THE SHADOW THAT YOU CAST

Introduction:

The amount of change that has been prompted by the has occurred in the last 4 months is a lot to deal with. The World is still dealing with COVID-19 and the numerous decisions each Country and State makes changes week by week.

Then add to it financial loss that occurred within the USA in that time as the unemployment rate went from under .04 percent in February to nearly .15 percent in March…which translates to 30.3 million of our neighbors filling for unemployment for the first time! The good news is that the U.S. economy gained 2.5 million jobs in May and the unemployment rate dropped to 13.3 percent, according to the monthly employment report released Friday Jun 5, 2020 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Then consider the tragic deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta during confrontations with police and the resulting protests that have spread across America which tragically has resulted in more death, injuries, unrest and division.

As I was preparing for this sermon, I kept thinking about what is said in verse 15- “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by”. The Temple area in Jerusalem covered 26 acres. On the eastern side of the Temple, (in the court of Solomon) the Apostles were gathered and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People knew that Peter would be passing by on his way to the Temple. There was a limited amount of people he could touch, so people found out the way Peter was going to the Temple in order to bring their sick to lay along the way; so at least the shadow of Peter would fall on them and they would be healed. This fact made me think about the influence that Peter had that he didn’t even realize. You never know whom you can influence in your life.

Main Idea: Faithful gospel ministry “CASTS A SHADOW” that brings both blessing and opposition.

I. The influence of your life can unite believers & challenge unbelievers! (5:12-16)

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

II. The influence of your life can multiply disciples & promote healing! (5:14-16)

14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

III. The influence of your life can enrage the opponents of Jesus! (5:17-18)

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

IV. Final Thoughts on Your Personal Influence:

a. The influence of your life will Outlive you!

We could spend days talking about the people in history that has had an influence on our lives. Peter is not the only Christian in our text that has been remembered for thousands of years. Some of these people, (like the Apostles) we know; while others that were there, will never be known by us- Either way, their lives influenced others long after they died. The same is true with every person’s life. There are repercussions of a person’s influence that never stops.

Who do you remember that fits this statement? “Although this person is no longer living, they have had great influence over my life.”

b. The influence of your life will Impact Others!

c. The influence of your life can be destructive.

I know that when I just asked the question about who has been an influence in your life, you probably wrote down names of positive influences; but there are influences in your life that have not been for the good. In a sense, a person doesn’t die when they die. The influence of their life can linger on. I know that we automatically think of people like Hitler or Stalin that had a destructive influence in the world and still have an influence on many people; but even the man after God’s own heart, (David) had some destructive influence on his family.

2 Samuel 12:10

I pray that my mistakes do not have a long-lasting influence on those around me; but most likely, it did. For those of you that grew up around terrible influences, it is not an excuse for you to do the same. You can break those family destructive behaviors. What are those things that you do not want to be known for?

Romans 5:10

d. The influence of your life can be positive.

The influence in your life that should be the most important to you, is the influence of Jesus. What Jesus did on the cross and resurrecting from the dead can change the outcome of any person’s life.

When you allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in all that you do, you will be an influence to people that brings victory. The Apostles and Christians were healing people and leading people to Jesus on a daily basis. Those Christians have no idea of how many lives were changed for generations because of their faithfulness to God. Who are those people that have been a godly influence to you? And who are you influencing for the kingdom?