The Power and Freedom Found in Forgiveness: Lessons from Kingdom Builders
Have you ever wondered why forgiveness feels both so necessary and so impossible? If you’ve ever tried to hang on to old wounds or struggled to let go of a wrong, you’re in good company. In a recent Kingdom Builders gathering, this tension—and the wild, life-changing freedom that can break through when we surrender it to God—unpacked itself powerfully through worship, testimony, and honest teaching. Let’s walk through how a single night’s message can open new doors for peace, healing, and real freedom in your life too.
Welcoming the Kingdom Birds: A Community Rooted in Grace
There’s something sweet about a church body with inside jokes and shared language. The “Kingdom Birds,” as this group calls themselves, greeted each other with warmth and good humor. Pastor Terry, usually at the helm, was away with his family, and that gave everyone a fresh reminder: leadership rests with the entire family of faith, not just one person.
Key People Shaping the Night:
- Pastor Terry & family (away but not forgotten, always loved)
- Pastor Lane and Sister Vicki (faithful supporters)
- Sister Bev (leading music with heart)
- Brother Jim Macintosh (bringing the word)
There was a strong sense of appreciation for those who labor in church— with folks even pausing to clap for Pastor Terry and the team. This gratitude set the tone for a night full of caring, humor, and the kind of honesty that makes church feel like home. 
Lifting Up the Hurting: Praying for Flood Victims and the Missing
Reality came rushing in with mention of recent floods striking Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and more—whole communities turned upside down. Some families were missing loved ones: a counselor and nine children still unaccounted for. No easy answers, only heavy hearts and deep pain.
Right then, the church paused to pray—not just some empty habit, but a living act. They stood together, asking for peace that surpasses all understanding, the kind that steadies trembling hands and calms racing minds (see Isaiah 26:3). If you’re reading this and wrestling with fear or loss, stop here. Whisper their prayer as your own:
“Lord, we don’t have all the answers. But we trust your goodness. Wrap every grieving heart in your peace. Calm every raging storm. Cover each family. Find the missing. Bring hope where there’s only ache. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Moments like this remind us: when we hurt, we belong to one another.
Testimony Lane: Giving, Receiving, and Overflowing Blessings
A Family Marked by Faith
It’s no small thing when faith works its way down to the kitchen table. The speaker’s wife shared about loving God’s Word openly at home—so much that their kids caught the spark. Hannah, only eight, announced she’d read the New Testament in six months. Brinley and Caleb clambered to read too (even if Caleb can’t quite untangle the words yet). That’s real spiritual legacy.
The Testimony: Trading Treasure, Finding Blessing
Now, picture a 13-year-old saving up for a prized Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible. $40 isn’t pocket change when you come from humble means. She had only half the money so far. But God had other plans.
During a missions service, she sensed God nudging her—give away the $20. That’s it. The whole sum. No asking, no bartering, just open hands. So she slipped the bill into the offering for Malaysian missionaries (shoutout, Brother John and Susie Pickins).
A week later, out of nowhere, her aunt—unaware of any of this—showed up with a gift she “couldn’t leave without giving.” It was the very same Bible. But God wasn’t finished: trudging through the park a few days later, she literally stepped onto a $20 bill stuck in the mud.
The Lesson: What You Give Returns Overflowing
That moment echoes out of Luke 6:38:
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
What’s the real treasure? Not just money, but the joy and peace God pours out when we offer everything—praise, time, gifts, even our hard places.
Ways Giving Leads to Blessing:
- Material Giving: You help others, but God provides for you in ways you don’t expect.
- Praise and Worship: When you lift Him up, peace and joy flood in.
- Time and Presence: Serving in “small” ways unlocks deeper relationship with God.
- Talent and Heart: God takes your willingness and multiplies the fruit in and around you.
It’s not a vending machine formula. It’s relationship—His generosity shapes your life.
Worship That Breaks Through: God’s Power in Song
Worship at Kingdom Builders isn’t background noise. It’s a full-body, open-hearted effort. The crowd repeated the chorus: Give Him the highest praise, for He is worthy to be lifted up. They meant it.
The songs focused on transformation:
- God turns mourning into dancing.
- He gives beauty for ashes.
- He turns bones into armies and graves into gardens.
This isn’t just poetry—it’s real spiritual promise. The story of Ezekiel’s dry bones (Ezekiel 37) rang out as someone recalled: the Lord asked, “Can these bones live?” Even when things look dead, God breathes new life.
“Don’t tell me it’s too far gone. One breath from God brings life back into anything.”
If you need some encouragement for your own dry season, check out this reflection on restoration and hope.
Main Message: Freedom in Forgiveness
Forgiveness Is Non-Negotiable—And That’s Good News
Let’s get real: forgiveness can feel impossible, especially when the hurts are deep. But here’s the kicker—Jesus makes it clear forgiveness is not a suggestion. If you’re at the altar and remember someone has something against you… stop, go, and make it right first. (Matthew 5:23-24)
This command is repeated again and again:
- Matthew 6:12: Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
- Matthew 9:5-6: Forgiveness heals.
- John 20:23: We can actually pronounce forgiveness.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17: Prayer connects us to God’s ongoing mercy.
- Isaiah 26:3: Keeping your mind on God brings perfect peace.
Explore the Biblical roots of forgiveness here.
The Real Deal: Forgiveness and the Heart
Forgiveness means stepping into God’s shelter (Psalm 91:1). Withholding it pulls us outside His covering. Imagine you’re standing under an umbrella in a downpour—walk away, you’re soaked.
Jesus set the standard on the cross, offering forgiveness even as He suffered. He’s not asking us to do anything He hasn’t done. And yes, He knows some hurts are earth-shattering.
Common Misconceptions About Forgiveness
- It’s just words. (Real forgiveness is a heart thing.)
- It means pretending nothing happened. (Nope. Acknowledge the pain.)
- You have to restore every relationship. (Not always. Boundaries matter.)
- You wait until you feel like it. (Feelings often follow obedience.)
Stories That Stun: The Cost and Release of Letting Go
The Table Conversation: “I Don’t Get Mad, I Get Even”
Sometimes bitterness is subtle. One woman, always serving, said quietly, “I just get even.” That wall she built kept her “safe” but locked her in. Unforgiveness does more harm to us than to the person who wronged us.
Forgiving the Unthinkable: When the Wound Is Deep
The message went deeper—a tragedy unfolded, where a father took the life of his own son. The wife’s agony was unspeakable. “I want him to burn in hell,” she said. But as time limped on, she faced a choice: trust God’s Word or stay entombed in that anger.
Forgiveness did not mean stepping back into an unsafe relationship. It didn’t even mean feeling warm fuzzies overnight. What changed was her grip on the pain—she handed it to God. That surrender let her spirit breathe again.
Setting Boundaries Without Withholding Mercy
Part of the breakthrough was understanding:
- Forgiveness doesn’t mean you have to expose yourself to harm.
- In cases of abuse, forgiveness frees you from bitterness but doesn’t demand restoration of the relationship.
- You may never talk to the offender again—it’s about your heart, not just the outcome.
The Responsibility (and Power) to Forgive
Jesus once told Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22). That’s Bible talk for “as often as it takes.” Why? Because forgiveness is freedom, both for you and the other person.
When you hold onto a grudge, it’s like drinking poison and hoping someone else gets sick. Prayer, Scripture, and community become your tools to chip away at those chains.
Steps to Start Forgiving (Yes, Even That)
- Name the person or situation out loud in prayer.
- Surrender your “right” to get even.
- Ask God to do in your heart what you can’t do alone.
- Repeat as often as needed—sometimes it’s a process.
- Seek help from wise believers or counselors if you’re stuck.
We must forgive. Not just because Jesus commands it, but because He knows what unforgiveness will do to a soul.
Finding a Path Forward: Laying Down Burdens, Picking Up Peace
As the night drew to a close, everyone was invited to literally lay burdens down at the altar. Prayer warriors and elders gathered for support.
Final words brought home this hard truth: “The real victim of unforgiveness is you.” It’s a slow destruction—resentment eats away at your rest, your wholeness, sometimes your faith. The good news? God stands ready to lift the load the moment you ask.
So take a breath. Forgiveness is not a feeling—it’s a choice. Sometimes you need to say, “God, I can’t do this in my own strength.” And that’s enough to start the miracle.
Lord, help us to forgive when it feels impossible. Give us courage to let go, openness to receive Your peace, and hope for new life on the other side. Amen.
Ready to go deeper, find community, or share your own story? Reach out, connect, and walk together toward healing. And if you haven’t explored our resources on our homepage,, now’s the time.
If you’re seeking a moment of restoration, start where you are, with what you have. God’s not done with you yet.
Unforgiveness locks you in. But the key—freely offered—is forgiveness. Will you use it?
