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. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Gods Word gives us those answers. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). His church was a murmuring people. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. It was time for another word of encouragement. of Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. Proud member Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. 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. 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. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. 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." Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. Every passenger made it safely to shore. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. The precise status of Julius is difficult to determine: from the authority which he assumed when once (from Myra onward) he found himself on board a ship of the Alexandrian grain fleet, it might be inferred that he was a frumentarius, an officer charged with supervising the transport of grain (frumentum) to Rome. Bruce p. 477. (1) A look at leadership. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. He turned to the centurion and the soldiers and gave them what were really orders: Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved (verse 31). Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . All rights reserved. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? 4 Motivating Examples of Godly Leadership in the Bible - Crosswalk.com 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. 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. 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. But what are some of these purposes and promises? Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. It may not come quickly. 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. 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? If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. 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. 546 With the westerly winds which prevail in those seas, says James Smith, ships, particularly those of the ancients, unprovided with a compass and ill calculated to work to windward, would naturally stand to the north till they made the land of Asia Minor, which is peculiarly favourable for navigation by such vessels, because the coast is bold and safe, and the elevation of the mountains makes it visible at a great distance; it abounds in harbours, and the sinuosities of its shores and the westerly current would enable them, if the wind was at all off the land, to work to windward, at least as far as Cnidus, where these advantages ceased. 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). Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. 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 . {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). Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. 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. 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 spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. 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. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. Paul strongly urged them to stay where they were, at Fair Havens. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. 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. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. The broad issue is that of leadership. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. Bruce writes. 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. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. 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. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. 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. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. 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. . 2:2). Verse Concepts. 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 was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. 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. 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. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. 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. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. 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. How does Pauls safety relate to you? 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. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. 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. 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). In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. 7 Great Leaders From The Bible | Jack Wellman - Christian Crier They were not going to get to Rome until after winter was over anyway, and they could stay right where they were, with no real problems. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). Is there not a kind of parable here? 11. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. 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. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. (1 Kings 18:27). 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. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. Examples of democratic leaders. 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. Isnt it true that men do those things which they know to be risky, partly for the love of the risk, and often due to some small gain they wish, prompted by a false sense of assurance, and by the hope for some small gain? This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. It is enough to discourage any pastor. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 550 As they waited for a change of wind at Fair Havens, it soon became clear that they could not complete the voyage to Italy before the onset of winter. The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. 3 Servant Leadership Examples in the Bible - Point University 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. 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. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. 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. Please see below for details. 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? "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. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. The name of this leadership style is derived from the word "democracy," which means "run by the people." Democratic leaders welcome and value others' input, rely heavily on team participation, and facilitate discussions that enable multiple members of their group to weigh in on decisions. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. Their actions revealed that they did not believe Pauls words of assurance, that all would be saved, though the ship would be grounded and destroyed. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) Unsaved men do not have the answers. They hoped that daybreak would come so that they could visually navigate the ship, rather than to attempt to make port (or even to ground the ship) in the dark. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. 1 Timothy 3:5. 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. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. 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). This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. Other words for democratic leadership The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? 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. 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. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. His leadership was built not so much on ancestry from the Jewish lineage as by faithfulness. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. The need is great. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. Few managers or politicians understand that. Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. 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. 542 The ship in which they embarked belonged to Adramyttium (modern Edremit), a seaport of Mysia in northwest Asia Minor, opposite the island of Lesbos. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. Related articlesHow and Why Should I Pray for Leaders?An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others, Photo credit: Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. 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. {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). Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. The stern of the ship began to break up. 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 otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9). It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. 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. 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. 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. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. 547 Ramsay is of the opinion that the ship was a government vessel of which the centurion, as senior officer, was properly in charge. Moses. What Is Democratic Leadership? - Verywell Mind When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. But today, we want to focus on a . 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. Not once or twice the world has had to thank the great saints and mystics for providing timely help in moments of crisis when realistic, practical men of affairs were unable to supply it. Bruce, p. 475. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. 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. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. They had little to gain and much to lose. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. 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. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible.

Is Michael Gross Still Alive 2021, Waukegan Breaking News Today, Villa Bettoni Wedding Cost, City Of Shively Property Taxes, Hany Mukhtar Sudan National Team, Articles E