RED ALERT: Gal 1:15 But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased
16 To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone].
There is a sinkhole of TRUTH here. Don't miss this. "I did not confer with flesh and blood (did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone)". Do you see it?
Was Paul hereby shorted grace or power by this obvious isolation? Did the SPIRIT reveal to him, the DANGER of conferring with others about the revelation given to us personally about HIS will for us in our personal walk with HIM? Indeed, HE did. And it is WISDOM that we all should TAKE NOTE OF. Why? Because FACEBOOK and other social media is loaded with this very thing, CONFERRING WITH OTHERS, saints and sinners alike.
"Chosen and set apart" (vs 15). HE who chose HIM infilled HIM with light, TRUTH and direction. How can anyone possibly improve on that? Paul was not acting "on his own". Oh no. He was led by the HOLY SPIRIT, and saw fit to ONLY confer with HIM.
So, isn't it wisdom, that if we are sure we have heard from YEHOVAH , we should not blab it all over the internet? To saint and sinner alike? Huh?
17 Nor did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus.
His calling was not from man but YEHOVAH, and he went away into Arabia, no doubt craving more and more of HE who chose to call him and take up residence within. HALLELUYAH!
18 Then three years later, I did go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and remained with him for fifteen days.
Not to get any religious insights or evangelistic protocols. He knew the old covenant better than Peter. He neither sought nor needed any validation to his calling, as it came from HE which is above all. It is quite likely each shared how wonderful, this infilling of the HOLY SPIRIT at GOD's choosing. It is also quite likely, that Peter shared with him, many intimate details of his 3 year discipleship with the LORD, up close and personal. And Paul likely shared about his own experience before CHRIST, during his DIVINE commission, and beyond.
19 But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord.
His special messenger calling flowed from the same river of light and TRUTH as did the other apostles. He had no need of a teacher. He was equipped with past experiences, his own new birth, and baptism (immersion) into the HOLY SPIRIT, the very SPIRIT YEHOVAH, the very SAME teacher promised us, by the LORD HIMself to lead and guide us, you and I, into all TRUTH.
Notice also, that there is zero evidence that Paul ever built or had others to build a "church building". No shrines. Only the PRESENCE of the LORD within, wherever he went in the highway and biways of Arabia. And the purpose of all of this? Go back to vs 16.....
16 To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles.
Oh beloved, if there has been no REVELATION of HIS SON WITHIN you, what on earth are you doing attempting to proclaim HIM among the gentiles?
Friends, we need to give this much thought. After all, many of us declare boldly that we have "this or that" from the HOLY SPIRIT. Yet we sift the pages of facebook and other media, books, videos, rather than the pages of the Bible, and wonder why there is NO POWER within, power for our own walk, and personal ministry of love to others.
And finally, we listen to the counsel of others, and respond to it, rather than the counsel that only comes from standing in the presence of HAYAH, (I AM), and receiving HIS direction, leading, and guiding, for HIS PERFECT WILL for us, rather than the personal opinions of those who have never had a Damascus Road experience.
Does this edify you? Or is it something you'd rather not think about?
20 Now [note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth], I write this as if I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie.