“..they brought forth the sick into the streets…that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” (Acts 5:15)
The Bible says that people were bringing the sick so that they may be under Peter’s shadow as he passed by! Every one of us have our own shadow of influence which can either help or hurt the cause of Christ. In order to cast the right shadow, you must have:
1. THE RIGHT VIEW OF THE SUN (SON).
Anything can cast a shadow when the sun comes out. You don’t have to be beautiful, smart, or talented, to cast a shadow. All you have to be is in direct view of the sun. Likewise, in order to have the right spiritual influence on others, we need to live in direct view of the SON, Jesus.
2. THE RIGHT VIEW OF SIN. (v.1-10)
In the first 10 verses of this chapter, Peter dealt with the sin of Ananias & Sapphira. You will never cast the right shadow if there is sin that hasn’t been dealt with.
3. THE RIGHT VIEW OF YOURSELF.
Peter wasn’t even aware his shadow was healing anyone; it wasn’t planned or promoted. He was simply pointing people toward Jesus. You will not cast the right shadow of influence until your life is more about Jesus than it is about you.
4. THE RIGHT VIEW OF SINNERS.
(v.16) says, “and they were healed every one.” They didn’t choose certain ones to be healed. Everyone got healed! Unlike today’s FAKE (faith) HEALERS who only seem to heal certain ones, and then it is always things that are internal (supposedly cancer, tumors, etc), things which cannot be verified.
When Jesus healed, there was usually an external proof. (ie: Man with a withered hand, lame man walking, dead man raised to life.)
You can not choose whom your shadow of influence will affect. That’s why we should walk with God every day, so that as our lives touch others’, we will cast the right shadow!