With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. Moses. 549 Smith observes that Fair Havens is so well protected by islands, that though not equal to Lutro [Loutron, a port some 40 miles farther west along the coast], it must be a very fair winter harbour; and that considering the suddenness, the frequency, and the violence with which gales of northerly wind spring up, and the certainty that, if such a gale sprang up in the passage from Fair Havens to Lutro, the ship must be driven off to sea, the prudence of the advice given by St. Paul may probably be supported even on nautical grounds. Bruce, pp. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. 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. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. 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. 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. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. 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. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) Here are some examples of their leadership. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. Gods Word gives us those answers. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. But today, we want to focus on a . Here are some examples of their leadership. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. The need is great. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. Their safety was relative, however. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. 11. This is influence and leadership in action. 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). Now they were ready for the days activities. Pauls leadership emerged in a democratic society. We are told that the majority reached the decision to sail on, rather than to winter in Fair Havens. 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. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. 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. Other words for democratic leadership He was going to survive. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . 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. How this decision would be regretted, and soon! Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. 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. 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. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. 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. 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. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. He must live wisely and be just. The most probable account is that they dropped a floating anchor or drift anchor, which was dragged astern at the end of a rope of suitable length so as to offer the maximum resistance every time the ship plunged down from the crest of a wave. Bruce, p. 486. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. 558 The fourteenth night is reckoned from the time they left Fair Havens. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. In all of this God protected Paul. Thus, the safety of the ship, according to Pauls words, required the presence of the crew. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. 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? Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). 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. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. 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). This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. He did get disgusted. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. Bruce writes. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. 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. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. Think of it. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. 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. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. 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. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. 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. 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). The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. At its heart, leadership for the Christian means loving God, walking in God's ways, acknowledging God's blessing, confessing personal limitations and corporate failures, doing justice, seeking peace and asking God for the gift of . 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 the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. 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). This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). I think not. 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 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. He had had enough. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. Examples. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. The hour is hopeless. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. Some are not as visible; all are useful. 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. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. 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. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Your community. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. 4. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. 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 late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. . His leadership was built not so much on ancestry from the Jewish lineage as by faithfulness. As the journey to Rome continues, there are yet to be more signs and wonders accomplished through the hands of Paul (see 28:3-10). It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. 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). 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. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. The broad issue is that of leadership. 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. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . Is there not a kind of parable here? Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. Some things dont change. 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. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. 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. 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. The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? 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). There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. 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. 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. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. 557 This is not to suggest that Paul now emerged because he knew that this was the low-point of his fellow-passengers, but because the night before the angel of God had appeared to him. . His previous warning did not take into account the intervention of God, resulting in the escape of every person on board the ship. Examples of democratic leaders. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. 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. All must abandon ship now. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. They had to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. 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). Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). The meeting's facilitator will be acting democratically if they actively seek out the team's thoughts and opinions and encourage them to voice them. 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. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. In a democracy leaders. This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. Salem Media Group. Time would prove Paul right. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. 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? 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). The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. 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. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. 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. 1 Timothy 3:5. 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. Others decided Paul and the other prisoners should set sail, and so Paul and they were turned over to Julius. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 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. Paul strongly urged them to stay where they were, at Fair Havens. 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. Obedient Daniel. 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. 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 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. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. He portrays Paul in many roles throughout Acts, but here he shows him standing out as the practical man in a critical emergency--keeping his head when all about him are losing theirs. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. 1 Timothy 4:12. Tim Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. 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. Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) - The 34th President of the U.S. Eisenhower was the Supreme Command of NATO before he served two terms as the U.S. President. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 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. And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. The short version is that there was a plot to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai got wind of the plot. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 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. 1. Now, no one had the use of this boat. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. 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. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others.
