Podcast Summary: Times Square Church - Sermons
Episode: He Knows My Name
Date: November 2, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Tim Dilena
Overview
In this powerful sermon, Pastor Tim Dilena explores the profound truth that God knows each person by name, cares intimately for every individual, and can reach into any situation to rescue and redeem. Through stories of faith, biblical narratives, and contemporary testimonies, Pastor Tim encourages listeners to understand their eternal significance, regardless of earthly recognition. The message is grounded in the story of Exodus and is interwoven with accounts of modern spiritual breakthroughs, emphasizing the power of prayer, intercession, and God’s personal love for His people.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Global Community and Encouragement
[00:00-05:09]
- Pastor Tim opens by welcoming listeners from 36 countries and 27 states, highlighting the global reach of Times Square Church.
- Special welcomes to marathon runners tuning in during the New York City Marathon and several universities.
- Encourages participation in upcoming prayer and fasting events, emphasizing the need for spiritual “awakening” in cities, countries, and especially educational institutions.
“With all that’s happening today, we need an awakening in our nation.” – Pastor Tim [04:00]
2. The Heart of the Message: “He Knows My Name”
[05:09-07:06]
- The congregation sings the worship chorus “He Knows My Name,” setting the tone for the message about God’s personal knowledge and care for each believer.
- Pastor Tim prays for those affected by worldwide tragedies, emphasizing God’s attentiveness to all who suffer.
“We’re amazed that you can hold the whole world, but yet still call us by name. That is just amazing to me.” – Pastor Tim [07:06]
3. Testimonies of Awakening and Rescue
[07:06-16:00]
- Pastor recounts recent water baptism stories, focusing especially on:
- NYU students praying for revival on their campus.
- A 93-year-old man baptized for the first time.
- “Zach” from Taiwan, raised Taoist/Buddhist, who felt God call him through dreams, numbers, and his journey ultimately led him to faith and baptism at Times Square Church.
- Underscores that God singles out and speaks to individuals in unexpected, personal ways.
“God will do that. God will single people out. God will whisper to you. God will talk to you while you’re sitting there today.” – Pastor Tim [16:00]
4. Foreshocks Before Big Moves of God
[16:00-19:34]
- Explains the concept of “foreshocks”—smaller tremors before a major earthquake—applied metaphorically to spiritual awakenings.
- Emphasizes that prayer and fasting are spiritual foreshocks, shaking foundations before major moves of God.
- The cries (groanings) of God’s people, even when inarticulate, are significant.
“There’s no more words to say. You don’t even know…it’s just heavy breathing. But I have to tell you, we’ve got a God that knows our name and knows what those groans mean.” – Pastor Tim [17:40]
5. Being Known in Eternity vs. History (Exodus 1)
[19:34-22:35]
- Retraces the story of the two Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who refused Pharaoh’s order to kill Hebrew boys.
- Notes that Pharaoh’s name is omitted, while the midwives are honored by name for eternity.
- Shares a story of “Erica” from India, who left behind Hinduism after visiting Times Square Church and encountering Jesus, again emphasizing God’s attention to individual names and decisions.
“It’s more important to be known in eternity than in history.” – Pastor Tim [19:34]
6. Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love (Exodus 2)
[22:35-37:16]
- Describes the context: Pharaoh’s genocidal edict, but Moses’ mother takes a leap of faith, placing Moses in a basket in the Nile.
- Cites Jewish Midrash claiming up to 600,000 boys were killed, yet God preserves Moses to become Israel’s deliverer—affirming God’s sovereignty over death and evil.
- Draws connections to the founding of Teen Challenge: David and Don Wilkerson’s early days in New York City, their vision to rescue addicts, and analogizes Teen Challenge centers as “wicker baskets” of deliverance for those surrounded by death.
“Thank God that wicker basket caught up Nikki Cruz... Thank God that there are people sitting here today and listening around the world that went through the Teen Challenge program.” – Pastor Tim [35:11]
7. God is Always Speaking—Are We Listening? (Exodus 3)
[37:16-42:37]
- Highlights God’s call to Moses at age 80, demonstrating that it is never too late for God to use someone.
- Emphasizes the principle: “Until you hear God’s voice, you will never become a voice. And until you act upon the voice of God, you will never get any testimony.”
- Shares a story about an unexpected encounter at a clothing store, where a simple inquiry led to offering prayer for the staff, illustrating God’s mysterious providence.
“All you do is...you know what people do that don’t hear God’s voice? They just become an echo. They start saying what everybody else says.” – Pastor Tim [39:24]
8. Lessons from South Korea: The Power of Intercession and Expectancy for Revival
[42:37-50:07]
- Pastor Tim recounts his visit to Seoul, Korea to participate in massive prayer meetings (10,000 on Friday night; 9,000 on Saturday morning, even eight stories below ground).
- Observes the Korean church’s unique gift of intercession and their passionate prayers for a revival in North Korea.
- The gratitude Koreans express toward Americans for their historical sacrifice (36,000 U.S. soldiers during the Korean war) and their hope for the walls of communism to fall.
“We are preparing for revival in North Korea. We see it happening while the world is worried about nuclear war and everything else. They said, we see revival.” – Pastor Tim [50:07]
9. God Calls Us by Name—A Biblical Pattern
[51:27-53:30]
- Examines times in the Bible when God calls people by name twice (e.g., Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Samuel, Martha, Simon Peter, Saul).
- Draws a parallel to parents calling their children by their middle names to signal importance—God likewise signals seriousness by repeating names.
“When God is serious, he’ll say your name twice. Get ready. He knows your name.” – Pastor Tim [53:30]
10. Confronting Death and Embracing Life in the Holy Spirit
[53:30-57:49]
- Responds to a news article about “ghosts” in Broadway theaters with a declaration that the Holy Spirit—the true “ghost”—is present and brings transformation.
- Quotes The Message translation of Romans (“If God himself has taken up residence in your life…you yourself will experience life on God’s terms…”), declaring the life-changing power available in Christ.
“The Holy Ghost is in this place. So I want to say to every theater on Broadway...that ghost will change everybody’s life from the inside out.” – Pastor Tim [56:15]
11. Invitation for Personal Decision—Call to Salvation
[57:49-66:07]
- Pastor Tim appeals for all who feel caught in the currents of life, death, addiction, or lostness to surrender to Jesus and experience new life.
- Encourages people not to “float out on the current” but to get into the “wicker basket” God provides—a metaphor for choosing Christ and rescue.
- Leads a prayer for salvation and dedication, affirming each person’s name is known and written in glory.
“Today, I’m not floating out of here with bodies, but I’m in a wicker basket. Today I’m going to be changed today by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Congregational prayer led by Pastor Tim [66:45]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- On Prayer as a Foreshock: “Prayer and fasting begins to shake things that seem to be unshakable. It begins to unearth and begins to break the chains.” – Pastor Tim [16:39]
- On Eternal Significance: “The most powerful man on the planet is not even given a name, but two midwives are.” – Pastor Tim [18:00]
- On God’s Use of ‘Outsiders’: “He didn’t deliver you to go to church only. He knows your name. And he has a plan for your life.” – Pastor Tim [42:17]
- On Korean Prayer Meetings: “You’d hear 10,000 people lift up their voice and start to pray. It was like a mighty rushing wind.” – Pastor Tim [43:00]
- On the Holy Spirit: “You came to the right theater…God can change you today. The Holy Spirit.” – Pastor Tim [57:49]
Important Timestamps
- Global Welcome & Opening Remarks: [00:00-05:09]
- Congregational Song: “He Knows My Name”: [05:09-07:06]
- Baptism Testimonies (Zach’s Story): [07:06-16:00]
- Exodus “Foreshocks” Intro: [16:00-19:34]
- Midwives Named, Pharaoh Forgotten: [19:34-22:35]
- Moses and the Basket – Deliverance Amidst Death: [22:35-37:16]
- Teen Challenge—Modern Wicker Basket: [29:04-37:16]
- God Always Speaking—Are We Listening?: [37:16-42:37]
- Korean Prayer and Hope for North Korean Revival: [42:37-50:07]
- God Calls Our Names—Biblical Examples: [51:27-53:30]
- Closing—The Holy Ghost and Call to Salvation: [53:30-end, especially [57:49-66:07]]
Conclusion
Pastor Tim’s central message rings clear: God knows you personally, loves you deeply, and is inviting you into a life-changing relationship. Whether through biblical history, modern testimonies, or international prayer movements, God demonstrates His readiness to break chains and provide hope. The only question that remains is: Are you listening—and will you respond when He calls your name?
For More:
Visit tsc.nyc for more sermons and information about Times Square Church.