JULY THEME – “Armed for Battle: Winning the War You Can’t See”

This Sunday at 10:30 AM — Join us for a powerful Freedom Celebration Service as we honor the true freedom we have in Christ and the blessings we enjoy as Americans! 🇺🇸. Our choir will present Sweet Freedom’s Song and the Spirit of God will meet us in a mighty way. No Sunday School—we’ll all gather together in one service. Bring a friend and come ready to worship the Lord who sets us free!

SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY

GO TO www.belmontbaptistchurch.com/sermons and listen to Sunday’s message.

Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart

THE SIN OF EMOTIONAL RETALIATION

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32

Not all sin shouts. Some sins simmer in silence. Emotional retaliation is one of them—and it hides well in Christian homes. It looks like passive withdrawal after an argument. It sounds like intentional silence instead of honest conversation. It manifests in delayed responses, sarcastic comments, or shutting someone out—not because of healthy boundaries, but because of an internal desire to make the other person pay for hurting us.

This kind of retaliation doesn’t throw fists—it throws distance. It says, “I’ll just pull back, turn cold, or subtly punish you until you hurt like I do.” We convince ourselves it’s justified. “They need to learn.” But Ephesians 4 doesn’t just call us to avoid anger—it calls us to remove bitterness, wrath, and even the subtle forms of evil speaking, including the words we choose not to say.

When you emotionally retaliate, you’re not protecting your heart—you’re poisoning it. Bitterness may seem quiet, but it rots relationships. Love doesn’t manipulate. Grace doesn’t rehearse injuries. True forgiveness isn’t passive—it actively pursues reconciliation.

God never retaliated against us for our sin. He pursued us in our rebellion. He spoke peace to our silence. He gave love to our distance. The measure of your spiritual maturity is not how well you worship in church, but how well you respond when you’ve been hurt at home.

Cain and Abel both brought offerings to God, but when God respected Abel’s offering and not Cain’s, Cain became offended. Instead of humbling himself, Cain stewed in silent resentment. Genesis 4:5 says, “Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.” He didn’t lash out immediately—he withdrew emotionally. But unspoken offense became inward sin. Eventually, that bitterness erupted in violence. His emotional retaliation became a spiritual downfall.

A husband and wife had a disagreement over finances. There was no yelling, no name-calling—just silence. Days passed with minimal conversation. They lived under the same roof, but spiritually, they were miles apart. Meals were eaten without words. Eyes avoided each other. What seemed like a cooling-off period was actually an emotional stalemate. And behind that silence was pride, not peace. Their marriage wasn’t hostile—but it was unhealthy. The enemy doesn’t need shouting matches to destroy a home. Sometimes, all he needs is cold silence.

Prayer: Father, expose the hidden ways I’ve retaliated in emotion. Forgive me for using silence, sarcasm, withdrawal, or distance to punish instead of pursuing peace. You have forgiven me completely and loved me unconditionally. Help me to reflect that same heart—even when I feel wounded. Give me the courage to confront with truth and the humility to forgive like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Challenge: Is there someone you’ve pulled away from—not for healing, but for silent revenge? Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you. Reach out in humility today. Don’t wait for them to make the first move. Peace is more powerful than pride.

Speak the words: “I release the need to punish. I choose to forgive—and to love in action, not just words.”

WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS

Sadie Almand – Home and doing well

Linda Mays – Piedmont Atlanta – Heart Valve Repair

Ann Stanley

Doug Stephens

Lynn Garner’s Daughter

Mary Williams – Rehab

Sadie Almand & Unborn Baby

Sarah Parker

Jason Parker – James & Sarah’s Son – stroke

Scotty Nix

Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shellnutts

Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shellnutts

Jill Haines

Angela Bryan’s Sister

Danny Jarrard 

Darlene Wiggins

Doris Loyd

Dr. and Mrs. Davis

Eric Magnusson’s Mother

Eric Ward

Friend of Linda Hodge

Gayle Sparks

George & Linda Alexander 

James Burnette

James Garner

Jessica Headrick 

John McClain’s Mother

June Cronan’s Sister

June Davis

Kailey Bateman

Kathryn Raines

Kim McClain’s Mother 

Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda

Lee Cronan

Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom

Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah 

Lonzo Christian 

Lori Blount’s Mother

Mary Williams

Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom

Marynell Ford 

Mike, Gwen, Michael Rice Family – Friends of Blount’s – Car Accident

Mrs. Franklin 

Nora Allison

Pastor Driskell 

Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA

Roy Loyd

Scarlett – Marynell’s Granddaughter

Scott Lanier 

Steve Michaels

Theresa Bain’s Granddaughter

Tom Witcher