Acts 27 – Brandon Hatmaker “Shipwrecked”
Monday, May 19, 2008
“When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea.” Acts 27:1-2
Seems like the beginning of just another day in the life of Paul. But this was a significant journey. The city of Rome was the center of the world. The Roman roads went out in all directions to all parts of the Empire. When The Acts ends with Paul in Rome preaching the gospel, it’s significance is that now from the center of that world the gospel is beginning to go out in all directions.
This journey came with it’s own trials. William Willimon wrote that, “When we hear of sudden storms on lake or ocean wreaking havoc on recreational sailors, we are reminded that "even today the sea represents a place of peril, of human vulnerability, the place where would-be sailors are at the mercy of the elements". That rings a bell with me personally. I cannot think of a worse way to lose life than to drown. We’ve all felt it at one time or another, being caught up in a wave on a trip to the coast or even a quick moment of feeling trapped under a capsized tube at the lake, the panic is surprisingly overwhelming. You simply feel vulnerable and out of control.
This was the ultimate test. They hadn’t eaten. They had tried over and over to maneuver the ship into the positions of their choosing to no avail. They had thrown everything overboard to lessen the load. And they had finally lost all hope. Even Paul.
Verse 20 expressed their desperation in one quick statement: “we finally gave up all hope of being saved”.
But it was time to take courage. And God revealed a word to Paul. Paul instantly took lead. He encouraged others by telling them that not even a hair on their head would be lost. This was very deliberate reference to Christ’s teaching in Matthew 10 when Jesus said, “And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”. At just the right time, he told them to eat to give them strength. And his wisdom in cutting the ropes on the lifeboats to keep the sailors from abandoning ship saved the rest from a guaranteed watery grave. When land appeared the next morning, the skilled men were still aboard to point the ship closer to land. Allowing them to come to a swim-able distance. Others could get to shore on planks caught up in the surf. Whatever means, verse 44 reminds us that God did exactly what He said he would do and “In this way everyone reached land in safety.”
I wonder how many of them found faith through this experience? Surely Paul’s was strengthened. I’m reminded this morning as I read Acts 27 not only of God’s faithfulness and His plan, but also that He knows when we are at our greatest point of need. Scripture tells us that we will not be tested beyond what we can stand up under. When we cave then, we are selling ourselves, and our faith, short. God is there. He is active. He has a plan. And He is trustworthy.
Father, verse 20 shows us that even Paul lost hope. So we know those moments will be before us. Forgive me when I doubt your presence. I ask you to come quickly in those times. Help each one of us, as we seek to find joy in the journey, trust in your hope and your love as we trust in your plan. Help us to be faithful to be encouragers and to lead with wisdom that we might “Save both ourselves and our listeners”. Amen.
Posts
Poor yet Generous
-
Not long ago I was in line at a downtown Wendy's when a homeless guy cut in
front of me. He literally acted as if he didn't see me. He stepped up to
the co...
Paul's attitude in verses 21-22 really stuck out to me in today's reading.
ReplyDeleteHow many times in work, ministry or our personal lives are we brought to a place where we could say, "I told you so"?
We offer our two cents on a matter, we suggest a course of action that we feel is best, and we're either outvoted or overruled, and then the alternative ends up being a disaster.
Instead of dwelling on the problem, calling everyone out, staying in a bitter and negative place, Paul swallows his pride, reminds everyone once that they wouldn't have been in this situation if they would have stayed put in Crete, and then rallies the troops. He encourages, He picks up. He pours light and hope into a dire situation.
This is a supernatural event. It's human nature to complain and grow bitter and point fingers. But God was bigger than that in the boat that night...and more importantly, Paul let the Spirit in to take over.
Bitterness and pride can destroy families, friendships and churches...and it's especially powerful when you're emboldened by being right - when someone else messes up - when you're the one who could so easily say, "I told you so."
Hebrews 12:15 sums up what Paul put into tangible action at that moment in the boat - and it's wisdom that is worth so much in my daily walk:
"See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
May 19, 2008 “Leadership created in a storm”
ReplyDeleteV 10 – 12 "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.
V 30 – 32 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.
What a difference a storm makes. Paul made a similar statement at the beginning of the journey and at the end. The difference was in how the centurion reacted. At the beginning of the journey, the centurion reacted as if Paul was making a suggestion; at the end, a command. Something occurred during the journey that changed the standing that Paul had with the centurion and the men. Paul gained leadership authority.
I have long believed that there are three types of authority you can have in a situation; positional, expertise and leadership. Positional just means you work for me and I tell you what to do. Expertise means you defer to me because I have more knowledge than you do in a situation. Leadership authority means that you follow me because of the strength of my character and competence. Leadership authority is harder to gain, but more powerful than positional authority or expertise based authority.
For sure Paul did not have positional authority – after all, he was with a centurion. For sure he did not have expertise based authority – after all he was on a ship with experienced sailors. But, he did have leadership authority. How did this happen? Through their confidence in his faith, v25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
People are wired to follow God; the more we clearly live our lives as Christ followers, the more effective we will be in other pursuits. We must be warned, people can spot a phony, you can’t fake it and expect results. However, long term, people will grant you leadership authority, if you consistently model Christ’s leadership on earth.
Paul is the picture of calm. Here everything is going on all around him. The ship is lost. There is no food. They don't know what is going to happen. They have not seen star nor sun for days. And oh that's right, he is a chained prisoner. He is still calm. An angel appeared to him and said after all is said and done, nobody would die. He placed his trust and found his calm in God. How many storms rage around us daily? How many times do we have the calm that Paul did? More often I find myself acting like the guys going to let down anchors from the bow. I am just wanting to get out of the storm. Paul didn't even notice the storm.
ReplyDelete"I have long believed that there are three types of authority you can have in a situation; positional, expertise and leadership. Positional just means you work for me and I tell you what to do. Expertise means you defer to me because I have more knowledge than you do in a situation. Leadership authority means that you follow me because of the strength of my character and competence. Leadership authority is harder to gain, but more powerful than positional authority or expertise based authority."
ReplyDeleteGreat insight Alex. I was recently studying what Paul wrote in romans 12:8 (probably the most used verse in the Bible by those in leaders) that if your "gift... was leadership, we should lead diligently". i've always thought this meant that if we were a naturally gifted leader then (read on)... however, what I realized as I studied it that the word used here for leadership meant "rank" or specifically a position of authority rather than expertise, character, or competence. The Bible says that when we have it we must "govern diligently" which means to govern with eagerness and care.
How we apply this scripture is completely related to how we interpret it. this was speaking of positional leadership, stewarding that influence, not neglecting the position or the opposite abusing it.
As leaders, we must learn the difference. Especially when we use scripture to explain, defend, or try to understand our responsibility and role.
Positional leadership does not assume character, competence, or expertise. in the same way, not being in a position of "key" or high leadership does not mean that that person does not have leadership authority... both have responsibilities, opportunities, and are easy to neglect. i think this is a huge lesson to the V.P.'s, Associate guys, and JR. level exec's out there... I guess the religious/church connection would be to associate Pastors... don't neglect your leadership abilities in character and competence... steward them... work on them... lead with them.