What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian 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. The centurion commanded that all should make it to land if they could. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. They would hardly wish to be close to shore in the storm anyway, for there was more danger of the ship breaking up on the rocks than of it breaking up in the open sea. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. The image of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 is a striking one. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. Had they heeded his warnings, this would not have happened. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. 1. 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. Nevertheless, they decided to press on to a better harbor. 2:2). They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. With difficulty, they finally arrived off Cnidus, but were then forced by the winds to sail under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone. He had had enough. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. Bureaucratic leadership is defined as a form of leadership in which there is a hierarchy of authority that creates rules for management and decision making. His previous warning did not take into account the intervention of God, resulting in the escape of every person on board the ship. Fourteen days have passed since they left Fair Havens and the storm first struck the ship.558 The sailors now have little idea as to where they were, or how far they might be from land. The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. 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? And were all in it for the same reasonto fuel the churchs mission of making disciples. He spoke prophetically of the fate of the ship and its passengers. Related Topics: Issues in Church Leadership/Ministry, Leadership, Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 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. 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. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". That safety is only in Christ. To sail on, therefore, was a foolish decision in Pauls opinion, and thus he discouraged it as strongly as he could, but to no avail. Looking back on these words would demonstrate that this was indeed prophecy. Beyond this, God is free to act or not to act in any way that He chooses. Flee to safety today. 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. 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). 1 Timothy 3:5. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. 72-73, p. 480. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. I confess, I am distressed at the ways in which Christians are trying to take control of the political and governmental positions of authority. 1 Peter 5:3. 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. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. If you see shortcomings, those are the areas that you can ask God to help you develop. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 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. Moses. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. Few managers or politicians understand that. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. 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. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. 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. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. This was probably due to seasickness, and perhaps to the difficulty of cooking under such circumstances. 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. The need is great. In all of this God protected Paul. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. 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. Take aids, or drugs, for example. The death penalty is certainly one possibility. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. She had entered the election the previous year following the death of her husband, the incumbent governor who was campaigning for a second term. What kind of leadership did Paul exercise, and how did this impact the gospel? 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. 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. I believe leadership must be positive influence . Nelson Mandela (1918-2013).South African political leader victim of the racial policies of Apartheid that segregated black and white, in favor of the former. 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 1:6-9). For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. 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. He . He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. Christianity is not a fair weather religion. Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 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. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. But more than this, God had already assured Paul that he would reach Rome. 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. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. But there was a problem. 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. The hour is hopeless. Thus, the safety of the ship, according to Pauls words, required the presence of the crew. Paul accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. Some things dont change. Your community. 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. What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. Did he do anything? It was too late in the sailing season to travel on to Rome by sea. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. Paul had a fair bit of experience with sea travel. Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. 482-483. Paul had courage in the face of opposition because he had limitless horizons in his mission. 1. Paul thought of himself as nothing in the total scheme of things. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. Scripture offers examples of both. He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. 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. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). Focus on who you are and allow God to develop you into the leader he has called you to be. The stern of the ship began to break up. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. He had already survived one shipwreck, and he knew the dangers of sea travel: Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 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. Clearly the answer is yes. It was drifting wherever the storm carried it. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. 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. Those who could swim should jump first, and make their way to shore. My guess is that he had skills the like of which Moses himself admired, perhaps even envied. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. But what are some of these purposes and promises? Because of their very limited visibility, they might not see the land until it was too late. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. These are examples of democratic leadership: All opinions are brought forward in team meetings. 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. I do not agree. 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. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. 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. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. Please see below for details. Pauls caution is rather interesting. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. 554 The wind would tend to blow the ship much more quickly than the current, and so a sea anchor would reduce the force of the wind on the ship by using the sea as a brake. 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? In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. Think of it. 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. For some, your leadership responsibilities are limited to yourself and your home. They took bribes and perverted justice. The angry mob, which the Asian Jews had incited in Jerusalem, were trying to kill Paul, but God used Claudius Lysias and his soldiers to save his life. Why not get better at it? It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. 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). 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. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. It was, I believe, for the sake of the gospel that Paul and these passengers were saved. 1. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. It is enough to discourage any pastor. 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 . Engage group members: The leader involves members and encourages them to involve others. The God who was to rescue them was Pauls God, the God whom he served, and to whom he would bear testimony before Caesar. They had to move quickly now to get off the ship and to swim to shore. {I have been} on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from {my} countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:25-26). 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. To reinforce his words, Paul now did what he urged each of them to dohe ate. It seems as though the passengers, including Luke and Paul, were needed to help carry out this operation (see verse 19).556. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. Paul was told by the angel not to be afraid, because he was going to stand before Caesar. 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). 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? In so doing, the sailors would not only be abandoning ship, they would be abandoning all the passengers on board ship, leaving them helpless. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. 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. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. 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? 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. As a church staff or volunteer ministry leader, you can learn valuable and unique lessons from several biblical characters. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. "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. They had to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. 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. One more detail about the future was revealed by Paul: the ship must run aground on a certain, but unnamed, island. 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 Bay is sheltered on the northwest by the island of Salmonetta, which is separated from the Maltese mainland by a narrow channel about a hundred yards wide. Such would have been the case in Sodom and Gomorrah. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. A late night visitation by an angel of God and Pauls words of encouragement to his shipmates is reported in verses 21-26. Paul lived dangerously, in one respect, but no one could have been any safer. 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. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. 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. Finally, in the following chapter, there will be the snake bite, from which Paul will be spared as well. It is as certain as the salvation of His own. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. Their safety was contingent on the presence of Paul and the patience of God. Leading others is just too big of a responsibility for us to handle without continual prayer. Bruce writes. Pastor Appreciation Month and Pastor Appreciation Day are great opportunities every October to show how much you care for your pastor and church leaders. The winds seem to have blown the ship away from the island of Crete. They boarded this ship and set sail. Where is your God, he asked. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. Regardless of where you find yourself, you have to lead. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. We're sorry, an error occurred. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. 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. How does Pauls safety relate to you? 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 question was where the ship would make port for the winter. In other words, your leadership style should be authentic to you. But Paul did not presume to have God on tap and thus to be able to perform some miracle any time his wished. 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 broad issue is that of leadership. 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. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. The storm caught the ship in its force, and so they could do nothing but allow the ship to be driven along by it. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. Their actions revealed that they did not believe Pauls words of assurance, that all would be saved, though the ship would be grounded and destroyed. The cultural expectations on pastors are mostly unbiblical, entirely impractical, and generally downright unrealistic. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Time would prove Paul right. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port.