RT Kendall: Unforgiveness Could Be Costing You the Anointing

What if the breakthrough you have been praying for isn’t being held back by the devil but by unforgiveness?

In a powerful conversation with Pastor Vlad Savchuk, renowned theologian and author R.T. Kendall unpacked the life-changing message behind his bestselling book, Total Forgiveness. And years after the book first challenged believers to release those who wounded them, Kendall says the principle remains directly connected to something many Christians desperately desire: a greater anointing.

For Kendall, total forgiveness goes far beyond saying, “I forgive you.”

It means surrendering the desire to expose the person who hurt you, refusing to drag their reputation through the mud and ultimately reaching the place where you can genuinely ask God to bless them.

“When you come to the place that you can actually pray that God will bless them, you’re there,” Kendall says.

That revelation came from one of the darkest periods of Kendall’s life.

While serving at Westminster Chapel, Kendall endured what he described as the greatest trial he had faced up to that point. He believed he had been treated unfairly and unjustly, and the pain became almost unbearable.

Then God brought Romanian Christian leader Joseph Tsung into his life.

Kendall poured out what had happened, expecting Tsung to sympathize with him. Instead, he received words that would ultimately become the foundation of Total Forgiveness.

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“R.T., you must totally forgive them,” Tsung told him. “For until you totally forgive them, you will be in chains. Release them, and you will be released.”

Kendall admits it was the hardest thing he had ever done.

Yet that decision changed his life.

Years later, Kendall wrote Total Forgiveness, never imagining it would become his bestselling book. He says he has since heard stories of marriages being healed, parents and children speaking again and enemies reconciling because people embraced its message.

But Kendall also issued an important clarification: Forgiveness does not mean abandoning wisdom or boundaries.

“Does forgiveness always lead to restoration and reconciliation of a relationship?” Savchuk asked.

“No,” Kendall replied.

Forgiveness can release bitterness without requiring someone to return to an unhealthy or dangerous relationship.

Perhaps Kendall’s most striking warning, however, concerns the anointing.

“The issue is how much do you want the anointing?” he says.

Kendall argues that fasting cannot accomplish what a believer refuses to surrender. “You can go on a 40-day fast. And if you’re bitter when you start, you’ll be bitter when you finish.”

Total forgiveness, he says, is an act of the will.

And Kendall revealed that his understanding of forgiveness has become even more radical since writing the Charisma House bestseller.

For years, he comforted himself with the belief that although he could not publicly defend himself, one day everyone in heaven would know the truth.

Then he considered Stephen’s final prayer for those killing him: “Lord, lay not this to their charge.”

Suddenly, Kendall realized he had to surrender even his longing for vindication.

“I would rather have the anointing,” Kendall says, “than to have my name cleared.”

That may be the ultimate test of total forgiveness.

Can you release the offense when nobody knows what really happened? Can you let go of the need to defend your name? Can you pray a blessing over the person who wounded you?

For Kendall, the question ultimately comes down to this: How badly do you want more of God?

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.