It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. of 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. Pauls caution is rather interesting. 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? He loved God. The centurion commanded that all should make it to land if they could. 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. 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. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. They boarded this ship and set sail. In a democracy leaders. His church was a murmuring people. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. They want to use numbers and influence decisions based upon voting power. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. 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. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. 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. 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. 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). Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. 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. . (1) A look at leadership. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 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. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. 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). Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. Time would prove Paul right. 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). True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. 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. All must abandon ship now. A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Peter: Leaders recover from failure. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. 1. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. With renewed strength, the passengers set about lightening the ship by throwing the remainder of the cargo the cargo of wheat overboard. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. 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. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. los lderes demcratas (41) dirigentes socialdemcratas (18) lderes democrticos (15) lderes demcratas (13) demcratas (8) If elected in free elections, the usurpers of power are usually democratic leaders. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. 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. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. 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. They all waited for the morning light. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. 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. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. Examples have not been reviewed. 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. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. Other words for democratic leadership Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. He was right in that a great storm had swept down on this ship, and that both the ship and its cargo would be lost. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Susan Ward. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. 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. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. The angry mob, which the Asian Jews had incited in Jerusalem, were trying to kill Paul, but God used Claudius Lysias and his soldiers to save his life. In the early church there was a problem. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. He had a special place. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. 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. Paul had a fair bit of experience with sea travel. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. This created a serious problem. 4. 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. Read Chapter All Versions. I do not agree. You are the devil's advocate. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. The encouraging news that Paul was about to tell them was that he was both right and wrong when he had warned them not to sail. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). 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). 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. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) But it is here, in our text, that I see Paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he is doing. In all of this God protected Paul. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. The amount of talking by the leader is another clue. When the ship is grounded and the passengers must swim for their lives, the soldiers plan to kill Paul, along with the other prisoners, to prevent any from escaping. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? The job or position title does not make you a leader. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. 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. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. 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. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. He was going to survive. Your family. 482-483. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. If they were to have the strength necessary to make it to shore, they would need to start the day with a good meal. I know it sounds more like mother or a TV commercial, but Paul was dealing with a very practical necessity. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. 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. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. Their safety was relative, however. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. He had had enough. 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? Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? 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. 31 What then shall we say to these things? in 1971. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. Everyone speaks their minds in team meetings. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor.