“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
— Ephesians 4:32
There are some messages that don’t simply encourage us, they confront us. This past weekend, we had the privilege of hearing from Dr. R.T. Kendall as he shared on the life-changing subject of total forgiveness. His message reminded us that forgiveness isn’t optional for the follower of Christ, it’s one of the clearest evidences that the gospel has truly transformed our hearts.
Forgiveness is often easier to talk about than to live out.
Most of us know what it’s like to be hurt. We’ve experienced disappointment, betrayal, broken trust, harsh words, or wounds that seem impossible to forget. Our natural response is to protect ourselves, justify our bitterness, or wait until someone earns another chance.
But that’s not how Jesus forgave us.
Long before we deserved His grace, Christ extended it. He carried our sin, canceled our debt, and opened the door for us to experience complete freedom. As recipients of that kind of mercy, we’re called to extend the same mercy to others.
Forgiveness doesn’t minimize what happened. It doesn’t excuse sin or ignore justice. Instead, it releases our right to hold onto bitterness and places the situation back into God’s hands. We trust Him to be the righteous Judge while we choose to walk in freedom.
One of the greatest barriers to revival isn’t what’s happening around us, it’s often what’s happening within us.
We can pray for God to move. We can ask Him to pour out His Spirit. We can seek His direction for the future. But if our hearts are filled with resentment, pride, or unforgiveness, we’ll struggle to experience everything He desires to do in us.
That’s why the timing of this message couldn’t be more important.
On August 2, our church begins 21 Days of Prayer, one of the most significant seasons in the life of Liberty. For three weeks, we’ll intentionally seek the Lord together, asking Him to revive our hearts, strengthen our faith, and prepare us for everything He has ahead.
As we step into another fall season, we’re also preparing for our upcoming Vision & Worship Nights, where we’ll celebrate what God has done and look ahead to the future He is calling us toward. Before God expands our vision, He often prepares our hearts.
Prayer is more than bringing God our requests, it’s allowing Him to search us, refine us, and shape us into the people He’s called us to be. Maybe one of the most important prayers we can pray this August is simply:
“Lord, is there anyone I need to forgive?”
Revival begins with surrendered hearts.
Imagine what God could do if thousands of people across Liberty entered these 21 days with clean hands, pure hearts, and a willingness to forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Imagine families restored, relationships healed, prodigals returning, and lives transformed, not because of our effort, but because we made room for God to work.
Paul reminds us that God is “able to do more than we can ask or think according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).
That’s the God we serve.
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.