LOOK UP TO GOD BEFORE YOU SPEAK TO THE DEAD | Tim Dilena | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

LOOK UP TO GOD BEFORE YOU SPEAK TO THE DEAD

Tim Dilena

Times Square Church • Nov 4, 2026 • 24 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

When we face overwhelming spiritual battles and feel entirely surrounded by circumstances beyond our control, human strategy and natural strength will always fall short. By bowing on our knees in persistent prayer and lifting our voices in praise, we shift our focus from the magnitude of the enemy to the sovereignty of God. As we fix our eyes on Him and declare His enduring love, God sets divine ambushes of grace to fight our battles, deliver His people, and draw lost souls back to Himself.

Themes

Spiritual Warfare through PrayerThe Power of PraiseGod's Sovereignty and DeliveranceIntercessionDivine Ambushes of Grace

Key Points

1.
Spiritual battles are not won through natural weapons or human strategy, but on our knees through persistent intercession.
2.
History belongs to the intercessors who stand in faith during dark moments and trust God to supernaturally intervene.
3.
When facing impossible odds, the vital first step is admitting our human powerlessness and keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord.
4.
Believers do not need to be paralyzed by fear or discouragement because the ultimate battle belongs to God, not us.
5.
Praise and thanksgiving are powerful strategies of spiritual warfare that invite God's divine action even before victory is visible.
6.
When God's people lead with worship and declare His enduring love, the Lord sets divine ambushes that dismantle the enemy's plans.
7.
God's ambushes are acts of grace designed to convict, soften, and win lost souls, bringing family members and strangers into His kingdom.

Sermon Moments

“History belongs to the intercessors.”

“It may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by You, God.”

“We have no power to face this vast army, and we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

“The miracle of Dunkirk occurred while believers in Wales fought the real battle on their knees in prayer.”

“Praise and worship before the battle is fought sends an exclamation point of faith into spiritual warfare.”

“God's ambushes are not meant to destroy people, but to ambush them with His love and draw them to salvation.”

This Week

Commit to bringing every overwhelming trial or spiritual fight to God first in persistent prayer rather than relying on natural strategies.

When feeling surrounded by difficult circumstances, audibly declare in faith: "It may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by You, God."

Openly acknowledge your human powerlessness in prayer, praying as King Jehoshaphat did: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

Choose to praise God for His holiness and enduring love before you see the outcome or resolution of your trial.

Pray expectantly for loved ones, neighbors, and strangers, asking God to set divine ambushes of grace that draw them to Jesus.

Gather with other believers to fast and seek the Lord collectively during times of personal or community crisis.

Refuse to give in to fear or discouragement when spiritual warfare intensifies, standing firm to witness the Lord's supernatural deliverance.

Remember This

We fight our toughest battles not in the natural, but on our knees through persistent prayer and praise, trusting God to set divine ambushes and win the fight for us.

A Challenge for You

Tonight, ask God to set divine ambushes of grace for your family, marriage, neighborhood, and loved ones as you lift your voice in prayer and praise, trusting Him to do what only He can do.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.