Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. 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. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. How can Paul, a prisoner, emerge as the leader on board a ship, while in the midst of a storm? Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. 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. 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. They want to use numbers and influence decisions based upon voting power. Allow me to make one last observation here. While it is great to learn from others, you dont have to try to be like others. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. Paul was overruled. To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. An elder must live a blameless life. 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. It is enough to discourage any pastor. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). The question was where the ship would make port for the winter. 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. 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. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. On the third day, some of the unnecessary tackle on board the ship was thrown overboard. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Thus, the safety of the ship, according to Pauls words, required the presence of the crew. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. In all of this God protected Paul. Your community. Engage group members: The leader involves members and encourages them to involve others. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. 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. 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. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. 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. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. Passing it with considerable difficulty, and apparently not being able to make port there, they finally were able to make port at a place known as Fair Havens,548 which was not far from the city of Lasea, where they could have spent the winter. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. The death penalty is certainly one possibility. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. How does Pauls safety relate to you? Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! 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. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. Great leaders wash their people's feet. 16:8, 16-20). If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. 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. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 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. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. 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). Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. Look at what was necessary for these men to be qualified to carry out this task. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. Here are some examples of their leadership. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. 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. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. 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). 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. 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. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. 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. 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. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. Gods power and His sovereign control are no pretext for carelessness or recklessness. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. Not one soul was lost. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. 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. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. And Joshua did so.". He did get disgusted. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. The non-swimmers could wait a little longer, perhaps for the ship to further break up, and then clinging to some piece of floating wreckage, paddle their way to shore. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. 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. 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. 546 With the westerly winds which prevail in those seas, says James Smith, ships, particularly those of the ancients, unprovided with a compass and ill calculated to work to windward, would naturally stand to the north till they made the land of Asia Minor, which is peculiarly favourable for navigation by such vessels, because the coast is bold and safe, and the elevation of the mountains makes it visible at a great distance; it abounds in harbours, and the sinuosities of its shores and the westerly current would enable them, if the wind was at all off the land, to work to windward, at least as far as Cnidus, where these advantages ceased. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. Other words for democratic leadership Read Chapter All Versions. Let us, like Paul, have a word from God for such needy times as ours. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. 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? This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. This is influence and leadership in action. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. 564 Would he not have dared to command the soldiers not to kill Paul, but to have allowed the others to be put to death? By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. 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. Their safety was relative, however. They were not in control of the ship. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. 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 God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. 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. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. 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). Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. Clearly the answer is yes. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. 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). 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. So, says Luke, they lowered the instrument, not being more specific perhaps because he did not know, or did not remember, the technical name for whatever it was that was lowered. He had had enough. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. Some are not as visible; all are useful. But what are some of these purposes and promises? He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. He loved God. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. 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 . They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. What can we learn about leadership, which can benefit others, and can promote the gospel? 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). When Esthers words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: Do not think that because you are in the kings house you alone of all the Jews will escape. Now they were ready for the days activities. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. 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). No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Third, the port where they were anchored was not as ideal for wintering as some other ports, which were not that far away. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. 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. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. . Time would prove Paul right. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. 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. The great leaders of the Bible, men like Joseph, Moses, David, and Daniel, were men who had an impact because they were men of God, men of great skill and ability, and men who God raised up. Few managers or politicians understand that. The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. What grace was made evident in this storm! Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . 482-483. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. 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. Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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. "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. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. Joshua had been in the presence of God. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. The Greater Syrtis was still a great distance away, but the wind might continue to blow for many days, and that was the direction in which it was blowing them. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. Examples have not been reviewed. 31 What then shall we say to these things? Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. Here are 12 examples of inspiring leaders in the Bible who teach us what a great leader could and should be as well as how leaders should carry themselves. Pauls caution is rather interesting. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. I do not think that Pauls words were meant as a typical I told you so so much as they were spoken to motivate his peers to listen to him now. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. in 1971. 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. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. Think of it. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. (1 Kings 18:27). Obedient Daniel. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. 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. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Up to this point in time, they had gone a long while without food. They intended to put all the prisoners to death,563 thus eliminating the risk of an escape. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. Neither Lasea nor Fair Havens is mentioned by any ancient writer, two of the hundred cities of Crete. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1930), III, p. 460.
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