What grace was made evident in this storm! Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. The sovereignty of God means that He is not at our disposal, to carry out our whims or wishes, but that we are at His disposal. Now, no one had the use of this boat. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. Why not get better at it? Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. 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? 72-73, p. 480. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. He did get disgusted. Now, when they knew where they wanted to go, they again began to rig the ship for sailing, to whatever degree this could be done in such a storm. 562 St. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? From here on, sailing will not be smooth. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. 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. Take aids, or drugs, for example. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! Peter: Leaders recover from failure. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. Let us consider just a few: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. If the relative safety of the passengers was in being on board ship, with Paul, our certain safety is in being in Christ. He has weathered the storm of Gods wrath on the sinner. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. They took bribes and perverted justice. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. That safety is only in Christ. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. 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. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. This channel is the place between two seas. Here the ship, in Smiths words, would strike a bottom of mud graduating into tenacious clay, into which the fore part would fix itself and be held fast, whilst the stern was exposed to the worst of the waves. After the long battering which the ship had endured for the past two weeks, its exposed part could not take this further punishment, and it quickly disintegrated. Bruce, p. 494. Time would prove Paul right. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. Here, Julius, the centurion in charge of Paul and the other prisoners, allowed Paul to go to his friends and be cared for by them (verse 3). Every passenger made it safely to shore. It may not come quickly. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. 482-483. Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. Flee to safety today. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. When Esthers words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the Jews will escape. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. Examples. These passengers were spared, I suspect, so that they could not only hear the gospel, but experience the hope which the gospel gives, and the power by which the gospel saves unworthy sinners. Proud member The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Verse Concepts. 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. 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. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. 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. 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. Is this principle of extended deliverance perhaps an explanation of Pauls comments in 1 Corinthians 7, that the unbeliever is sanctified on account of the believer? He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. I suspect so. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. 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. He would build the walls on faith. 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. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. 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. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. 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. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. He had a special place. 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. How this decision would be regretted, and soon! 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). Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Their safety was relative, however. As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. In the early church there was a problem. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. Did he do anything? How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 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? 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. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. 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. . 1. 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. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. 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. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. 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. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. Unsaved men do not have the answers. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. Remember, he struck the rock and disobeyed God, but his patience had worn thin. 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. In a democracy leaders. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. 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. All 276 passengers were saved. The need is great. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. As it was the middle of the night and the storm was still fierce, the sailors put out anchors, to drag along the bottom, to slow down their drifting. 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 late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. Pauls caution is rather interesting. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. Democratic Leadership Examples President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was famously democratic in his leadership style, once said that "leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well." 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. Read Chapter All Versions. The time which had been lost, due to unfavorable winds, made it evident that they would not be able to reach Rome, not without wintering at some port, and finishing the journey in the Spring.550 The only question now was where they would winter, and whether or not they would press on to some more favorable port. With great difficulty, the dinghy was hoisted on board, and then supporting cables were used to undergird the bottom of the ship, so that it might not break up under the weight of its cargo and the stresses of the storm. This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. 4. Your family. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. Fearing that they might drift into shallow and dangerous waters some distance to the south,553 they put out a sea anchor of some kind, perhaps something like a parachute, which filled with water and slowed the ship down.554, The storm continued through the night, and the next day things looked even worse. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. Your Bible study. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . 31 What then shall we say to these things? The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. 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. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. This created a serious problem. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. In all of this God protected Paul. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. 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. And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. The sovereignty of God means that we dare not presume that God will work a miracle for us, at the time and in the way we choose, due to our foolishness, carelessness, or sin. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. 4 The United States is one. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible What did Paul do to bring about such a change? 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. He had already survived one shipwreck, and he knew the dangers of sea travel: Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. If you possess these types of qualifications, would that make you a better leader? That sounds like leadership to me. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Paul did not seek to sanctify his words by giving them any spiritual flavor. {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. Tim Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? We live in a time of great crisis. The safety of the passengers, involved their actions, in eating a good meal, in lightening the ship, and in swimming to shore or in clinging to some wreckage and floating to shore. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. 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. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. Given all these factors, the ship set sail from Fair Havens. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. 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. 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. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. Here are three unique leaders who serve as great examples of democratic leadership: Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln took office understanding his decisions over the next four years would determine the fate of the United States. But what are some of these purposes and promises? Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. It is only when all hope is lost that Paul addresses his fellow shipmates.557 Much time had passed, the storm had not diminished, the ship was being constantly mauled by the storm, and the passengers had gone a long time without food. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. 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. Others decided Paul and the other prisoners should set sail, and so Paul and they were turned over to Julius. But in addition to his surviving this storm, God promised to spare all the other passengers on board as well, not for their sakes alone, but for Pauls sake. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. . They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). How does Pauls safety relate to you? 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. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. He arose, then, for two reasons: (1) his shipmates were in desperate need of encouragement, and (2) he now had a word from God for them. They want to use numbers and influence decisions based upon voting power. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. You are the devil's advocate. 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. Here are some examples of their leadership. It will, however, come eventually. 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. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). Far to the south, off the African coast, lay the notorious Syrtes (17), the graveyard of many ships, as underwater archaeology has vividly revealed in recent years. 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. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. Great leaders wash their people's feet. 4. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. When they set sail from Fair Havens, fifty or sixty miles brought them under the lee of Cauda (v. 16); on the fourteenth night from Cauda they drew near the coast of Malta (v. 27), and the next day (v. 39) they landed on that island, where they spent three months (28:11). It was time for another word of encouragement. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Verses 14-20: A Sudden Storm and Lost Hope, Verses 21-26: Pauls Night Visitation and Words of Encouragement, Verses 30-32: Sailors Stopped From Abandoning Ship, Verses 33-41: Pauls Encouragement and the Ships Grounding, Verses 42-44: Prisoners and Passengers Spared From Death. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. 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. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? He left this to God. in 1971. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. 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. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. Obedient Daniel. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. It is enough to discourage any pastor. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? 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. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. 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. 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). Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. All must abandon ship now. 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). 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. 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. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made.

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