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A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. 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). The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. 1 Timothy 4:12. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. 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. Examples. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. The sovereignty of God means not only that God is able to intervene supernaturally, but that He is also able to work naturally, through human instruments (like the Roman soldiers, and in our story, like the centurion, in Pauls behalf). It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. That sounds like leadership to me. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. Engage group members: The leader involves members and encourages them to involve others. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. 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). Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. Your community. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. Obedient Daniel. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. Their safety was relative, however. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. 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 were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. But today, we want to focus on a . A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. 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. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. The stern of the ship began to break up. A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. And Joshua did so.". 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. 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 . This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. 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 prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. During the night, an angel of God had appeared to Paul, with a sure and certain word about the future, a word that would bring encouragement to all on board ship. 11. Few managers or politicians understand that. He must live wisely and be just. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. . 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. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. 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. 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 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. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 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). I suspect so. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. What are some examples of democratic leadership? Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. Everyone speaks their minds in team meetings. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. While it is great to learn from others, you dont have to try to be like others. 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. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. He had a special place. 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. 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. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Bruce writes. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. He would build the walls on faith. Leadership Styles in 1 & 2 Kings Merida introduced his Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings by touting the relevance of the biblical text to the modern world. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? I do not agree. Why not get better at it? {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). I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. 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. God has given each leader specific gifts. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. 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). He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. 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. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. Did he do anything? Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. But there was a problem. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. Your Bible study. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. 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? Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 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. 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. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. 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. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. You are the devil's advocate. It will, however, come eventually. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. 1. 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). He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Where is your God, he asked. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. Elijah had both. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. 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. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. 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. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. 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. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. 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. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 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). Is there not a kind of parable here? Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 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. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8-10). Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. There was some level of favoritism going on. In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. I think not. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. 15:24; 16: 2-3). Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. Please see below for details. That safety is only in Christ. It was the crew of the ship who lived dangerously, foolishly risking the ship, the cargo, and the lives of all on board, just to get ahead a little. 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. 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). It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. Examples of democratic leaders A few specific examples of leaders who have demonstrated this style of leadership include: Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, demonstrated how much she valued her team members by writing personalized letters to their parents. He . 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. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . 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. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. Others decided Paul and the other prisoners should set sail, and so Paul and they were turned over to Julius. All must abandon ship now. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. This was, I think, to cause the ship to draw less water, and thus to float higher in the water, so that it would not as easily drag bottom.560 The ship would therefore be closer to shore when it struck bottom, making it a shorter swim (or float). Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). They want to use numbers and influence decisions based upon voting power. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. We're sorry, an error occurred. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come.