Times Square Church - Sermons

Episode: “This Fight Needs All 3”

Speaker: Pastor Tim Dilena
Date: February 8, 2026

Episode Overview

Pastor Tim Dilena delivers a passionate and personal message on the spiritual battle raging in our minds, emphasizing that true and lasting peace—especially peace of mind—requires the united action of all three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. He outlines how spiritual attacks occur primarily through our thoughts, how peace has been promised, protected, and purchased for believers, and how the response to these attacks hinges on rejecting the voice of the Accuser and standing on God’s Word alongside the Advocate.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Global Welcome & Setting the Stage

• Pastor Tim opens by welcoming viewers from 29 countries, 33 states, and multiple universities, underscoring how the gospel knows no boundaries and reaches people globally.

  “What a blessing that this gospel is not limited to a zip code, but it goes all over the world.” (00:38)

• He identifies the main spiritual battle: the relentless attack on the mind, stating,

  “Every time I stand up here… I'll put both my hands on top of my head and just pray that God would guard my thoughts. There's something about this building… your mind gets under attack.” (02:52)

The Mind Battle & The Need for All Three (Father, Son, Spirit)

• The reality of mind battles:
  Drawing on A.W. Tozer’s observation that “10,000 thoughts a day pass through our minds,” Pastor Tim illustrates how Satan uses these to create strongholds if left unchecked.

• Scriptural basis:
  He referencing 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, explaining that Christians are called to take “every thought captive,” and warns of the Accuser’s goal—to make us accept negative thoughts as identity-forming strongholds.

• Dual voices: Accuser vs. Advocate:

  • The enemy accuses, seeking to destroy peace.
  • Jesus, as the Advocate, fights to restore and maintain peace (1 John 2:1-2; Revelation 12:10).

  “Both are fighting for your peace, one to destroy it and the other to preserve it.” (06:16)

Jesus’ First Words to the Disciples After Failure

• The power of Jesus’ peace:
  After the disciples’ abandonment and denial, the Accuser’s voice must have been intense. But Jesus appears behind locked doors and says,

  "Peace be with you." (John 20:19, 21, 26)

  Pastor Tim emphasizes the supernatural quality of Christ's peace, capable of breaking through any barrier, physical or mental.

Vivid Illustration: The “Whelk” and His Personal Testimony (19:20)

• Whelk analogy:
  He likens spiritual attack to a whelk— a small mollusk that bores a hole in an oyster shell and drains its life.

  “Little by little, its insides begin to be ravaged and are gone…like something drills into our minds and tries to remove joy, confidence, even a heart that has peace of Christ.” (20:54)

• Personal account:
  Pastor Tim shares a recent experience: after watching seemingly innocuous videos, he had a panic attack and sensed the Holy Spirit warning him about how even neutral content could drill into his peace.

  “If a cave exploration can bore a hole and remove your peace, what are some of us watching that is even going to go deeper inside of our souls?” (26:55)

  The Holy Spirit spoke:

  “No more. No longer do I ever want you to watch videos, these kind of videos again…” (27:51)
  He describes the resulting “detox” and the peace he received after refocusing his mind and habits on God’s Word.

The Promise, Protection & Purchase of Peace

1. Peace Is Promised

• Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 3:16:

  “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”

• Psalm 29:11 reinforces that strength and peace go together:

  “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

2. Peace Is Protected

• Isaiah 26:3:

  “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.”

• Explains Hebrew superlative: God doesn’t just give “peace,” but “peace, peace” (shalom shalom), implying abundant and multiplied peace—especially needed in places of chaos like NYC.

“When you live in New York City, you don't just need peace, you need peace, peace.” (42:59)

• Practical tools to maintain peace: prayer and daily engagement with God’s Word.

3. Peace Is Purchased

• Ephesians 2:13-17: Peace “purchased” by the blood, cross, and death of Christ.

  “He himself is our peace… and came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” (52:00)

• The enemy attacks because that peace came at a cost; God (the Trinity) guards it so fiercely for you.

The Role of the Trinity in Peace

• God the Father: Blesses and keeps you in peace (Philippians 4:7, Colossians 3:15)
• God the Son: Jesus gave His peace, and remains your Advocate in heaven (John 14:27)
• God the Holy Spirit: Enables peace through His presence and direction (Romans 8:6)

“I’ve got God the Father, I’ve got God the Son, and I got God the Holy Ghost. That’s fighting for me, folks. That’s why this peace is so precious.” (37:45)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “Peace is not the removal of problems. It is God moving into the chaos.” (32:05)
• “The peace you get is Jesus’ peace… The peace that can sleep in a storm when everybody else is beside themselves.” (33:10)
• “Peace doesn’t mean the absence of problems. Peace means the presence of Christ.” (1:10:20)
• On social media:

  “It’s like the word algorithm actually means Satan. I just made that up. It does.” (1:25:55) (humor and candor on how subtle distractions are spiritual battlegrounds)

Daniel’s Example (1:14:45)

• Pastor Tim describes Daniel at the end of his life, battle-worn, experiencing anxiety and weakness—yet when touched by God and receiving a word from heaven, he is restored to “strength and peace.”

  “One touch gave him strength and gave him peace. …I don’t know about you. How many need some peace, Peace again. How many just need that peace, Peace to come, that shalom, shalom?”

A Practical Call: Detox Your Mind

• Choose to “detox” your mind by curbing even seemingly neutral distractions and focusing on God’s Word and prayer.
• Attend Times Square Church’s daily “chapter by chapter” Bible reading and upcoming noon prayer meetings as spiritual anchors.

  “Let’s revive your mind, your heart, and your soul. That’s right here.” (26:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:38 – Welcoming global audience
• 02:52 – The attack on our thoughts
• 06:16 – Introduces the Advocate and the Accuser
• 17:00 – Jesus brings peace behind locked doors (John 20)
• 19:20 – Whelk: Analogy of spiritual attack
• 26:10 – Personal account of a mind-battle and divine warning
• 33:10 – The real and “Jesus’ peace” defined
• 37:45 – The Trinity actively provides and protects peace
• 42:59 – “Peace, peace” (shalom, shalom)—the Hebrew superlative
• 52:00 – Peace purchased by Christ’s blood, cross, and death
• 1:10:20 – “Peace is a person, not a place”
• 1:14:45 – Daniel’s story: touch and word from heaven restore peace

Summary of Key Applications

• Guard your mind: Recognize that distractions (even innocent ones) can undermine your peace.
• Focus on the Word & prayer: These are the “anchors” that keep your mind steadfast and your peace secure.
• Let God’s peace rule: Don’t pursue peace through perfect circumstances, but through constant awareness of God’s presence.
• Claim and defend your peace: Stand on the finished work of the cross and the promises of God, rejecting the Accuser’s lies and condemnation.

Closing Prayer & Invitation

• Pastor Tim invites anyone who needs peace to come forward, leading the church in the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” (1:19:00), and offers a salvation prayer for those seeking the Prince of Peace:

  “No God, no peace. Know God, know peace.”

• Hands are raised throughout the sanctuary in a tangible response to the call for strength, peace, and a fresh touch from heaven.

Final Thought

“Peace is not just a feeling or a lack of trouble—it’s the presence of Christ, fiercely guarded and freely given, paid for by blood, protected by the Trinity. To know Him is to know peace, even in the heart of the storm.”

Recommended Next Actions:

• Join daily Bible readings (“chapter by chapter”)
• Attend the Times Square Church noon prayer meetings
• Cultivate personal disciplines to keep your mind “stayed on Him” for shalom, shalom—abundant peace

(For further resources, visit tsc.nyc or participate in the church’s various spiritual growth programs.)