As we shared in the previous Note, if we compare Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, and Hebrews 4:12, we may say that the strongholds in our being must be overthrown, our thoughts captured by Christ, and our intents put to the sword; for 0nly then, through this kind of spiritual warfare, will we experience the transformation that comes from the renewing of the mind.

But, this does not mean our intents must be eliminated; rather, they must be purified so that these intents, which are more hidden and inward, are in harmony with the thoughts we have, which are more outward. (See “Strongholds, Thoughts, & Intents” • 6) If not, it can cause a real problem in our serving of the Lord, and even damage the saints.

Many years ago we were having a conference in Chicago with Brother Titus Chu, who has been a great help over the years to so many saints, myself included. A number of saints were coming from out of town for the conference, and so the brothers assigned another brother and me to coordinate hospitality for them.

There was one brother, who I will call John, who at that time was working in the Chicago area and living in the far western suburbs; we were about the same age, thirty years old or so. He also asked for hospitality, so he would not have to make the long drive back-and-forth to the meetings all weekend.

So as the other brother and I were considering where to put all the guests, we came to John. The other brother suggested he should stay with Bill and his wife—he was at that time the leading brother in Chicago—along with Brother Titus, who would also be staying with them. But I said no; instead, I felt we should have a different young brother stay there. My reason was, this other brother was currently preparing to serve in the navy, being enrolled at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center north of Chicago, and so he would have something in common with Bill, who had served in the British Merchant Marine as a young man and always liked to talk about the sea. So we ended up putting that other brother with Bill and Brother Titus, while John stayed somewhere else.

But actually, that was only my outward thought. Inwardly, my intent, my real motive, was very different: I did not want John to stay with the leading brothers, because I was jealous. Why should he be able to stay with them and have such a good time of fellowship there, when I could not? That was my real intent, my real motive, even though I deceived the other brother working on the hospitality, and probably even myself, when I expressed my outward thought to justify why that other brother should stay there instead of John.

So, we went through several meetings of the conference. But then, in the last meeting, on the Lord’s Day morning, John was sitting in the front row. And at one point Brother Titus, as he was sharing, leaned right over him and said, in a very strong way, “John, I’m so burdened for you!”

How that word divided my outward thought from my evil, inward intent! I was so exposed; this brother, whom Brother Titus was so burdened for, could have been with him the entire weekend to be cared for by him; but, because of my evil intent, that never happened. Only the Lord knows what that brother lost because of what I did.

Now, of course, every time I think about that episode, I am so ashamed over what I did, and why I did it, and how I damaged that brother and caused him to miss that opportunity. Later, I did have to tell him what happened and repent for it, and he was very gracious to forgive me. But of course, the damage was already done, and the opportunity could not be recovered.

Thank the Lord, He is over all, even such transgressions as this. But, may we all learn the lesson to allow the Lord to deal with us and our intents, by exposing them through His word, so we may be pure before Him and go on with the Lord and with the other saints in a healthy way.

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—  14 February 2026 —