To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. 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. No doubt there were some anxious thoughts racing through the minds of the passengers. 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. In doing so, he cites Romans 15:4 (NKJV), which states, "whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the . These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? 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. Some Christians are inclined to live their lives sloppily, believing that because God is sovereign He will, on demand, produce a miracle to deliver us from the fruits of our own foolishness. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. There is nothing wrong with a healthy fear of danger. Pauls leadership emerged in a democratic society. We are told that the majority reached the decision to sail on, rather than to winter in Fair Havens. In all of this God protected Paul. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. 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. Thus, the sailors continually took soundings, measuring the depth below them, so that they could discern, far in advance, their approach to land (which would be indicated by progressively diminishing depths). Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. When the outcome is known, and the One who determines it is both faithful and sovereign (in control), the danger of harm is removed, along with the need for fear. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. Gods Word gives us those answers. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. He portrays Paul in many roles throughout Acts, but here he shows him standing out as the practical man in a critical emergency--keeping his head when all about him are losing theirs. They took bribes and perverted justice. If there were but ten righteous in the city of Sodom, God would have spared the city for the sake of those righteous (Genesis 18:22-33). Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. 2:2). The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? What did Paul do to bring about such a change? Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 1. Obedient Daniel. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . in 1971. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. 550 As they waited for a change of wind at Fair Havens, it soon became clear that they could not complete the voyage to Italy before the onset of winter. 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. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. Scripture offers examples of both. The sovereignty of God is the basis for our safety and security, but it is not an excuse for our sloppiness. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. All must abandon ship now. You are the devil's advocate. 4. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. God has given each leader specific gifts. 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). I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. But there was a problem. It was time for another word of encouragement. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. With renewed strength, the passengers set about lightening the ship by throwing the remainder of the cargo the cargo of wheat overboard. Elijah had both. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? Without God's constant guidance in our lives, how can we be confident of what we are teaching, how we are ministering, or why we are even leading? Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. Paul: "Believe in something bigger than yourself." "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 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. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. Others decided Paul and the other prisoners should set sail, and so Paul and they were turned over to Julius. 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. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. The meeting's facilitator will be acting democratically if they actively seek out the team's thoughts and opinions and encourage them to voice them. The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. Allow me to make one last observation here. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? I do not agree. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? Some are not as visible; all are useful. Because it was a part of Gods sovereign plan, God did purpose to spare Paul and the ships passengers, but in a way that would to some seem only like good luck. The miraculous aspect is seen in Pauls prediction of what happened in complete agreement with all that did happen, even to the minute details. Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. Bruce writes. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. Verse Concepts. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. What grace was made evident in this storm! Examples. The name of this leadership style is derived from the word "democracy," which means "run by the people." Democratic leaders welcome and value others' input, rely heavily on team participation, and facilitate discussions that enable multiple members of their group to weigh in on decisions. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. The Greek-speaking Jewish believers complained that their widows were being overlooked in the distribution of food when compared to the widows who were Hebrew-speaking. He was generous and that in itself bridges the gaps of selfish and greedy people if God's grace is given the opportunity to be operative. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. of In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. I think not. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. Nevertheless, they decided to press on to a better harbor. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. There was some level of favoritism going on. Since this was not an ideal place to spend the winter, and sailing conditions looked favorable at the moment, they decided to press on to a more accommodating port. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. They planned to slip away, on the pretext of laying out anchors, but they were going to take the lifeboat (as it were) and leave the people to fend for themselves in the ravaging storm, in a ship drifting ever near the rocks of the approaching shore. Your family. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 565 In particular, much may be learned from Lukes portrayal of Pauls character and behavior in circumstances in which the real man is most likely to be revealed. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. In a democracy leaders. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. All 276 passengers were saved. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. Paul strongly urged them to stay where they were, at Fair Havens. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. Examples have not been reviewed. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. 557 This is not to suggest that Paul now emerged because he knew that this was the low-point of his fellow-passengers, but because the night before the angel of God had appeared to him. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Tim Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. Please see below for details. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. In the early church there was a problem. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. Luke now passes over the details of a number of the days that followed, indicating only that many days passed, and that the storm continued to abuse the ship and to terrify its passengers. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. I do not believe that Lukes central purpose in Acts 27 is to teach us about leadership, but I do think that Pauls leadership is very apparent in our text. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. Hence the battle to maintain a westerly course, aided, it appears, by a veering of the wind to the east, as the cyclonic disturbance shifted its centre. Blaiklock p. 190. Your community. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. God used this two-year delay of Felix and the bungling of Festus to bring Paul to the point where he would appeal to Caesar. Why not get better at it? The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . Here is a list of famous examples of democratic leaders: Dwight Eisenhower, The 34th U.S. President Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Larry Page, Co-founder of Google Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Read more about these Famous examples of democratic leadership and feel inspired. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. 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 . The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fathers family will perish. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. They had little to gain and much to lose. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. 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. 554 The wind would tend to blow the ship much more quickly than the current, and so a sea anchor would reduce the force of the wind on the ship by using the sea as a brake. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. They boarded this ship and set sail. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 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. Examples of delegated authority include parents and their children, masters and their servants, priests serving in the temple, and Christian leaders, as Christ's servants, with the members of a church. 16:8, 16-20). 556 The following day, a more drastic measure was necessary: the spare gear had to go if the ship was to have any chance of surviving. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. I could talk about David, Moses, or Nehemiah, but I want to talk about three lesser-known leaders who make great examples of Godly leadership in the Bible.
