This series is for those who are not content to go to heaven alone. ... I want to bring as many people as I can with me.”
  ([03:16])

• On Urgency:

  “Think of one person on the other side of that firewall ... Who is someone on the other side of that firewall that you know is on their way to hell? Unless someone reaches in and snatches them, they will be consumed.”
  ([23:54])

• On Spiritual Readiness:

  “I said, Lord, I want to move forward till the day I die, seeing people set free. Men and women that were on their way to hell—I want them snatched.”
  ([24:27])

• On Prayer:

  “Just because you ask someone to pray doesn’t mean their prayers are effective ... Make sure that’s a righteous man, a righteous woman that gets ahold of God.”
  ([34:32])

• On Christ’s Sufficiency:

  “It was a night fight. That means hell is strong, but God is stronger. ... You are stronger, you are stronger. Sin is broken, you have saved me!”
  ([44:07])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–04:45] – Welcome, international greetings, series vision
• [07:00–13:00] – LA wildfires, Hotshot analogy, firefighter story
• [15:55–20:00] – Biblical foundation (Jude, Proverbs, Abraham & Lot)
• [25:23–25:50] – Principle #1: Get all the help you need
• [27:55–30:06] – Principle #2: Get trained people involved, crack house testimony
• [32:27–34:32] – Principle #3: Born again, righteous intercessors, healing testimony
• [36:45–39:00] – Principle #4: Initiate, don't wait; subway encounter
• [41:45–44:07] – Principle #5: Every fight is a night fight, worship “You Are Stronger”
• [45:01–48:41] – Digital fire-snatching: LED walls, Pentecost Project, global languages
• [52:20–56:35] – Isaiah 53, the ultimate fire snatcher: Jesus
• [56:35–62:10] – Altar call, testimonies of those saved, corporate prayer

Conclusion & Final Call

Pastor Tim invites listeners—both present and online—to let the “scarred hands” of Jesus reach into whatever fire they are stuck in, offering a moment of decision and prayer for deliverance and freedom. The entire service models and enacts the act of fire snatching, urging believers to do likewise in their own communities and circles.

Notable Quotes

“The scarred and marred hands ... those hands on Calvary settle the issue.”
— Tim Dilena ([56:35])

“Start with the hands that have the scars. So can we just fire snatch for a moment?”
— Tim Dilena ([57:50])

For further connection and resources, visit TSC.NYC.