He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. 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). Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. There was some level of favoritism going on. Paul was as secure as any man could be. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. 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. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. 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. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. "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. 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 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. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. 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. He must live wisely and be just. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. 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. 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. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. 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. On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. Now they were ready for the days activities. 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 . You are the foundation. 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. Where is your God, he asked. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) 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 . He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. Tim Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? Many of the great democratic leaders in history are today cult object and recognition, as an example to follow in the fight for more just, peaceful and orderly societies.. That safety is only in Christ. 4. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. 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. 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. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. Take aids, or drugs, for example. Verse Concepts. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. 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. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. 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. 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. We're sorry, an error occurred. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. An elder must live a blameless life. His previous warning did not take into account the intervention of God, resulting in the escape of every person on board the ship. Allow me to make one last observation here. 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. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. Here is a list of famous examples of democratic leaders: Dwight Eisenhower, The 34th U.S. President Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Larry Page, Co-founder of Google Jack Dorsey, CEO of Twitter Read more about these Famous examples of democratic leadership and feel inspired. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). He's Where the Joy Is by Tara-Leigh Cobble, Black Church Leadership & Family Conference, 10 Gift Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month, Pastor Appreciation Month: 5 Ways to Say Thanks, Why Prayer is Essential in the Life of a Leader. Is this principle of extended deliverance perhaps an explanation of Pauls comments in 1 Corinthians 7, that the unbeliever is sanctified on account of the believer? This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. It may not come quickly. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (Titus 1:6-9). His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. The stern of the ship began to break up. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? 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. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . Pauls leadership emerged in a time of crisis, in an hour of need, when no one else seemed to have any answers.565 Functional leadership (as opposed to formal leadership) emerges in times of need. 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? 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. This is influence and leadership in action. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. Salem Media Group. Pauls caution is rather interesting. 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). 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. 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. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. But in addition to his surviving this storm, God promised to spare all the other passengers on board as well, not for their sakes alone, but for Pauls sake. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. 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). Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. There were no petty thieves on board this ship. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. 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. 554 The wind would tend to blow the ship much more quickly than the current, and so a sea anchor would reduce the force of the wind on the ship by using the sea as a brake. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; 30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. How does Pauls safety relate to you? His church was a murmuring people. 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. This channel is the place between two seas. Here the ship, in Smiths words, would strike a bottom of mud graduating into tenacious clay, into which the fore part would fix itself and be held fast, whilst the stern was exposed to the worst of the waves. After the long battering which the ship had endured for the past two weeks, its exposed part could not take this further punishment, and it quickly disintegrated. Bruce, p. 494. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. 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? The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) 4 The United States is one. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. Pauls Bay is sheltered on the northwest by the island of Salmonetta, which is separated from the Maltese mainland by a narrow channel about a hundred yards wide. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. 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 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. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. 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). He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. 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. 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. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. 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 only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. 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. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. 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. 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Thus, the sailors continually took soundings, measuring the depth below them, so that they could discern, far in advance, their approach to land (which would be indicated by progressively diminishing depths). Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. 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 name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 1. Few managers or politicians understand that. 547 Ramsay is of the opinion that the ship was a government vessel of which the centurion, as senior officer, was properly in charge. 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. How this decision would be regretted, and soon! There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. 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. 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. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 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. What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. About midnight on the fourteenth day, the sailors determined that land was nearing because the depth of the sea below had diminished from twenty fathoms to fifteen. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. 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. What are some examples of democratic leadership? Pastor Appreciation Month and Pastor Appreciation Day are great opportunities every October to show how much you care for your pastor and church leaders. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 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. Everyone speaks their minds in team meetings. Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. 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. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. 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. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon 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. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). The death penalty is certainly one possibility. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. 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. A friend of mine, Jonathan Leath, wrote a book he titled You Only Lead One (YOLO). Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. But there was a problem. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. You are the devil's advocate. 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. Moses. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. If you possess these types of qualifications, would that make you a better leader? They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position.
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