"But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss" (Acts 27:21).
What are leaders called to do? Leaders are called to lead. Leaders help to bring others to where God wants them to be.
By divine decree Paul was to go to Rome to testify of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. But God has unusual and unconventional ways to get us to where he wants us to be. Paul was arrested and falsely accused. And while on trial he appeals his case to Ceasar and it was accepted. Therefore the Roman authorities eventually made arrangements to get Paul to Rome to stand trial before Ceasar. Paul, under Roman guard was placed on a ship with the intentions of bringing him to Rome, which unbeknownst to the Roman commander was Paul's divine destination. While sailing they ran into troubled seas, which cause them to have to take port. During this time they realized that they would not be able to reach their destination until after winter. But because the place they where at was not as convenient a place to spend the winter they decided to sail to a nearby port where they would wait out the winter. Before they set sail Paul discern (from the Lord no doubt) and warned them that if they set sail for a more convenient place to spend the winter it would come at a great cost. But the commander and crew took the advise of the Captain of the ship over Paul and set sail. Soon after they set sail they encountered a powerful storm which cast them out into the deep sea and prevented them from reaching the nearby port. While at see in the storm for many days it appeared that any hope that they would survive was gone. It was at this time that Doctor Luke records: "But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss" (Acts 27:21). While everyone on board was scrambling to find ways to keep the ship from being destroyed, Paul was alone with God. While Paul no doubt was seeking the Lord in Prayer, God sent an angel who spoke to Paul and reassured him that not only would he survive the storm but so would everyone else on board the ship. And although the man on board suffered much distress and great loss, everyone did eventually make it to land and Paul did make it to Rome.
I. There are great lessons to glean here about godly leadership (Read Acts 27)
1. Leaders don't based their decisions on which way the wind is blowing. They don't do what they do because that's what the experts are saying or because that's what other successful churches are doing.
2. Godly leaders don't make decisions based on what is most convenient. Instead, while everyone else is scrambling around trying to figure out things on their own, while others are busy doing what the experts are saying, godly leaders get alone with God, pleading, weeping, and seeking to discern His will for their lives and ministries.
3. When godly leaders discern the will of God they do what they are called to do, namely lead.
4. When godly leaders discern God's direction they direct.
5. When godly leaders hear a warning from God they warn and rebuke.
6. When godly leaders receive assurance from God even when all seems lost they give assurance--they inspire hope.
7. Godly leaders are not afraid to share their vision from God even if its not a popular one.
8. When godly leaders are not taken seriously they don't give up. They continue to pray and wait on the Lord. They trust God to work in such a way so as to bring the people they are leading to trust God, catch the vision and submit to their leadership.
9. Even when things seem to be getting worse godly leaders do not quit; instead they keep on praying, they keep on believing and they keep on leading.
10. Godly leaders are passionate about the vision that God has given them and they strive while relying on God with great earnestness to see the vision realized.
11. Godly leaders lead in such a way that when the vision is realized God gets all the glory.
II. Lessons on Followship:(Acts 27; Heb. 13:17).
1. What do followers do? Followers follow godly leaders that they discern are following, depending and living for Jesus and his cause in the world.
2. Followers submit to and pray for godly leaders as the ones who will give account for their leadership.
3. Followers recognized that God's power and protection is only upon those who are submitted to godly authority. Therefore they submit knowing that it is to their spiritual benefit and they do so in a way that brings joy and not grief to their leaders.
