examples of democratic leaders in the bible examples of democratic leaders in the bible

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. 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. They were not in control of the ship. The ship did not make it all the way to that beach toward which they were steering it. Nevertheless, they decided to press on to a better harbor. Democratic leaders: Encourage group members to share their ideas: The leader asks for and considers employee input. In spite of this fact, one man, Paul, emerged as the leader. For Pauls sake, all the passengers on board his ship were spared from the storm. The sovereignty of God means that we dare not presume that God will work a miracle for us, at the time and in the way we choose, due to our foolishness, carelessness, or sin. Nearing land in a storm is a very dangerous thing. There are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible as God has always raised up men and women to lead others. Other words for democratic leadership How this decision would be regretted, and soon! The centurion commanded that all should make it to land if they could. There would be no one left who was an experienced sailor, who could help land the crippled ship. 550 As they waited for a change of wind at Fair Havens, it soon became clear that they could not complete the voyage to Italy before the onset of winter. 1 Timothy 4:12. 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. Even running under the shelter of a small island (Clauda, verse 16), they could hardly get the ships dingy on board. In 1925 Nellie Tayloe Ross became the first woman to serve as a governor in the United States when she was inaugurated in Wyoming. 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. In fact, it seems that virtually everyone voted against him when the decision was made. These are questions that we shall seek to answer in our study of Acts chapter 27. Because of one prisoner on board that ship, all the other passengers were spared. There is no thus saith the Lord here, but Pauls words were worth heeding. The approaching land brought a new temptation to the sailors, who better than anyone else knew they were coming upon land.559. 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. They cut loose the anchors, which set the ship free, as wind and waves propelled it toward land. In one of the more popular set of verses in the Bible, here is what Mordecai told Esther. Born a Cypriot and reared a Levite, he linked the Hellenistic world and the Jerusalem church. Godly leadership like this can impact homes, communities, churches, businesses, schools, politics, sports basically every area of life. Pauls leadership was not viewed as spiritual leadership by those on board the ship. In verses 27-29, Luke describes the ships approach to some body of land. Every passenger made it safely to shore. Then the passengers would have a better chance to reach shore. In A.D. 59 it fell on October 5, but in all the neighboring years from 57 to 62 it fell earlier. 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? 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. The grounding of the ship, some distance from shore, and then its breaking up poses another threat, which all survive. Vision Statements of 12 Great Leaders in the Bible 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 did get disgusted. Few managers or politicians understand that. These prisoners were (pardon me for this) twice pardoned.. Pauls leadership emerges on board the ship, on which he was headed toward Rome. 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. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. A centurion of the Augustan cohort by the name of Julius543 was placed in charge of the prisoners. What did Paul do to bring about such a change? 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. 562 St. A late date for the day of atonement is required also by the time notes of the subsequent journey to Italy. The sovereignty of God will then result in the overthrow of His enemies and in the judgment of the wicked. What was required for this situation was Godly leadership. In Acts 20:35, we see him say to the elders of the church in Ephesus, "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more . Now they were ready for the days activities. 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. Accompanying Paul were Luke544 and Aristarchus, who was from Thessalonica.545. 72-73, p. 480. 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. Examples of democratic leaders. It was his responsibility to persuade her to use the position she had to make a difference. God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? This journey began on an Adramyttian ship, which took them as far as Myra, where they boarded an Alexandrian ship, headed for Italy. Several days before, Paul had told the passengers, who had lost all hope, that they would all be saved, although the ship would run aground (verses 21-26). Not once or twice the world has had to thank the great saints and mystics for providing timely help in moments of crisis when realistic, practical men of affairs were unable to supply it. Bruce, p. 475. What is the relationship between spiritual leadership and secular leadership? 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? Some call it a tough mind and a tender heart. Airline pilots must constantly monitor weather conditions, and make decisions as to the route they will take, their altitude, and even their destination. How often, I wonder, are others benefited by the presence of a believer? 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. Los usurpadores de poder suelen ser democrticos si han sido elegidos en elecciones . Whether by divine revelation, intuition, or by learning of their plans from some human source, Paul became aware of their intentions. The God whom Paul served was a God who was (and is) in control. This was a Jewish couple who were deported from Rome. 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. That sounds like leadership to me. Paul need no longer fear, because he knew the outcome of this storm. An elder must live a blameless life. I am not certain that anyone ever thought of Paul as the leader, but he did lead and they followed. It will, however, come eventually. There is no place safer than the place of obedience to the Word of God. Fourth, a moderate south wind had come up,552 which seemed to promise fair sailing to a better port. 543 The centurion Julius, into whose custody he was delivered, belonged (we are told) to the Augustan Cohort. 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. A true leader has to be brutally honest with all those he comes in contact with. 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. There was some level of favoritism going on. What was it about Paul that made him a leader among men, even in matters pertaining to sailing and storms? Thankfully if God has called you to leadership, he will take the time to help you grow into it. Paul took bread, and giving thanks to God before all, he began to eat. Their troubles to this point would seem insignificant compared to what was soon to come. 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. After all, a number of the passengers could not even swim (see verses 43-44). Think of it. 545 This seems to be the same Aristarchus mentioned in Acts 19:29; 20:4; Colossians 4:10 and Philemon 24. It was simpler, it seems, to forbid them from killing any of them. He was both blessed and disgraced almost in the same breath. 548 This harbour is named Kalus Limeonas, a small bay two miles east of Cape Matala. They all waited for the morning light. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. If God {is} for us, who {is} against us? 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). When you study closely, you will discover these examples of leadership in the Bible can help you address all of lifes situations. 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. They had little to gain and much to lose. He was generous and that in itself bridges the gaps of selfish and greedy people if God's grace is given the opportunity to be operative. Moses was seen as the patient leader of a people with little faith (Ex. Myra lies due north from Alexandria, and its bay is well calculated to shelter a windbound ship. Bruce quoting J. Smith, Voyage, pp. 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. 2:2). In a storm, control of the ship is limited, and so navigating a narrow entrance to a port would be almost impossible. Paul did not have a formal position as leader, but was rather a functional leader. Salem Media Group. Paul was as secure as any man could be. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. Brooks Faulkner previously served as the senior pastoral ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. Pauls influence was not the result of his political maneuverings, but mens response to his personal competence. 552 A south wind having blown gently, in marked contrast to the violent northwest wind that they had faced so long. Nobody said it would be easy. The soldiers were thus acting to save themselves, as well as the rest on board. Great leaders wash their people's feet. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not send her husband away. Please see below for details. 4 The United States is one. 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. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. As Paul had already informed them, neither the ship nor its cargo would survive, only the passengers. (The term Augustan, i.e., His Imperial Majestys, was a title of honor bestowed on several cohorts of auxiliary troops.) This centurion was to develop a deep respect for Paul, so that he would extend considerable liberties to him, take seriously his advice, and make every effort to protect him. A church leader is a manager of Gods household, so he must live a blameless life. 563 This seems to suggest that the charges against these prisoners were serious. 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. Great leaders focus on serving those who follow them. While there are many examples of Godly leadership in the Bible, there are some you are probably more familiar with than others. Even when John Mark was being severely ostracized by Paul, Barnabas stood by John Mark. Verses 30-32 describe the sailors attempt to abandon ship, which they aborted, due to the action taken by the soldiers, who heeded Pauls words of warning. I would think that Paul would have more reason to be reckless than these seasoned seamen and the centurion, because he was a Christian. Not one soul was lost. 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. in 1971. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. He had God on his side. His God was in control of all things, including the sea. The ship would be lost, but not one of the passengers would perish. But Pauls concern here was not for himself, but for others. We live in a time of great crisis. The soldiers heed Pauls words and cut the ropes to the lifeboat, letting it fall away. Obedient Daniel. Lets examine some of these, because whether you lead one, a few, or many we all have to lead. {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). Did he do anything? Their arrival had not been without difficulty, but things were only to go from bad to worse. 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to {His} purpose. If you are a Christian, the same safety is yours, when you are walking in obedience to His commands, and within His purposes. The Fast is the day of atonement (Yom Kippur), which falls on Tishri 10. Titus would be a good place to start, and there are other scriptures as well. 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. What are we to make of this dramatic change in Pauls standing before his fellow-shipmates? 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. In Matthew 16, Peter was both a "rock" and a "stumbling block." The storms of your life may not have been sent your way to destroy you, but to turn you to Gods salvation. There are also plenty of real-life examples of leadership in action. 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. Paul encouragement the passengers to trust God to do all that He promised. He was courageous as indicated by the spy scenario in Numbers 13:31. Pauls skillfulness and leadership gave the gospel a credibility it would not have otherwise have had in the eyes of these people. The danger in which they found themselves was unnecessary. Now, no one had the use of this boat. Paul: "Believe in something bigger than yourself." "I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). 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). Pauls safety and deliverance was so certain that it was sufficient for others as well. 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 is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. Here are seven whose leadership played a significant role in leading the early church and furthering the gospel. God used the centurion, who had come to deeply respect and admire Paul, to spare him, along with the rest. Another example of a servant leader in the Bible is Stephen, who was known for his selfless love and care for others. This created a serious problem. It has become an untenable situation, a burden no man can bear. 1 Peter 5:3. 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. All 276 passengers were saved. 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. Allow me to make one last observation here. It would seem that they had fasted nearly two weeksthroughout the entire time the storm was raging. By the way, Paul may not have been frightened so much for himself as for the others. 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. When Daniel was living in captivity in Babylon, he was obedient to the point of losing his life if necessary. At the beginning of the chapter, Paul is the object, the one who is acted upon. When he spoke, there was no vote taken. If the sailors didnt believe Paul, the soldiers did. The storm threatens not only the life of Paul, but also the lives of all on board his ship. He doesn't mince words when he calls them "a brood of vipers.". And He has come forth from death and the grave, to give us new life. Paul assured them that not a hair from their head would perish (verse 34). 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. Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He refused to bow to the king and ended up in the lion's den. The point was, before you can lead others you have to learn how to lead yourself. He had the courage to speak to the evils of his 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. Whether you realize it or not, we are all called to lead. *Indicated Required Field See ourPrivacy Policy. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company [photolithoprinted], 1966), p. 191, quoting Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen, p. 319. 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? 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. I suspect so. His church was a murmuring people. He would build the walls on faith. Here are some examples of their leadership. Jesus (Luke 5:16) Of course, one cannot talk about godly leadership without pointing to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. About midnight on the fourteenth day, the sailors determined that land was nearing because the depth of the sea below had diminished from twenty fathoms to fifteen. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even . It was Paul who showed caution, warning those in charge of the dangers ahead. Is there not a kind of parable here? modern political leaders are good examples (Tony Blair, Geogrge Bush, Sarcosie, JFK, David cameron) What is a sentence with the words democracy and democratic? 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39). One of the most outstanding examples of leadership in the Bible is the example of Moses. As the song goes, More secure is no one ever, than the loved ones of the Savior. The most memorable aspect of effective leadership of a pastor is when he has survived the polarities of differing opinions and modeled having each side respect the other's. Consider these two things: Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home (Titus 1:8). He was nicknamed "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36). He was going to survive. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. And Joshua did so.". 556 The following day, a more drastic measure was necessary: the spare gear had to go if the ship was to have any chance of surviving. But there was a problem. Except for Paul, they had all reached the conclusion that the situation was hopeless and that they were doomed. A ship can be tossed about in the sea and survive much better than it can survive being dashed upon the rocks. Now, in our text, Paul is again in great danger. All in all, it would be best to wait out the storm at sea. A democratic leader likes people who disagree with them and challenge their views. 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. 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 sovereignty of God is no excuse for careless or reckless living. 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. Thus, he did not expect a miracle, nor did he even ask for one. Lukes remark has point only if it fell rather late in the solar calendar that year. 15:24; 16: 2-3). Here are 12 examples of inspiring leaders in the Bible who teach us what a great leader could and should be as well as how leaders should carry themselves. 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. Now, when they knew where they wanted to go, they again began to rig the ship for sailing, to whatever degree this could be done in such a storm. They made port in Sidon, a city about 70 miles north of Caesarea. Democratic style on the other hand refers to leadership style in which leaders are the final decision makers with the input of followers. It opens to the East and Southeast, but is not fit to winter in. 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. What the ships crew intended to do was a cowardly thing. Proud member 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? (1) A look at leadership. Here is one passage that talks about the qualifications of a leader. Priscilla and Aquila are an example of Godly leadership that was displayed or exhibited in a married couple. The first 8 verses of the chapter take Paul from Caesarea to a harbor named Fair Havens, not far from the city of Lasea. But Moses brought him to the table of leadership because he was the best person for the job. The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. 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. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. 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. If there was ever a time for Christians to emerge as leaders, it is now. 560 The higher the ship floated in the water, the closer to shore they could get before the ship grounded. Leaders in this category encourage creativity while members are highly engaged. 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. There is nothing wrong with a healthy fear of danger. Simply put, Paul warned those making the decision about whether or not to press on that continuing on was not wise. Here are some examples of their leadership. All rights reserved. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who dont have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 551 Although there almost certainly would have been some loss of life, apart from divine intervention. The need is great. Nevertheless, he did not presume that God would intervene in this instance. They invited Apollos into their home and spent time explaining the truth to him. Three days have already passed, and Luke provides us with the description of some incident for each day. The potential gains were minimal, while the potential loss was great. Petty criticism wears on the leader. The following post is adapted from my personal academic coursework. Paul tells the soldiers that the sailors must remain on board ship, if they themselves are to be saved. The ships crew tried to hug the shore of Crete, until they could reach Phoenix, a harbor not all that distant. 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. It seems that there was no protest from the sailors when the ropes to the lifeboat were cut. 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). Paul was a prisoner, on his way to stand trial before Caesar in Rome. The angel of God told Paul not to be afraid, which would indicate that he was afraid. Apparently Paul discerned that those in charge were predisposed to sailing a little further. Some are not as visible; all are useful. If their safety was assured then let them do what they could to help themselveslet them eat. (2) The Sovereignty of God and Mans Safety. He was obscure in comparison to other great Old Testament heroes, but faithfulness separated him from mediocrity. 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. I would say that is a great example of Godly leadership. 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.