. 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 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 seas were closed to sailing until the beginning of February at the earliest; the three months spent in Malta must therefore have corresponded roughly to November, December, and January, so they must have left Fair Havens not much before mid-October. He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? Your Bible study. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. 547 Ramsay is of the opinion that the ship was a government vessel of which the centurion, as senior officer, was properly in charge. 36 Just as it is written, For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 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. 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. A democratic leader encourages open conversation and helps their employees set goals, evaluate their own performance and motivates them to grow. But what are some of these purposes and promises? Paul was a leader here because people followed him. If Paul was completely right in his previous warning, then many were about to die. He was not the captain of the ship, nor one of the soldiers. Because of his special blessing, he was appointed as one with judicial powers and responsibilities in Joshua 14:6-15. There are many different styles and forms of leadership. 1 Timothy 4:12. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. 4. That safety is only in Christ. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. Some things dont change. 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. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. 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. For others it extends beyond the walls of your home possibly into your community, your job, or even your ministry. Gods Word gives us those answers. 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." It was time for another word of encouragement. 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. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. You are the foundation. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. The wise leader will work hard at blinding his or her eyes to the pettiness of church members' criticism. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. 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. 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). 482-483. The death penalty is certainly one possibility. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. Scripture offers examples of both. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. 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. He did not claim to have a certain (prophetic) knowledge of what was going to happen. Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. 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. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. Bruce writes. But today, we want to focus on a . 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. 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. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. 12 Most Inspiring Leadership Lessons from Bible Characters - LinkedIn I suspect so. What Does the Bible Say About Democracy? - OpenBible.info The smaller boat, was much more easily handled, and would have been the logical choice when trying to make shore, especially in such circumstances. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. 1 Timothy 3:5. And so they were strengthened, both in spirit and in body. 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. 7 Best Democratic Leadership Examples to Know in 2023 This inside information was, I think, a factor in their plan to abandon ship. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few 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. 1 Peter 5:3. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? 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. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. The hour is hopeless. 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. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. 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? 10 Examples of Democratic Leaders - Examples Lab Salem Media Group. 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. If you want to be a godly leader, I encourage you to focus on the qualities that God identifies as necessary in a leader. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) He was thoroughly subservient to the will of God, and he was committed to a specific, meaningful mission. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. 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. Mordecais words influenced Esther to take an action that she would have otherwise not taken. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. "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. 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. 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. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Flee to safety today. 38. A Biblical Look at Leadership (Acts 27:1-44) | Bible.org If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. Democratic leadership style: How to make it work as a team - BetterUp But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. What Does the Bible Say About Authoritarian? - OpenBible.info Joshua had been in the presence of God. Every passenger made it safely to shore. 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. We live in a time of great crisis. (4) The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility. I see people working for a place a leadership, rather than working to serve others, and letting leadership develop or not on its own. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. Here, Julius, the centurion in charge of Paul and the other prisoners, allowed Paul to go to his friends and be cared for by them (verse 3). 4. 4 The United States is one. 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. 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. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. All rights reserved. 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. Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? 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? You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. It is enough to discourage any pastor. 1. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. Paul did not seek to sanctify his words by giving them any spiritual flavor. 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. Paul encourages all on board to eat, and they do. His military role came at a pivotal time in world history- World War II. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. Handling the ship in this storm was almost impossible, and any attempt would require an expert crew. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. 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).