While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. 1 Timothy 3:5. 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. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. In all of this God protected Paul. 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. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. Indeed, the fate of the ship was not exactly as Paul had warned, for there was no loss of life.551 He simply spoke as a seasoned traveler, an astute observer, and one who had experienced dangers at sea. The need is great. The job or position title does not make you a leader. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. 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. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. The death penalty is certainly one possibility. 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). Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. In the early church there was a problem. His church was a murmuring people. 562 St. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. Nobody said it would be easy. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. You are the devil's advocate. Time would prove Paul right. 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 nothing wrong with a healthy fear of danger. 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. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. 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. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. 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. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. Why not get better at it? You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of 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. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 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. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. Humanly viewed, Paul was constantly in grave danger, but he was never more safe or secure than when he was on his way to Rome. They had to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. Now, when they knew where they wanted to go, they again began to rig the ship for sailing, to whatever degree this could be done in such a storm. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. 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. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. There was some level of favoritism going on. Verse Concepts. 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. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. Gods Word gives us those answers. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. Paul: "Believe in something bigger than yourself." "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. 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. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 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 . 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. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? 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. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. It was time for another word of encouragement. 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. It is enough to discourage any pastor. Clearly the answer is yes. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. 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? God has given each leader specific gifts. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). To Paul, the sovereignty of God was not an excuse to avoid his human obligations or his personal responsibility; it was the motivation for him to live responsibly. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. That safety is only in Christ. Petty criticism wears on the leader. The assassination conspiracy was still the main hope of the Sanhedrin as Paul was imprisoned for two years by Felix, but God kept Paul from Jerusalem. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. 11. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. (1) A look at leadership. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. 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. If Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. They planned to slip away, on the pretext of laying out anchors, but they were going to take the lifeboat (as it were) and leave the people to fend for themselves in the ravaging storm, in a ship drifting ever near the rocks of the approaching shore. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . Some are not as visible; all are useful. 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. The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. 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. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. What grace was made evident in this storm! Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. 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. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. 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 would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. 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. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. 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. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. All one needs is a clean needle or a condom or possibility an abortion and theyre off and running, seeking a little pleasure, at the cost of the loss of their life, and of their soul. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. 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. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. 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. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. Some things dont change. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. 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 . Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. 1. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. 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. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Moses. But there was a problem. . But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. Salem Media Group. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. 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. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. 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. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. He must live a devout and disciplined life. How does Pauls safety relate to you? For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. Scripture offers examples of both. 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. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. The broad issue is that of leadership. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. 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. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. 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. 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). All must abandon ship now. The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 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. 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. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. Joshua had been in the presence of God. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. 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. Your Bible study. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. 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.