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. If Paul had been incompetent and impotent in this time of crisis, who would have wanted to hear him tell about faith in Jesus as the Messiah? Now, no one had the use of this boat. 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. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. 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. 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. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. If Paul had been right before, and his words had come to pass, he had even more important words to speak now, not from his own perception or judgment, but from the God whom he served. The 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. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. 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. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. The short version is that there was a plot to destroy the Jews, and Mordecai got wind of the plot. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. I take it that this was a form of democratic rule. Too often, I hear leadership spoken of as a place of status, rather than a place of service. 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. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . These passengers were spared, I suspect, so that they could not only hear the gospel, but experience the hope which the gospel gives, and the power by which the gospel saves unworthy sinners. 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. 482-483. 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. Just so you know, the person they are talking about in Acts 18:26 is Apollos. 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. He left this to God. 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. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. Remember, he struck the rock and disobeyed God, but his patience had worn thin. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. Nobody said it would be easy. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. 553 The storm was now heavy upon the lumbering vessel, as it came roaring out of the north-east. Silent team members are specifically asked their opinions to make sure all perspectives are heard. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. Moses. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. 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). Godly leadership is honest leadership that allows you to lead out of who you are. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. 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. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Verse Concepts. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:12-14). 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 was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. 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. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. This channel is the place between two seas. Here the ship, in Smiths words, would strike a bottom of mud graduating into tenacious clay, into which the fore part would fix itself and be held fast, whilst the stern was exposed to the worst of the waves. After the long battering which the ship had endured for the past two weeks, its exposed part could not take this further punishment, and it quickly disintegrated. Bruce, p. 494. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. If we are not in Christ, who has weathered the storm, then we must endure the storm ourselves, to our eternal destruction. Examples of Democratic Leadership More than half of the countries in the world with populations over 500,000 people use a democratic leadership style. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. Let us consider just a few: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. Is there not a kind of parable here? Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. 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. 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. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. 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. But Pauls concern here was not for himself, but for others. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. Your community. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. It was still late at night, too dark to try to make shore until it was light. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Our world, like that ship of Pauls, was headed for destruction. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. The soldiers who were guarding them were not as concerned about their survival as much as the possibility of an escape. Proud member There was some level of favoritism going on. Your family. But he was wrong about the loss of passengers. Your Bible study. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. Please see below for details. 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). When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. If that doesn't work, he outlasts them. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. . What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. No doubt there were some anxious thoughts racing through the minds of the passengers. 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? Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible 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. Verse Concepts. 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. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. "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. 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. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. 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. 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? As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. He had a special place. 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 . 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. Time would prove Paul right. (3) The Sovereignty of God and the Ultimate Peril of the Lost. 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. Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. Paul was overruled. Moses is remembered as the liberator, the leader, the law-giver, the prophet, and the intermediary in the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. Great leaders wash their people's feet. Think of it. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. Where is your God, he asked. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. 4. Here are some examples of their leadership. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. This harbour would protect them for a time from the winds. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know 1. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. 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. 4 The United States is one. 16:8, 16-20). 4. 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. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. 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). 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. 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. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. Effective leaders have the courage to speak even when it is unpopular to speak because they speak the truth with love. 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.