The Bible is pretty clear about what Godly leadership looks like. He believed in himself, but he believed in something bigger than himself, namely, "Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Cor. Pauls circumstances certainly do no give him any status, any clout, with anyone on board that ship. Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. Whatever dangers might arise, He will protect His people, in accordance with His purposes and promises. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? 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. It was time for another word of encouragement. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. God has given each leader specific gifts. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. 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. Paul was as secure as any man could be. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. 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. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. When I come to Acts chapter 27, it is like a breath of fresh air to me. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. The amount of talking by the leader is another clue. This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. In Acts 20:35, we see him say to the elders of the church in Ephesus, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more . Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. (5) The storm, and the gospel which leads to salvation. Salem Media Group. Pauls execution was sought by the Sanhedrin, which first tried to execute him legally (like Stephen) and then by assassination, but God used Roman soldiers once again to spare His servant. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. Verses 14-20 describe the sudden onslaught of the storm, the steadily deteriorating conditions, and the complete loss of hope of those on board. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 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). He was going to survive. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. He did get disgusted. Progress was slow, due to wind conditions. Photo Credit: Sparrowstock. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. 1. Why not get better at it? Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." And Joshua did so.". This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. 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. You can learn valuable and unique lessons on leading the church and furthering the gospel from these men of the Bible. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. 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 has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. 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. 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). And also for Pauls sake, all of the prisoners were spared from execution by the soldiers. And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. Looking at leadership honestly means looking at the best and the worst. 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. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. 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. You are the foundation. 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." 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:8-10). He . "Perhaps he's sleeping and will wake up!" They boarded this ship and set sail. 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. If the leader becomes a wimp, he will lose his leadership role. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. 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). In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. They all waited for the morning light. 542 The ship in which they embarked belonged to Adramyttium (modern Edremit), a seaport of Mysia in northwest Asia Minor, opposite the island of Lesbos. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. Here are some examples of their leadership. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. All must abandon ship now. Gods mission for Paul was to go to Rome and there to preach the gospel. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. Pauls leadership emerged in a time of crisis, in an hour of need, when no one else seemed to have any answers.565 Functional leadership (as opposed to formal leadership) emerges in times of need. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Brooks Faulkner on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 at 6:00 AM. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. 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). Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. 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. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. Leadership Styles in 1 & 2 Kings Merida introduced his Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Kings by touting the relevance of the biblical text to the modern world. In a democracy leaders. 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. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. Verse Concepts. I suspect so. When the outcome is known, and the One who determines it is both faithful and sovereign (in control), the danger of harm is removed, along with the need for fear. 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. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. 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. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. 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. Proud member If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. He was most likely the envy of other young leaders. Paul is one of a number of prisoners, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. Bruce writes. This created a serious problem. Not once or twice the world has had to thank the great saints and mystics for providing timely help in moments of crisis when realistic, practical men of affairs were unable to supply it. Bruce, p. 475. 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). It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. 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. But today, we want to focus on a . Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. The decision that faced these sailors is not an uncommon one, even in our day. Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. If you possess these types of qualifications, would that make you a better leader? 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. 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. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). He bridged the gaps between the Greek and Jewish worlds. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. Where is your God, he asked. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. 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. As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. 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. 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. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? But the storm brought men and women face to face with death, and with the truth of the gospel. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. The dangerous season for sailing began about September 14 and lasted until November 11; after the latter date all navigation on the open sea came to an end until winter was over. The centurion did not seem to be concerned with any of the prisoners, except one Paul. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. He left this to God. 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 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. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. 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? 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). "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. 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 name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. Pauls caution is rather interesting. Not one soul was lost. 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. 1 Timothy 4:12. How this decision would be regretted, and soon! He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. Just about every pastor has "struck the rock" at one time or another; but then, like Moses, the same pastor usually has the resilience to see things through. The solar date of the day of atonement in A.D. 59 thus accords well with Lukes implication that the Fast took place while they waited at Fair Havens. Bruce, p. 481. 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). There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. Priscilla and Aquila were hospitable. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. 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? 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). Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. 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. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? They were also able to build a church that met in their home. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. 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. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'.