Influence is Powerful - The Power of a Shadow with Pierre du Plessis

The Impact of Your Shadow

Scripture References

• Ephesians 3:20
• Jeremiah 18

Overview

Every one of us casts a “shadow” — the sphere of people who are close enough to be influenced by our everyday choices. Pastor Pierre stressed that our shadows are never neutral: they either draw people toward God or blur the way to Him. By examining five truths about our shadows, he called us to live yielded to the Potter, notice those standing near us, and take risky, Spirit-prompted “seven-second” steps that can change lives forever.

Main Points

1. Your shadow is always influencing someone

• Children, spouses, coworkers, friends, even strangers in line are standing inside your influence whether you invited them or not.
• As followers of Jesus, the way we live helps people decide whether or not they want to follow Him.

2. Your shadow reflects your real life, not your projection

• A shadow is a reflection, never a projection.
• Social media trains us to curate projections; people under our shadow experience who we really are.
• Compassion, kindness, and love will not flow through your shadow unless they genuinely fill your heart.

3. Lasting impact flows from God’s ongoing work in you

• Jeremiah 18: God is the Potter; we are the clay.
• When we resist His shaping, He simply sets us aside until we are soft again.
• Evidence of the Potter’s fingerprints on your life gives credibility and power to your influence.

4. Impact is greatest with the few, not the many

• Jesus left crowds to sit with Zacchaeus and the Samaritan woman; transformation happened one person at a time.
• Don’t wait for a platform—look for coffee-table moments, soccer-sideline conversations, or the guy who always ends up next to you at the gym.
• Behind one life often sits an entire “village” God wants to reach.

5. Obey the Spirit in the risky seven-second moments

• Those quick inner nudges feel like butterflies: awkward, uncertain, but holy.
• Illustration: On an 18-hour flight Pierre forfeited two empty seats to sit beside Christine, a recent widow feeding patients in an under-resourced mental hospital. Within seconds he sensed God’s nudge, pledged $10,000 from his church, and later saw the funds overflow during their Hope Month campaign.
• Legacy is written when we act before the opportunity flies past.

Key Truths

• Your everyday life is the primary sermon most people will ever hear.
• Authentic character, not polished image, determines the clarity of your influence.
• God’s shaping hand on you is the prerequisite for Him working through you.
• One obedient conversation can open doors to an entire community.
• Faith and risk always meet at the edge of obedience.

Response

• Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal who is currently standing in your shadow.
• Yield to God’s shaping; refuse to harden when He presses on hidden areas.
• Prioritize personal, face-to-face interactions over chasing larger audiences.
• Act on the next seven-second nudge—speak, give, pray, or invite without over-thinking.
• Share your story of risk with others to stir their courage.

Closing

Pastor Pierre ended by praying for believers to receive “Kingdom eyes” and boldness, then invited seekers to step out of hesitation and into relationship with Jesus. He reminded the church that the people in our shadows are there by divine assignment, and eternity may hinge on our next obedient step.

“Give me the courage, Lord, to lean forward and invite others in.”

Prayer

Jesus, here I am, nothing to hide. I need a Savior. Thank You that You love me the way I am and promise that if I come to You, You will never push me aside. You are the God of new beginnings. I believe You are the Son of God who died for my sin, rose from the grave, and gives me the right to become Your child when I call on Your name. I believe You are hearing my prayer. As I stand with risk and faith before You, thank You that my life will never be the same again. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

Resources

• Life.Church App
• life.church/next