Dr. Wayne A. Lawson
Antioch Institutional Baptist Church
Oklahoma City, OK 73117
RevWLawson@aol.com
Preached Sunday, November 15, 2009
TITLE: SHADOWS
SCRIPTURE: ACTS 5:15
Simon Peter is one of the most interesting men in religious history. More conspicuously than any other, he illustrates the possibility of the growth of a human life into the full image of God. At no time during Peter’s tedious pilgrimage did the common people pay him a Finer Tribute than is revealed in the text read in our hearing. Some of the people of Jerusalem brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. That is to say that the Lame and Sick were strategically placed in the streets that at the Least – or if Nothing Else, the shadow – not laying hands – word – but a shadow - A Silhouette of a man named Peter might fall on them and bring about a healing.
• Clearly, those with sick friends and family hoped that the shadow of Peter would heal their loved ones.
• Although the text does not explicitly state that the sick were healed in this fashion, it is, nevertheless; implied
The most powerful influence that we are aware of is called silence. Silence can be used as a Powerful tool. Those that have been married for any amount of time have most likely used the tactic of silence as a powerful tool to stress a point or an act of influence to bring about a sufficient change. Consider with me a Shadow:
• What a Silent Thing a Shadow is!
• Noiselessly it falls
• Not a Word does it speak
• Not a Sound does it make
• The mightiest forces in nature as well as in human life are always silent in their operations
• Before a Storm there is a Lull - a Calm - a Quiteness
The most potent of all the forces that move our human nature is the Power of love – true Love.
• How silent are its Mighty Conquests
• You know what it does but you never hear its movements
• You know that it gives Luster to the Eye
• Adds music to the voice
• Transfigures the commonest things to the utmost state of beauty
• However, no one ever heard the movement of Love
Although Love is an action word -- its movements are silent -- when Elijah hid himself in Horeb from Jezebel, God spoke to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?” IF GOD BE FOR YOU, WHO COULD BE AGAINST YOU? He stood upon the mount before the Lord:
• Great and Strong Wind that rent the mountains and brake in pieces the rocks, but we are told that God was not in it
• After the Wind, an Earthquake, but the Lord was not in it
• After the Earthquake, a Fire, but the Lord was not in the fire
• After the Fire there came a still small voice
• A Whisper forces us to pay close attention
• It causes us to Really Listen and Pay Attention to what is being said
• Nothing more obnoxious than a Loud Preacher – Bad Impression
The Master taught concerning His Kingdom. The Kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal – and the leaven works silently. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a seed which a man took and cast into the ground – and the seed grows noiselessly.
Jesus proclaimed ye are the light of the world. The innermost nature by a sort of inevitable necessity is to give light to all around. Don’t misinterpret what I am going with this. The Christian is not to nurse his religious life in Solitude and Retirement. Shine said Jesus like the Unselfish Sun.
• Shine but don’t make a bunch of noise about it
• The Sun does not Toot its Horn to let the world know it is about time to rise
• It just Rises and Shines
This is the message that the text portrays this morning. It was the silence of Peter that was effective. Not that he walked with Jesus or was the first to identify Jesus as the Son of God. Not that he preached on the day of Pentecost – 3,000 saved. His Shadow had no power. It was his silent – light shining attitude – that gave the people the Faith to believe that at the Very Least – the Silent Movement of the Shadow of Peter could bring about a sufficient change in their life.
Symbolically, a person’s shadow is the symbol of their influence. The shadow of a man is often larger and more far reaching than the man himself. The most potent form of influence is not only silent but also for the most part, unaware -- Just as we are rarely Conscience of our Shadow – Rarely are we aware that it is there – so it is true that we are rarely aware of our influence. If we say, “I WANT MY INFLUENCE TO BE POWERFUL OR LIKE THIS, THAT, WE VERY RARELY SUCCEED, WE TYPICALLY BECOME A MIRROR OF SOMEONE ELSE”. Conscience influence is but the smallest part of influence.
We read in a certain narrative how Moses went up to the mountain top with God, and when he came down his face manifested some mysterious spiritual exaltation. Then the sacred writer adds this significant comment “AND MOSES WIST NOT THAT HIS FACE WAS SHINING.” Aaron and the Israelites were afraid to come to Moses. If Moses had been conscience of himself his face would not have been transfigured with the divine light that was shinning deep down in his soul. But the world knew that here was a man that had been in touch with God.
It is unfortunate that this feature isn’t more prominent in Christendom today. We are far too self-conscious in our faith. When a man is living a real Christian life he does not need to stand at a street corner and tell men so or proclaim that I’m Saved, Sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, Fire Baptized. Those with whom he lives, those with whom he has interaction, know that there is a man who has secret sources of support and comfort. It is there they find the unanswerable argument for their faith. Used to be a time when people we meet could tell we were peculiar – Have not heard this now in years. Why does luster or shadow of our faith diminish?
We try to measure our influence and spirituality.
• We can weigh sugar – but cannot Weight its sweetness
• We can Register the heat – but the beam of light can fall upon us and not move one hairs breadth
• Real influence cannot be Tabulated, it is Invisible and Intangible
What one speaks is not louder than what one does. Influence is the steady – persistent- irrepressible power of what one is. If we desire to increase our influence we must grow inwardly. As a man grows in purity – sincerity- unselfishness - devotion – he develops outward power that moves the lives of others, which is only ordained by God.
• Peter Denied Jesus Three Times
• After death and burial of Jesus – Peter went Fishing
• Paul had to Chastise Peter for his stance with not eating with the Gentiles
• Thanks be to God as he continued to Grow and Mature . We grow Inwardly and Develop Outward Power and Influence.
The moon lights up the night, but it has no light of its own. It is just a reflector. It reflects the light of the sun. I can’t help but to wonder do we reflect the light of Christ? I want to point out the importance of living a Godly life. If we are going to take on the name of Jesus, let us strive to take on the nature of Jesus. Our shadow is cast by our words – deeds - works. Often our testimony is spoken louder by our actions than by our words. The fruits of the Spirit are manifest by the actions of our flesh. The presence of the Lord in the shadow of man. My brothers and sisters, we all Cast a Shadow.
• Our shadow is Inevitable
• Regardless of our stature, we all cast a shadow
• Rich and the Poor cast a shadow
• Democrat, Republican, or Independent, cast a shadow
• The Employed and Unemployed cast a shadow
• The Young and the Old cast a shadow
• Believers and Non-believers cast a shadow
The most potent form of influence is conditioned by a person’s relationship to Christ. When we think about a simple shadow – we would realize that a Shadow is quite complex.
• A person’s shadow is the result of their position with regard to the Shining Sun
• Without the sun shining or some light shining there can be no shadow
• The form of it and the size of it and the intensity of it depend upon the person’s attitude towards the light
• If you Crouch in the Shade, your shadow cannot not be seen
• If you stand in the sunlight at noonday, then your shadow is small, but sharply outlined and intense
• Turn your back on the sun then your shadow lies before you
• If you walk towards the sun or that is to say towards the light, then your shadow lies behind you
• It is our attitude toward the light toward the sun that determines how our shadow is cast
I don’t believe that you are with me this morning. Our influence works the same way! The soul’s attitude toward the light of the world determines what the influence is to be – it’s form – size - intensity. If we are to be an influence in this cold cruel world, we must walk in the Light until we become children of the Light. If we walk with Christ those who are overshadowed by our influence will be helped somewhere along the way and quickened by a spiritual power.
If we turn our back on the Son – Son of God, our shadow will be hid, good for nothing. If we walk Before the son – Son of God, our shadow will be hid, good for nothing. It is our attitude toward the Son of God that will create a significant shadow. There is NO POWER IN THE SHADOW, THE POWER IS IN THE LIGHT –I heard a Songwriter say – Light of the World another Songwriter said “this little Light of Mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”
The most eloquent preacher Israel produced was Isaiah – and nowhere, I venture to say, did he soar to such heights of Imagery as when he said “A MAN SHALL BE AS THE SHADOW OF A GREAT ROCK IN A WEARY LAND.” I believe that Isaiah has the desert in mind. He sees a company of pilgrims in the glare of the Syrian sun with eyes smarting and lips burning and tongue and throat Parched and dry, and then he sees a Mighty Rock in the midst of the desert, and the pilgrims nestling in a shade. Then breaks out his figure in the richness of its imagery. “A MAN SHALL BE AS THE SHADOW OF A GREAT ROCK IN A WEARY LAND.”
This word this morning applies to:
• Parents whose shadow is always falling upon their children
• Masters whose shadow is always falling upon the servants of the household
• Teachers whose shadow is always falling upon their scholars
• Choirs with songs of Zion, whose shadow is always falling upon the house of God
• Deacons, whose shadow is always falling on the Meek and Lowly
• Preachers, whose shadow is always falling upon those that have an Ear to Hear
• Each and Every One of Us, with innumerable opportunities with which our lives are full for the exercise of saving influence upon others.
-Standing in the Light we shall be able to cast a shadow of which in the day of Christ none of us shall be ashamed
-Cast your shadow upon the Meek and Lowly in Heart
-Cast your shadow upon the Downtrodden, let them know there is a God
-Cast your shadow upon the Sick, let them know that God is in the Healing Business
-Cast your shadow upon the Unsaved, let them know there is a Straight and Narrow Path
-Cast your shadow upon the Weary, let them know that God is a Rock in a Weary Land
-Cast your shadow that the World might Smell the Sweet Fragrance of the Rose of Sharon
-Cast your shadow this morning that the world might know that there is a God that Sits High and Looks Low
-There is a Forgiving God that will Never Leave or Forsake Us
-A God that shines brighter than the noon day sun
-We cast the best shadow when We are in the proper relation to the Light
-Those who live in darkness can cast no shadow for good
-JESUS is the light of the world
-Walk with Him and cast your shadow for the advancement of God’s Kingdom
