1. W E L C O M E T O T H E
J A C K S O N S T R E E T C H U R C H O F C H R I S T
P L E A S E T U R N O F F C E L L P H O N E S

2. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure,
whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good
report, if there is any virtue and
if there is anything praiseworthy-
-meditate on these things.

4. THE MAGNIFYING GLASS
A. Do you remember as a little child when you first
discovered the magnifying glass?
B. The magnifying glass makes something bigger
than it really is.
C. This also happen when we look at things in our
relationships under a magnified lens.
D. It becomes very easy to look at others faults
through a magnifying glass.
E. We move from believing the best about our
spouse, our child, our relative, or our friend to
believing the worst about them.
F. It’s not the big things that kill relationships.
G. It’s little things that we magnify out of proportion.

5. THE MAGNIFYING GLASS
H. Jesus came so we could have a full abundant life.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that
they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly.
I. Satan wants to take away that abundant life. One
of his tools is to blow things out of proportion. -
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour.
J. Here are six ways to see others in a more
proportional and balanced way.

6. I. MOVE THE MAGNIFYING GLASS.
A. Move your focus from what they do wrong to what
they do right.
B. If you’re finding yourself critical of or angry or
disgusted with your spouse, you’ve likely had
tunnel vision on their imperfections.
C. Sit down and make a list of their strengths and what
they contribute positively to the relationship.
D. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is patient, love is kind,
and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not
arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not
seek its own, is not provoked, DOES NOT TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED, 6 does not
rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the
truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes
all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails;

7. II. STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU LOVE.
A. What you focus on will expand.
B. If you focus on what bothers you, all you will
see are the things that tick you off.
C. Keep your eyes on what you love so you fill
your heart with love.
D. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever
things are true, whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just, whatever things are
pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate
on these things.

8. III. RESIST THE TEMPTATION.
A. The enemy is cunning and will do his best to get
your emotions tangled up and engaged.
B. Once your emotions are engaged it becomes easier
to see your spouse, your challenging child, your
sister-in-law, or your friend as an enemy.
C. This is the first step of dividing and destroying.
Don’t take the bait!
D. Mark 3:24-25 If a kingdom is divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is
divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
E. Galatians 5:14-15 For all the law is fulfilled in one
word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another,
beware lest you be consumed by one another.

9. IV. BELIEVE THE BEST ABOUT
YOUR LOVED ONE.
A. Resist the urge to make their mistake a
personal offense towards you.
B. Beware of statements you might make to
yourself like, “If he really loved me he
wouldn’t have done that,” or “She did that just
to tick me off.”
C. These kinds of statements are fertilizer to
negative emotions.
D. Philemon 1:21 Having confidence in your
obedience, I write to you, knowing that you
will do even more than I say.

10. V. GET PERSPECTIVE.
A. Are you making a mountain out of a molehill?
In the big scheme of things, is this really a big
deal?
B. When you measure this imperfection, mistake,
or disappointment against all the good things
about the person, you’ll quickly see that this
situation isn’t worth the energy you’re giving
it.
C. You need spiritual perspective as well.
D. Remind yourself, the real enemy is Satan and
his agenda is to divide and destroy.
E. Don’t let yourself get sucked into his
distraction and deception.

11. V. GET PERSPECTIVE.
F. Beware of the power of little things. -
James 3:3-5 Indeed, we put bits in horses'
mouths that they may obey us, and we turn
their whole body. 4 Look also at ships:
although they are so large and are driven
by fierce winds, they are turned by a very
small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5
Even so the tongue is a little member and
boasts great things. See how great a forest
a little fire kindles!

12. VI. LEARN TO MOVE FORWARD.
A. Sometimes we need to give grace, forgive, and let it
go.
B. Sometimes we need to have a conversation with the
person, but only after our emotions have calmed
down.
C. And sometimes we need to realize that our own pride
or insecurity is the bigger issue here and its helpful
to move the magnifying glass from our loved one to
ourselves for a few convicting minutes.
D. Don’t let it sit there for too long or you’ll move from
conviction to condemnation in no time.
E. Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive
everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us
into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one."

13. CONCLUSION
A. That magnifying glass has its place in this
world. It helps us see things more clearly at
times.
B. Magnifying glasses in relationships can do the
same.
C. It all depends on what you’re looking at.
D. What about you?
E. Where have you had your relational
magnifying glass pointed at the wrong things?
F. What are you making bigger than it needs to
be?

15. TONIGHT’S SERMON
HEAVEN HOLDS ALL TO ME