The otherstwo hundred and seventy-six in allfollowed his example. Paul was overruled. Unsaved men do not have the answers. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. They had to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. You are the devil's advocate. 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. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. What grace was made evident in this storm! 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. When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. (1 Kings 18:27). The stern of the ship began to break up. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. 2:2). Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. An elder must live a blameless life. 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. 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. I suspect so. 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. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. You may be familiar with the story of Esther. 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). Verse Concepts. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. Nobody said it would be easy. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. Since leadership happens inside and outside the church, these examples are good wherever you lead. How does Pauls safety relate to you? For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? 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. 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). Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. 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. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. Here are some examples of their leadership. 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. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. 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. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. The need is great. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). The soldiers were acting, as it were, on Pauls orders. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. But today, we want to focus on a . They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. They also loosened the ropes which lashed down the rudders and hoisted the sail.561 They were on their way toward land. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. 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. Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. With renewed strength, the passengers set about lightening the ship by throwing the remainder of the cargo the cargo of wheat overboard. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. As it was the middle of the night and the storm was still fierce, the sailors put out anchors, to drag along the bottom, to slow down their drifting. Examples of democratic leaders. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of 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. Paul knew that he would reach Rome, but he also strongly sensed that the ship and some of its passengers would not. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. The name of this leadership style is derived from the word "democracy," which means "run by the people." Democratic leaders welcome and value others' input, rely heavily on team participation, and facilitate discussions that enable multiple members of their group to weigh in on decisions. The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. That safety is only in Christ. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. 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. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. It was a coasting vessel, which was to call at various ports of the province of Asia; at one of these Julius knew he would find a ship, preferably a grain ship, bound for Italy. F. F. Bruce, The Book of Acts, Revised Edition (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1988), p. 477. 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). Everyone speaks their minds in team meetings. . This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. It was only some forty miles to Lutro. Robertson, p. 461. 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). The amount of talking by the leader is another clue. 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. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 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. 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. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. 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. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. It was time for another word of encouragement. Tim Cook, for example, hires people who challenge and inspire him. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. 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. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Would any have heeded Paul or the gospel as seriously as they did, had the trip to Rome gone quickly and smoothly? 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. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. 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? Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? 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. Moses. This is influence and leadership in action. 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. 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? Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. The broad issue is that of leadership. Joshua had been in the presence of God. 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. Examples. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? There was some level of favoritism going on. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. {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). These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Paul had a fair bit of experience with sea travel. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. 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). To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. Elijah had both. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. 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. Few managers or politicians understand that. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 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. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. 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. 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? Read Chapter All Versions. They hoped that daybreak would come so that they could visually navigate the ship, rather than to attempt to make port (or even to ground the ship) in the dark. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) 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. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I do not agree. But what are some of these purposes and promises? 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." The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. "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. He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. 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 is nothing wrong with a healthy fear of danger. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. 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). 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. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. And Joshua did so.". Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. They boarded this ship and set sail. 4. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . 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 tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. They took bribes and perverted justice. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. 4 The United States is one. The sovereignty of God is the basis for our safety and security, but it is not an excuse for our sloppiness. The sovereignty of God means that He is not at our disposal, to carry out our whims or wishes, but that we are at His disposal. 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. Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? 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. Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. 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. In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. They all waited for the morning light. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. Paul spoke up, cautioning them about sailing on any further, and warning them that if they pressed on this would result in the loss of lives and property. 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. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. 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. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). The journey was delayed by unfavorable winds. Other words for democratic leadership Some things dont change. 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. He has been beaten by the storm of Gods anger toward sin. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. 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. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. 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. 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. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. Great leaders wash their people's feet. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. That sounds like leadership to me. los lderes demcratas (41) dirigentes socialdemcratas (18) lderes democrticos (15) lderes demcratas (13) demcratas (8) If elected in free elections, the usurpers of power are usually democratic leaders. In the early church there was a problem. Your Bible study. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. 561 Before, adrift in the sea, they made no effort to guide the ship. 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. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. Nevertheless, they decided to press on to a better harbor. They took down the sail, which would have been ripped to shreds by the winds, and lashed down the rudders, which would have been broken up as they were smashed against the ship by the waves. "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. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. When the ship set sail, they began to encounter unfavorable winds. Romans 13:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votesNot Helpful. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. Not one soul was lost. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. 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 was right in that a great storm had swept down on this ship, and that both the ship and its cargo would be lost. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. Bruce writes. 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. Why not get better at it? 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..
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