Whose Disciple Are You?

The other day I Googled, "Who discipled the Apostle Paul?" and came up from this quote by Charles Stanely.  It sounded really good until I clicked on the link that said, "About Charles Stanley".  I was saddened.  Here is what I read:

"After Paul’s conversion, he disappeared into the desert for three years, during which time the Holy Spirit instructed him in the ways of God. He emerged, ready to communicate divine truth.

The Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth. These same steps form a road map to discipleship. What happened during Paul’s desert years was only the beginning of a life-long process—God renewed his mind and transformed him into the image of Christ. For the apostle, that change began with connecting his rich biblical knowledge to the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

Paul knew Scripture thoroughly, but the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah made him reconsider the foundation he’d been trusting. Everything he knew about God had to be reevaluated in light of this new information. Paul had a history of wanting to please God, so the Holy Spirit no doubt found him a willing pupil.

The apostle’s spirit had to be shaped according to the Father’s will. And the Lord kept working on him long after Paul left the desert and began his ministry. Every person who reads his letters is a witness to the work of God in a submissive man.

The Lord’s discipleship road map looks similar for every believer. Like Paul, you are the Holy Spirit’s student, and the knowledge you reap from Scripture should be changing your life. Be like the apostle in this way to become a disciple maker by sharing what you learn with others."  by Charles Stanley

About Charles Stanley: "Dr. Charles F. Stanley is the founder and president of In Touch Ministries, whose In Touch radio and television programs have been translated into more than 100 languages. He has also been senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia since 1971.

Dr. Stanley received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond, his bachelor of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his master's and doctor's degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. He has twice been elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention and is a New York Times bestselling author. Charles has written more than 50 books, including In Step with God, Landmines in the Path of the Believer, Living the Extraordinary Life, Finding Peace, Into His Presence, Success God's Way, The Handbook for Christian Living, The Source of My Strength, and How to Listen to God."

My question:  Dear Mr. Stanley why didn't you follow Paul's example? You tell people to dig into the Word and read it for yourself and your list and boast all the people who taught you but I don't see any mention of the Holy Spirit in you great list.

Philippians 3: 4-11

"If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of  knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." 

(I added the underlining)

What is the power of His resurrection?  I think this scripture will shed some light.


Acts 4: 5-12

5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

I don't see this power of Christ's resurrection listed on Charles Stanley's great list either.  Could it be that what Paul, Peter and John were doing was different than what Charles Stanley and many religious leaders are doing now?  Something to think about....

Was Paul a separatist and thought this resurrection power was only for him?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Was Paul's discipleship and confirmation immediate?

It tells about that in Galatians 1:13 through 2:10

¹³ For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; ¹⁴ and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. ¹⁵ But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.) ²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; ²³ but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they were glorifying God because of me. 

Chapter 2, 1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. ² It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. ³ But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. ⁴ But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you. ⁶ But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. ⁷ But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised ⁸ (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), ⁹ and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰ They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do."

I share these things to encourage those who have left the organized religious systems of today, that is called the "Church"  because of it's false teachings and bending of the scriptures for its agendas.  Please be encouraged in Paul's example, for he too had been taught the scriptures with a bent for an agenda by the religious people of the day.  It was a Zionist slant about having the land, having political prominence and power.  This desire to have these things and them bending scripture to fit their agenda was reason for the Jews wanting to have Christ killed.  This is made plain in this scripture:

John 11:47- 48 (after the resurrection of Lazarus)

⁴⁷ Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

It is clear that they did not want to become a humble servant, leave the land and the temple worship and be a light and witness in all the world.  They didn't want to give up their wealth and power.  They wanted a Messiah that would confirm them and not Jesus Christ.  They were upset that He had confirming power of miracles and they did not.  

Religious organizations and leaders have agendas today, to gain material wealth or social prominence or power.  They know the scriptures well but they teach them with a slant to favor their agendas.  They may not think they are denying Christ as the Jews did of that day, but they are because they are not accepting His words.  They are making another Christ or Messiah, as the Jews were of that day.  The American "church" does not have ruling power like the "church" in Europe did long ago, but they do have wealth and careers to gain.  So they ignore many of the hard truths of Christ's teaching about morality and material wealth so that they will please the people and not lose what they have gained in this life.  So the American "church" has become corrupt.  We can see it in the controversy over this last Supreme Court ruling about marriage.  But the leaving of the path of truth and Christ's Words, happened long ago.  If you want to see all the Apostle Paul saw, then you must leave the false churches and follow after Christ.  Embrace all of his words, love people even when it hurts you and causes you to lose stuff.  Care about the Truth of His words, because that is the only true hope for people today to find the work of Christ's resurrection power in their lives.