What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Think of it. Not the Adriatic Sea as we now call the sea between Italy and the mainland of Illyricum, but all the lower Mediterranean between Italy and Greece. Robertson, p. 469. nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately (Acts 18:26). 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. Some things dont change. 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. Petty criticism wears on the leader. 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? 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. Paul was frequently the instrument through which Gods power was manifested. He was going to survive. The sovereignty of God means that He is not at our disposal, to carry out our whims or wishes, but that we are at His disposal. The stern of the ship began to break up. 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. Allow me to make one last observation here. 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. But once the sailors discerned that land was nearby, staying on board ship became increasingly dangerous. 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. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. He had had enough. 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. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. 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. It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. They took down the sail, which would have been ripped to shreds by the winds, and lashed down the rudders, which would have been broken up as they were smashed against the ship by the waves. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. 4. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. Remember, he struck the rock and disobeyed God, but his patience had worn thin. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. There are portions of Scripture that talk about the qualifications of a leader in the church. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. They were also able to build a church that met in their home. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. The centurion respected and trusted Paul a great deal, as can be seen by his previous dealings with him (see verse 3). With renewed strength, the passengers set about lightening the ship by throwing the remainder of the cargo the cargo of wheat overboard. Pay attention to the type of men they chose to handle this problem. This necessitated sailing close to the coast of Cyprus, which, to some degree, sheltered them from the contrary winds (verse 4). 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). He was not a sailor; in fact he was not even a paying passenger. Whatever God has promised to do, He will do. First, those who were considered the experts favored doing so. Where is your God, he asked. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. 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. 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. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. Other words for democratic leadership For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. When the ship was far out at sea, and no one knowing how far they might be from land, abandoning ship was no temptation. He wanted to spare him, and so he forbade them from killing any of the prisoners.564 All of the prisoners were spared, on account of one personPaul, just as all of the passengers were spared for Pauls sake. He was most likely the envy of other young leaders. 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. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. 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. 1 Timothy 3:5. 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. He sold his land and gave it to the church treasury. True leaders aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. Paul was spared so that he could go to Rome, and there proclaim the gospel. "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. If this was all that Paul said to these soldiers, he did not tell them that these men were attempting to abandon ship. 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. He took Pauls warnings seriously here, too. The ship ran aground on a reef, where it would be broken up by the action of the still raging waves. 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. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). Gods promise was fulfilled, just as Paul had said He would. Remember this applies whether you are leading one or many. For our examples, I want to look at leaders that may be a little more obscure. In every effective leader's life, there is a time for love, but also a time for courage. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. Sweden, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Netherlands are a few others. 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. Few managers or politicians understand that. Furthermore, Paul was an apostle, a man through whom God had worked many signs and wonders. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. 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. 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. And Joshua did so.". Verses 33-41 report Pauls encouragement, in words and deeds, and the grounding and breaking up of the ship. He . "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. The bottom line is that everyone leads in some fashion, be it great or small. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. 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. Your community. 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 accomplishes all this without any formal leadership position or authority. Leaders in the bible had six key characteristics that included commitment, credibility, purpose, gifts, accountability, and self-discipline. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. There will come a time, however, when God will take His own to the full and final safety of heaven. 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. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. They could not handle the ship in the stormy waters. Resilience may be the cornerstone of effective leadership. Sailing past Cilicia and Pamphylia, they landed at Myra in Lycia (verse 5).546 It was here that they had to change ships. 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. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. How Daniels Prophecy of 70 Weeks Connects to the End Times. He was not an "out front" kind of person, but rather stayed in the background as a fan and supporter of Paul. 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. It is enough to discourage any pastor. 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. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:3-6). What did Paul do to bring about such a change? Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. los lderes demcratas (41) dirigentes socialdemcratas (18) lderes democrticos (15) lderes demcratas (13) demcratas (8) If elected in free elections, the usurpers of power are usually democratic leaders. Here is a man whose personal safety was assured, and yet who lived with care and caution. The doctrine of Gods sovereignty is multi-faceted, something which careless and thoughtless Christians often forget or set aside. Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. 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). Pauls faith and his courage were contagious. 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. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. 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. The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. It seems as thought they had left it in the sea, towed along behind, when the storm suddenly came upon them and swamped it. 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? 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 took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. 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. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Gods Word gives us those answers. Salem Media Group. 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). 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. They followed Paul because he knew where he was going and inspired confidence in others to follow him. I see leadership held out to men and women as a prize, rather than as a humbling responsibility. In all of this God protected Paul. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. 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. Verse Concepts. Verses 9-13 describe a crucial decision that was made. Did he do anything? Hence the battle to maintain a westerly course, aided, it appears, by a veering of the wind to the east, as the cyclonic disturbance shifted its centre. Blaiklock p. 190. 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. Democratic leadership is an effective leadership style but can sometimes be too slow when fast decisions are needed. 33 Who will bring a charge against Gods elect? 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath {of God} through Him. When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 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. 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. . He had the courage to speak to the evils of his day. Pauls leadership enhanced the preaching of the gospel. 555 From verse 38 we know that all the cargo was not thrown overboard at this time. After all, the ships captain and the pilot had more experience, and they also had more to lose. This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. If the prisoners were to make it to land, the soldiers would have to release them. 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. Doing so would be certain death, for the larger vessel offered more protection, so long as it held together. . When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. "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. When you are walking in accordance with Gods purposes, whatever obstacles to the accomplishing of His will are encountered, He will overcome. Paul had a fair bit of experience with sea travel. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. This is influence and leadership in action. How does Pauls safety relate to you? A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. 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. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. 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. 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. Your Bible study. 1. 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?

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