They took down the sail, which would have been ripped to shreds by the winds, and lashed down the rudders, which would have been broken up as they were smashed against the ship by the waves. I have always looked upon the Apostle Paul as a godly man, a zealous servant of Jesus Christ, and a powerful preacher of the gospel. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. To Paul (in my opinion) this would be akin to jumping off the pinnacle of the temple, and thus putting God to the test (Luke 4:9-12). There were no petty thieves on board this ship. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. Other words for democratic leadership You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. The assassination conspiracy was still the main hope of the Sanhedrin as Paul was imprisoned for two years by Felix, but God kept Paul from Jerusalem. To sail on, therefore, was a foolish decision in Pauls opinion, and thus he discouraged it as strongly as he could, but to no avail. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. 541 Lukes narrative of the voyage and shipwreck of Paul on his way to Italy is a small classic in its own right, as graphic a piece of descriptive writing as anything in the Bible. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. It was a coasting vessel, which was to call at various ports of the province of Asia; at one of these Julius knew he would find a ship, preferably a grain ship, bound for Italy. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 477. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. They were so sure of the wisdom of their decision that they did not even draw up the small boat attached by a rope to the vessels stern (verse 16). He had had enough. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. Please see below for details. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. The one whose fate was sure and certain, was the most cautious; those whose ultimate fate was most uncertain were those who lived most dangerously. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. To Paul, the sovereignty of God was not an excuse to avoid his human obligations or his personal responsibility; it was the motivation for him to live responsibly. All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. Take aids, or drugs, for example. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. 1 Timothy 3:5. And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. Some things dont change. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. He was most likely the envy of other young leaders. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. Unsaved men do not have the answers. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. Pauls leadership emerged in a time of crisis, in an hour of need, when no one else seemed to have any answers.565 Functional leadership (as opposed to formal leadership) emerges in times of need. What are some examples of democratic leadership? Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? He did get disgusted. Your Bible study. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 1 Timothy 4:12. You are the foundation. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). What did Paul do to bring about such a change? Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. If they were to have the strength necessary to make it to shore, they would need to start the day with a good meal. I know it sounds more like mother or a TV commercial, but Paul was dealing with a very practical necessity. He must live wisely and be just. Paul and a number of other prisoners were put aboard an Adramyttian ship,542 which was setting sail for ports along the coast of Asia. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. He had a special place. He was going to survive. The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. Paul spoke up, cautioning them about sailing on any further, and warning them that if they pressed on this would result in the loss of lives and property. 15:24; 16: 2-3). (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. 2:2). Paul once again stepped forward, speaking out to all aboard, so as to assure and encourage them, as well as to persuade them to prepare themselves for the rigors and physical demands of the hours that were to follow. Paul was overruled. An elder must live a blameless life. They just happened to run aground at the place where two seas met.562 It seems that the action of the water created some kind of sandbar or shallows, on which the ship stuck fast. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. Obedient Daniel. They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. If you remember the qualifications of a leader that we looked at earlier, you will see why this is a great example of Godly leadership in the Bible. 544 We know that Luke was on board ship because of the we references, and because of the great detail that he includes, as an eyewitness of the journey, the storm, and the safe landing of the passengers. What grace was made evident in this storm! This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. If Gods sovereignty is the source of comfort to the Christian, it is the source of terror for the unbeliever, for God has warned of His coming judgment. The Greater Syrtis was still a great distance away, but the wind might continue to blow for many days, and that was the direction in which it was blowing them. Verses 30-32 describe the sailors attempt to abandon ship, which they aborted, due to the action taken by the soldiers, who heeded Pauls words of warning. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. . 4. The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. Pauls Bay is sheltered on the northwest by the island of Salmonetta, which is separated from the Maltese mainland by a narrow channel about a hundred yards wide. Where is your God, he asked. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. This centurion was to develop a deep respect for Paul, so that he would extend considerable liberties to him, take seriously his advice, and make every effort to protect him. Here are some examples of their leadership. Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. He was right in that a great storm had swept down on this ship, and that both the ship and its cargo would be lost. Until now, they had been trying to save the ships cargo, but now some of it555 was thrown overboard, lightening the ship and reducing the stress on the hull. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. Bureaucratic leadership is defined as a form of leadership in which there is a hierarchy of authority that creates rules for management and decision making. The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. It has long been acknowledged as one of the most instructive documents for the knowledge of ancient seamanship. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 474. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. Elijah had both. If Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. Indeed, the fate of the ship was not exactly as Paul had warned, for there was no loss of life.551 He simply spoke as a seasoned traveler, an astute observer, and one who had experienced dangers at sea. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. This proposal pleased the whole group. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. Nobody said it would be easy. Why not get better at it? Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. Joshua had been in the presence of God. in 1971. 16:8, 16-20). The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Examples. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. 559 If the soundings were made at midnight, and if the passengers were at least inside the ship, rather than on deck, only the sailors would have known that land was approaching. Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (Titus 1:9). I do not think that Pauls words were meant as a typical I told you so so much as they were spoken to motivate his peers to listen to him now. Proud member They were not going to get to Rome until after winter was over anyway, and they could stay right where they were, with no real problems. The most probable account is that they dropped a floating anchor or drift anchor, which was dragged astern at the end of a rope of suitable length so as to offer the maximum resistance every time the ship plunged down from the crest of a wave. Bruce, p. 486. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. At its heart, leadership for the Christian means loving God, walking in God's ways, acknowledging God's blessing, confessing personal limitations and corporate failures, doing justice, seeking peace and asking God for the gift of . I believe leadership must be positive influence . You are the devil's advocate. A crucial decision had to be made at Fair Havens.549 Sailing was not safe in the winter, due to wind conditions and seasonal storms. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. The encouraging news that Paul was about to tell them was that he was both right and wrong when he had warned them not to sail. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy (1 Corinthians 7:13-14). He wanted to spare him, and so he forbade them from killing any of the prisoners.564 All of the prisoners were spared, on account of one personPaul, just as all of the passengers were spared for Pauls sake. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving both direction and hope to all the others on ship. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. I think not. About midnight on the fourteenth day, the sailors determined that land was nearing because the depth of the sea below had diminished from twenty fathoms to fifteen. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. 547 Ramsay is of the opinion that the ship was a government vessel of which the centurion, as senior officer, was properly in charge. They did not know exactly where they were and they could not recognize anything familiar about the land, but they did resolve to run the ship aground in a bay which they could see ahead. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. He left this to God. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. 72-73, p. 480. 564 Would he not have dared to command the soldiers not to kill Paul, but to have allowed the others to be put to death? "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. Their safety was relative, however. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. The great leaders of the Bible, men like Joseph, Moses, David, and Daniel, were men who had an impact because they were men of God, men of great skill and ability, and men who God raised up. Moses is remembered as the liberator, the leader, the law-giver, the prophet, and the intermediary in the covenant between God and the Jewish people. So, says Luke, they lowered the instrument, not being more specific perhaps because he did not know, or did not remember, the technical name for whatever it was that was lowered. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. Is there not a kind of parable here? Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. The dangerous season for sailing began about September 14 and lasted until November 11; after the latter date all navigation on the open sea came to an end until winter was over. Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. The chapter may therefore be outlined in this way: One way or the other, Festus must have found some way to explain Pauls appearance before Caesar. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Now they were ready for the days activities. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. 31 What then shall we say to these things? In Acts 20:35, we see him say to the elders of the church in Ephesus, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more . Moses. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). But there was a problem. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. The seas were closed to sailing until the beginning of February at the earliest; the three months spent in Malta must therefore have corresponded roughly to November, December, and January, so they must have left Fair Havens not much before mid-October. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. The death penalty is certainly one possibility. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. That sounds like leadership to me. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. It was time for another word of encouragement. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? Few managers or politicians understand that. God does not jump through our hoops and thus Paul never presumed that he had Gods power on tap to use when and how he chose. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. As time went on, as Paul was better known, and as the crises on board the ship became more pronounced, Paul stepped forward, giving both direction and hope to all the others on ship. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. Not once or twice the world has had to thank the great saints and mystics for providing timely help in moments of crisis when realistic, practical men of affairs were unable to supply it. Bruce, p. 475. Isnt it true that men do those things which they know to be risky, partly for the love of the risk, and often due to some small gain they wish, prompted by a false sense of assurance, and by the hope for some small gain? The hour is hopeless. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. His leadership was built not so much on ancestry from the Jewish lineage as by faithfulness. The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. Neither Lasea nor Fair Havens is mentioned by any ancient writer, two of the hundred cities of Crete. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 460.
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