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. Here are three people who stand out as servant leadership examples in the Bible. They could not see the sun nor the stars (verse 20) and so they were unable to navigate. 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). Let me suggest a few characteristics of Pauls leadership in this crisis, which may provide fuel for future thought. I would like to have heard that prayer, but Lukes silence here requires us to wait till heaven to find out what was said. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. It was needlessly endangering others that Paul was trying to avoid. (This also required a small boat, which was going to be taken by those abandoning the ship.) Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. What he recognized was the person who had the ability to help bring deliverance to the Jews was Esther. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate them this year. Verse Concepts. An Uncorrupted View of Godly Leadership from Jude, 10 Women in the Bible God Used to Save Lives and Lead Others. You can look at the qualities and simply see how you measure up. Is there not a kind of parable here? 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. These people saw first hand the hope of the gospel in Paul, when all hope was lost. Discouraged by the disapproval of Jesus, yet blessed by the warmth and affection of Jesus. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Allow me to make one last observation here. In a democracy leaders. It did not take long at this time of year for a storm to brew at sea. There was some level of favoritism going on. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. 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. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. Did Paul pray for their meal, as well as his own? The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. [1] It is important to note that he learned leadership principles and faith from his parents (Hebrew 11:23 . 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. It is not surprising, though, that he would take the advice of the ships captain and its pilot as being more expert. The final verses (42-44) tell of the plan of the soldiers to kill the prisoners, of the intervention of the centurion, and the safe arrival on land of all 276 passengers. Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? They may have the power, but they do not have the trust. 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. His sarcasm showed his disdain for those who had forsaken God. 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. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. In the sea of Adria (en toi Hadriai). 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? 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. 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. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The non-swimmers could wait a little longer, perhaps for the ship to further break up, and then clinging to some piece of floating wreckage, paddle their way to shore. 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. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. Paul was overruled. 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. Paul was as secure as any man could be. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. Paul reminded his shipmates that they should have listened to him sooner. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. The gospel sustains men in the greatest storms of life. 1 Peter 5:3. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. However, there is no story of Esther without Mordecai. 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). Great leaders wash their people's feet. The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. 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? We're sorry, an error occurred. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). They were not men who manipulated people or their circumstances in order to further their own power or position. 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. While Paul had not lost hope, as had his shipmates, he must have been afraid. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). The sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. The passengers were not to lose hope, but to keep up their courage. Because of its size and cargo, it required deeper water. 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. 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. 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. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. Paul was not striving to be a leader here, but simply trying to be of help. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. 4. Paul was kept safe, and as a result, all of those with him were saved as well. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. Democratic leadership style fosters high job satisfaction and productivity because followers are involved in decision making. The lives which Paul warned would be lost were those lives which were spared by God, for Pauls sake (see verses 22-24). 11. The chapter may therefore be outlined in this way: One way or the other, Festus must have found some way to explain Pauls appearance before Caesar. 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). I suspect so. And who would not be afraid in such a storm. They just happened to run aground at the place where two seas met.562 It seems that the action of the water created some kind of sandbar or shallows, on which the ship stuck fast. By the end of this time, all hope had been lost, either of the storm abating, or of any rescue. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. Today's nomenclature calls it tough love. Examples have not been reviewed. In spite of Pauls words of encouragement, the passengers had still not eaten. 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. 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. "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. From here on, sailing will not be smooth. All must abandon ship now. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. 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. Imagine this, they would have Paul to thank for their deliverance. Misconceptions about "Real" Leadership vs. Servant Leaders. Take aids, or drugs, for example. 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. Did he do anything? He must live wisely and be just. And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. He has surrounded himself with executives that are experienced and insightful. Jesus: A leader is a servant first. And so Paul was correct, though not speaking at the moment with prophetic inspiration, authority, or inerrancy. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Please see below for details. Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. They eventually connected with Paul and became his partners in the ministry. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. 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. Here is another example of Godly leadership in the Bible that sometimes gets overlooked. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 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. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. He must live a devout and disciplined life. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. 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. Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. 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). No one followed Paul because he was a man of God, or even because they concluded the God was with him. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. Flee to safety today. 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? 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. He only said that their remaining on ship was necessary if these soldiers wanted to survive. {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). 544 We know that Luke was on board ship because of the we references, and because of the great detail that he includes, as an eyewitness of the journey, the storm, and the safe landing of the passengers. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. They were so sure of the wisdom of their decision that they did not even draw up the small boat attached by a rope to the vessels stern (verse 16). Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into 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. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. Julius and the others did not seem to look upon Paul in religious or spiritual terms, but only in terms of practical and proven ability and knowledge. 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. You are the foundation. 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. Paul believed in the power of God and in His infinite control over all things, in heaven and on the earth. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. This may have been the case, and if so the calculations upon which the shipmaster (not owner as AV and RV, according to Ramsay) based his rash advice are less apparent. E. M. Blaiklock, The Acts of the Apostles (Grand Rapids: Wm. If the relative safety of the passengers was in being on board ship, with Paul, our certain safety is in being in Christ. He has weathered the storm of Gods wrath on the sinner. Are You Expecting Too Much of Your Pastor. The centurion found an Alexandrian ship,547 laden with wheat that was headed for Italy. 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. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. Smith suggests that the mainyard is meant; an immense spar, probably as long as the ship, which would require the united efforts of passengers and crews to launch overboard. Bruce p. 486. Elijah had both. They were not in control of the ship. Inclusive Meetings A weekly meeting provides the best illustrations of the democratic ideology. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. The death penalty is certainly one possibility. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. Here are some examples of their leadership. They were now well into the dangerous season; as Luke notes, even the Fast had now gone by. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Most leadership gurus define leadership as 'influence'. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. But Pauls concern here was not for himself, but for others. 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. 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. With great difficulty, the dinghy was hoisted on board, and then supporting cables were used to undergird the bottom of the ship, so that it might not break up under the weight of its cargo and the stresses of the storm. But by the end of this chapter, it is Paul who is active, Paul who is leading, and the others are following him. modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? 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. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Food supplies may have been washed overboard or ruined by moisture. An elder must live a blameless life. Paul's leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. Had people ceased eating, in part perhaps, because they thought they were going to die anyway? Obedient Daniel. 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 would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) 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). 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. 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. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house (1 Corinthians 16:19). The reason this type of leadership was necessary is because they were not just passing out food; they were solving a potentially bigger problem. The stern of the ship began to break up. Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all . Since leadership is important, how does Godly leadership fit into the equation? 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). The Greater Syrtis was still a great distance away, but the wind might continue to blow for many days, and that was the direction in which it was blowing them. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. 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. They boarded this ship and set sail. They complained and whined at every inconvenience (Ex. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. 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. Second, the majority of those who voted on this issue favored going further. If you want to know what type of leader God wants you to be, there is your answer.