(1) A look at leadership. Some are not as visible; all are useful. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. 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. 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. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. 2:2). Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. Everyone speaks their minds in team meetings. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." His church was a murmuring people. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. A theophany had taken place in Joshua 5:15: "The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. 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. Given all these factors, the ship set sail from Fair Havens. 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). By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. Flee to safety today. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. "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. Pastor Appreciation Month and Pastor Appreciation Day are great opportunities every October to show how much you care for your pastor and church leaders. 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. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. The centurion commanded that all should make it to land if they could. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. 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. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. They had little to gain and much to lose. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. 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. 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. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? 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). Now, no one had the use of this boat. 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. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. They were not in control of the ship. 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. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. 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. An elder must live a blameless life. 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? 1. He was going to survive. The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. 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. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. 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). 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. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. 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). The amount of talking by the leader is another clue. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. 1. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). 11. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. 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. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Here are three unique leaders who serve as great examples of democratic leadership: Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln took office understanding his decisions over the next four years would determine the fate of the United States. Scripture offers examples of both. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. 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. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. The broad issue is that of leadership. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? The job or position title does not make you a leader. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 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. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. Since this was not an ideal place to spend the winter, and sailing conditions looked favorable at the moment, they decided to press on to a more accommodating port. 482-483. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. No doubt there were some anxious thoughts racing through the minds of the passengers. 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. 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). Engage group members: The leader involves members and encourages them to involve others. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. {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). If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. 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. Proud member Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning, Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal. Susan Ward. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 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. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. 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. Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. 1 Timothy 4:12. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 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). 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. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. Paul was a leader here because people followed him. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. 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. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). 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. There was some level of favoritism going on. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. 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? 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? Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence.