A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. Some are not as visible; all are useful. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. 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). All 276 passengers were saved. His church was a murmuring people. 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. . If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013).South African political leader victim of the racial policies of Apartheid that segregated black and white, in favor of the former. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. 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). This problem would require the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is foundational to Godly leadership. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. To sail on, therefore, was a foolish decision in Pauls opinion, and thus he discouraged it as strongly as he could, but to no avail. 4. There was some level of favoritism going on. 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. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. Democratic Leadership Examples President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was famously democratic in his leadership style, once said that "leadership consists of nothing but taking responsibility for everything that goes wrong and giving your subordinates credit for everything that goes well." 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. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. (1 Kings 18:27). Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. What are some examples of democratic leadership? Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. 565 In particular, much may be learned from Lukes portrayal of Pauls character and behavior in circumstances in which the real man is most likely to be revealed. 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). He left this to God. Great leaders wash their people's feet. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. 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. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. Pastor Appreciation Month and Pastor Appreciation Day are great opportunities every October to show how much you care for your pastor and church leaders. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. You are the devil's advocate. 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. Unsaved men do not have the answers. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. 72-73, p. 480. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. He was generous and that in itself bridges the gaps of selfish and greedy people if God's grace is given the opportunity to be operative. And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. This is influence and leadership in action. Not one soul was lost. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. 1. 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. 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 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. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. Where is your God, he asked. When the ship is grounded and the passengers must swim for their lives, the soldiers plan to kill Paul, along with the other prisoners, to prevent any from escaping. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? Joshua had been in the presence of God. 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. 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. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. 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. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. God has given each leader specific gifts. 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. Remember, he struck the rock and disobeyed God, but his patience had worn thin. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. He had a special place. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. 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). 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. They 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. Some things dont change. As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. 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. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. 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. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. Did he do anything? He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 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. 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. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. The sovereignty of God is the basis for our safety and security, but it is not an excuse for our sloppiness. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. 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. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. He would later, on the island, work signs and wonders. But it is here, in our text, that I see Paul as a very wise man in practical matters, a man who is a leader of men, and whose counsel is taken seriously because he knows what he is doing. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. Flee to safety today. Your Bible study. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. 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. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. 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? As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. 4 The United States is one. 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. 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. 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. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. 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. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. 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). You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. Please see below for details. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 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). Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. 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. He had had enough. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. God does not jump through our hoops and thus Paul never presumed that he had Gods power on tap to use when and how he chose. 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. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. 1. Read Chapter All Versions. 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. Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. 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). He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. 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. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. 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. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. It was time for another word of encouragement. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. Luke now passes over the details of a number of the days that followed, indicating only that many days passed, and that the storm continued to abuse the ship and to terrify its passengers. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. 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 . Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. 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). What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. Take aids, or drugs, for example. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Examples have not been reviewed. In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 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. Your community. A crucial decision had to be made at Fair Havens.549 Sailing was not safe in the winter, due to wind conditions and seasonal storms. 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. There were no petty thieves on board this ship. 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. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. But today, we want to focus on a . Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. They did not know exactly where they were and they could not recognize anything familiar about the land, but they did resolve to run the ship aground in a bay which they could see ahead. 2:2). After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, Verses 14-20: A Sudden Storm and Lost Hope, Verses 21-26: Pauls Night Visitation and Words of Encouragement, Verses 30-32: Sailors Stopped From Abandoning Ship, Verses 33-41: Pauls Encouragement and the Ships Grounding, Verses 42-44: Prisoners and Passengers Spared From Death. 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. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. All rights reserved. Until now, they had been trying to save the ships cargo, but now some of it555 was thrown overboard, lightening the ship and reducing the stress on the hull. I suspect so. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. 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. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. 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). The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. But what are some of these purposes and promises? The short version is that there was a plot to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai got wind of the plot. Examples of democratic leaders A few specific examples of leaders who have demonstrated this style of leadership include: Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, demonstrated how much she valued her team members by writing personalized letters to their parents. Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. Verse Concepts. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. Here are some examples of their leadership. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Why not get better at it? He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. 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. God used this two-year delay of Felix and the bungling of Festus to bring Paul to the point where he would appeal to Caesar.

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