Come to nothing: The gospel of humility. Humiliation is a hard word to accept and is not spoken of often (or least I haven’t heard it). But there is a truth in it. It is not attractive to the world in light of: All work of man will be brought to nothing. We are told of the judgement of works and the truth set before us: are the works of man, which come to nothing? Or are the works of God? Acts 5:38-39 has remained on my mind these past couple of days: "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: [39] But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God."
“If this work be of men, it will come to nought” It is a certainty. All work of man comes to nothing. God said it and His word can not be broken. I consider my life and how I spend it. How every work that is of me, will come to nothing. And the truth in it is sobering, in that, what is important? What should be the continual focus?
James 2:22
[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works(not mine), and by works(HIS) was faith made perfect?
John 3:21
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light(the light that is Christ), that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (Worked in God)
Christ is our light by which we see truth. Notice 'the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,' All man's work of man's planting and the work of man's hands...comes to nothing. So that, GOD is glorified. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation:" fully declaring God's weakness is far stronger than man's greatest power. Humiliation turned to honour. Have you been brought to nothing?
Luke 23:11
[11] And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him , and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
'...set him at nothing...'
Acts 8:32-33
[32] The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: [33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
'In his humiliation' the work of flesh was brought to nothing, and judgement taken away. Dominion transferred from Adam(sin, darkness and death) to Christ(righteousness, light and life).
Acts 5:40-42
[40] And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them , they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Mark 9:12-13
[12] And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. [13] But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
'...and be set at nothing.'
Isaiah 52:3
[3] For thus saith the Lord , Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
'You have sold yourselves for nothing'. All this, man's empire comes to nothing. We work, we strive, we kill, we steal, we lie, we cheat, we condemn, we war, we lust, we build, we tear down, we speak our goodness and strength...but it comes to nothing before the face God. Consider Job: brought to nothing. How Job was revered then mocked(humiliated). "Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."
Acts 4:11
[11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
'...was set at nothing of you builders...'
1 Corinthians 1:28-29
[28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea , and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Corinthians 2:6-7
[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom , which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
All the wisdom of this world, all the princes of this world...come to nothing.
Revelation 18:17-19
[17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, [18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Ephesians 1:19-20
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places ,
Proverbs 15:33
[33] The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
'...before honour is humiliation.'
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
“If this work be of men, it will come to nought” It is a certainty. All work of man comes to nothing. God said it and His word can not be broken. I consider my life and how I spend it. How every work that is of me, will come to nothing. And the truth in it is sobering, in that, what is important? What should be the continual focus?
James 2:22
[22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works(not mine), and by works(HIS) was faith made perfect?
John 3:21
[21] But he that doeth truth cometh to the light(the light that is Christ), that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (Worked in God)
Isaiah 60: 19-22 "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon(the ordinances of God) give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon(the ordinances of God) withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time."
Christ is our light by which we see truth. Notice 'the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,' All man's work of man's planting and the work of man's hands...comes to nothing. So that, GOD is glorified. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation:" fully declaring God's weakness is far stronger than man's greatest power. Humiliation turned to honour. Have you been brought to nothing?
Luke 23:11
[11] And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him , and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
'...set him at nothing...'
Acts 8:32-33
[32] The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: [33] In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
'In his humiliation' the work of flesh was brought to nothing, and judgement taken away. Dominion transferred from Adam(sin, darkness and death) to Christ(righteousness, light and life).
Acts 5:40-42
[40] And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them , they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. [42] And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Mark 9:12-13
[12] And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. [13] But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
'...and be set at nothing.'
Isaiah 52:3
[3] For thus saith the Lord , Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
'You have sold yourselves for nothing'. All this, man's empire comes to nothing. We work, we strive, we kill, we steal, we lie, we cheat, we condemn, we war, we lust, we build, we tear down, we speak our goodness and strength...but it comes to nothing before the face God. Consider Job: brought to nothing. How Job was revered then mocked(humiliated). "Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."
Acts 4:11
[11] This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
'...was set at nothing of you builders...'
1 Corinthians 1:28-29
[28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea , and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Corinthians 2:6-7
[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom , which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
All the wisdom of this world, all the princes of this world...come to nothing.
Revelation 18:17-19
[17] For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, [18] And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Ephesians 1:19-20
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places ,
Proverbs 15:33
[33] The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
'...before honour is humiliation.'
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
