I think not. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. 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. 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. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. He was going to survive. 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. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. 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. Paul was overruled. 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). They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. 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. The solar date of the day of atonement in A.D. 59 thus accords well with Lukes implication that the Fast took place while they waited at Fair Havens. Bruce, p. 481. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. 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. 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. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. Here are 12 examples of inspiring leaders in the Bible who teach us what a great leader could and should be as well as how leaders should carry themselves. 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. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39). 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for us not to work, but the assurance that our work is not in vain, in the Lord. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. 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. Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). 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? Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. But there was a problem. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. The non-swimmers could wait a little longer, perhaps for the ship to further break up, and then clinging to some piece of floating wreckage, paddle their way to shore. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Every passenger made it safely to shore. {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). This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. There was some level of favoritism going on. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). Verse Concepts. 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? 72-73, p. 480. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. 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. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. 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. 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. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. Examples. What has happened over the course of these events, so that a lowly prisoner, a man at the bottom of the ladder, so far as position and influence are concerned, is now the outstanding leader? In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. He loved God. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. 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. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. . They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 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. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Please see below for details. 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. 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. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 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. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. (1) A look at leadership. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Moses. Not one soul was lost. 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. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. 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. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Gods Word gives us those answers. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. 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 1:6-9). 1 Timothy 3:5. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). 1. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. 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. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. He must live wisely and be just. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. Bruce writes. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. Passing it with considerable difficulty, and apparently not being able to make port there, they finally were able to make port at a place known as Fair Havens,548 which was not far from the city of Lasea, where they could have spent the winter. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. 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). They all waited for the morning light. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Clearly the answer is yes. 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. 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. What grace was made evident in this storm! Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. 4 The United States is one. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. The centurion commanded that all should make it to land if they could. 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. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. Your community. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. This created a serious problem. And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. 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. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. That safety is only in Christ. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. 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. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Proud member The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. But today, we want to focus on a . Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. 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). They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. The hour is hopeless. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. 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 . He did get disgusted. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. Salem Media Group. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. They would hardly wish to be close to shore in the storm anyway, for there was more danger of the ship breaking up on the rocks than of it breaking up in the open sea. Fourteen days have passed since they left Fair Havens and the storm first struck the ship.558 The sailors now have little idea as to where they were, or how far they might be from land. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. . In a democracy leaders. 1 Peter 5:3. (1 Kings 18:27). 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. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. 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. 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. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. 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. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. If Paul had been incompetent and impotent in this time of crisis, who would have wanted to hear him tell about faith in Jesus as the Messiah? Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. 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). 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. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. He left this to God. 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. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. Take aids, or drugs, for example. Why not get better at it? His previous warning did not take into account the intervention of God, resulting in the escape of every person on board the ship. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. Just about every pastor has "struck the rock" at one time or another; but then, like Moses, the same pastor usually has the resilience to see things through. Here are some examples of their leadership. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. 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. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. 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 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). And Joshua did so.". Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Read Chapter All Versions. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. 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.
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