Being Courageous
Notes
Transcript
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Introduction: Review previous lessons
Earning trust
Taking initiative
Using good judgment
Luke described the storm as “no small tempest.”
Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
Northeastern winds during that time of year can be deadly. From the sound of things these men were caught in the middle of hurricane type winds. As we mentioned last week, they couldn’t turn back to Fair Havens, they couldn’t make their way north to Phoenix, and now they had given up all hope that they would be saved.
If we were in this type of situation what would be helpful to remind ourselves about God?
The Lord on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea.
You rule the raging of the sea;
When its waves rise, You still them.
For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.
Even though all looked hopeless, the reality was that God was still in control. From man’s point of view the terror of the situation was increasing dramatically.
“they lightened the ship” (27:18)
Luke writes that they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands (27:19)
It is at this point that Paul speaks up again.
But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
How many of you have ever been temped to say, “I told you so”? That is exactly what Paul did as well. However, he not only reminded them of his earlier warning in order to increase his credibility, but also to cheer the men up.
And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
Where did Paul get his confidence from?
For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
Acts
The cheer that the angel delivered to Paul was ironic to say the least. He was to be delivered from this situation so that he could be delivered over to Caesar. Spurgeon said, “It seems of no more comfort than if the angel had said, ‘You can’t be drowned, for you are to be devoured by lions.’”
This news was comforting to Paul because he saw it as an opportunity to preach the gospel in Rome before the emperor himself. This was the price that Paul was prepared to pay and he even looked forward to paying it.
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Paul was encouraged because he knew he would have the opportunity to preach the gospel in Rome even though it might cost him his life.
A Leader Leads With Authority
A Leader Leads With Authority
Because Paul had received a word from the Lord he could speak with authority.
Can we be people who speak with authority today?
Paul’s confidence was not a self-confidence, and neither is ours. Our confidence to live life and to lead others comes from a confidence in the fact that God has spoken and that God will keep his promises.
Note: The authority we are talking about is not an egotistical authority. Rather it is a humble authority. Egotistical authority comes from one’s confidence in himself and what he thinks. Humble authority comes from realizing that the real answers are outside of one’s self (specifically answers come from God). We can only be confident when we are relying on the truths that God supplies.
What does this mean? In order to be an effective leader, you must know the Word of God. If you know the truth you can then speak it with authority.
Jesus spoke with authority.
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Scribes were accustomed to teaching by quoting rabbinical opinions as their source of authority. Rarely did the scribes teach definitely. Most of the time they would give several possible interpretations of the law but never actually give definitive answers. They were more concerned with the traditions and opinions of man than they were with the authoritative truth of Scripture.
Paul was an effective leader. Not because he had good opinions but because he was confident in God’s authority.
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?
A Leader Strengthens Others
A Leader Strengthens Others
Although the news of survival was ironic for Paul, it was in fact good news for everyone else. Based on the messenger from God, no one would lose their life. Paul’s intention in speaking up was not to rub everyone else’s nose in it, but to strengthen and encourage them.
Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
He then adds another detail that also appears ironic.
However, we must run aground on a certain island.”
Acts
Being a good leader, Paul did not shrink back from telling the whole truth. Although undesirable, this news was better than what they were already expecting. The news from God was also extremely unlikely. It was unlikely that a ship driven by the sea would lose everything except for the people on the ship. However, if it did happen, then it would be clear and irrefutable evidence that God was in control and that He had saved them.
So, even though the circumstances were not the greatest, this was another opportunity to show the power of God to a group of unbelieving men.
A Leader is Optimistic
A Leader is Optimistic
Another thing we can notice about Paul’s effective leadership is that he was optimistic. He focused on the hope rather than the destruction. People will naturally follow a leader who is positive and makes them feel hopeful just as they will naturally feel uneasy about following a leader who is always pessimistic and makes them feel doubtful. You cannot be a good pessimistic leader.
These men had made a reckless and foolish decision in sailing from Fair Havens and it was about to be abundantly clear that they owed their lives to God.