560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. 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? Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. Their objective was to work with two groups of people from different cultures and make sure one did not feel slighted over the other. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. The prisoners (at least the dangerous or violent ones) may have been in chains. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. 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. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. 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. Your community. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. He . After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. When this happens, there will be no protection for the lost. Where is your God, he asked. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). 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. 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. Fourteen days have passed since they left Fair Havens and the storm first struck the ship.558 The sailors now have little idea as to where they were, or how far they might be from land. It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. He wanted to spare him, and so he forbade them from killing any of the prisoners.564 All of the prisoners were spared, on account of one personPaul, just as all of the passengers were spared for Pauls sake. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? They boarded this ship and set sail. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. 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. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. And Joshua did so.". I have always looked upon the Apostle Paul as a godly man, a zealous servant of Jesus Christ, and a powerful preacher of the gospel. Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. But there was a problem. 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. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. They were not in control of the ship. Thus, the safety of the ship, according to Pauls words, required the presence of the crew. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). 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. The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. 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. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. I read in the paper the other day that when faced with the decision as to whether he should change to an alternate airport or press on to the original destination, the pilot of a commercial airliner left the choice with his passengers. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. 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. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. 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). Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. 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 . 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? He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. 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. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. Joshua had been in the presence of God. 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. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. Paul and a number of other prisoners were put aboard an Adramyttian ship,542 which was setting sail for ports along the coast of Asia. Paul did not seek to sanctify his words by giving them any spiritual flavor. But today, we want to focus on a . Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. 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. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. Their safety was relative, however. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. 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. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. 16:8, 16-20). There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. Obedient Daniel. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. 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." Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . 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. Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. 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. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. The sovereignty of God is the basis for our safety and security, but it is not an excuse for our sloppiness. I do not agree. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. 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. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. Bruce writes. They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. 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. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. (1 Kings 18:27). (1) A look at leadership. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. Tim Cook became CEO of Apple in 2011. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. 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. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. What are some examples of democratic leadership? 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. 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. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". Several factors contributed to the decision to sail on. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. He turned to the centurion and the soldiers and gave them what were really orders: Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved (verse 31). This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. 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. Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. 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? The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. When they set sail from Fair Havens, fifty or sixty miles brought them under the lee of Cauda (v. 16); on the fourteenth night from Cauda they drew near the coast of Malta (v. 27), and the next day (v. 39) they landed on that island, where they spent three months (28:11). What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. 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. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. The hour is hopeless. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. Paul was as secure as any man could be. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. It was time for another word of encouragement. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. 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. This is influence and leadership in action. 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). His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. One church member compliments your Sunday morning message, the next complains about your quoting Carl Jung because he is not a Christian. 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? 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." 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. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). As peoples personalities are different, so are the leadership styles. Because it was a part of Gods sovereign plan, God did purpose to spare Paul and the ships passengers, but in a way that would to some seem only like good luck. The miraculous aspect is seen in Pauls prediction of what happened in complete agreement with all that did happen, even to the minute details. I think not. But we can still have hope, even when we are afraid. Moses. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. They had little to gain and much to lose. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. Far to the south, off the African coast, lay the notorious Syrtes (17), the graveyard of many ships, as underwater archaeology has vividly revealed in recent years. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. 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? If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. 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 . Examples. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . 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. 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. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 1 Timothy 4:12. One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. 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.