2 Corinthians 4:1-18 KJV
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

What is hidden in earthen vessel but our very soul, even the Gospel of Jesus if we are saved. It is not hidden to not shine, but to be like a lamp light. The light shine from us so others can see Jesus. Thy word have I hid in thy heart so I can not sin against thee(Psalm 119:11). Our fleshly bodies drape our soul. and cover the inner heart where Christ lives in all believers. Most people will never find Christ in another being if they tear there flesh apart. Yet Christ is there as a spiritual being living in the very soul as instructor, friend, comforter, and not least Savior and Lord. As a believer we often cherish the word Jesus is Lord, but do we understand the meaning behind those words. Do we recognize his lordship even under persecution. When we take up our cross and follow Jesus we see often the joy of others, without the knowledge of consequences of sharing Christ with those who will not receive him. Those are the ones that persecute.

The persecutor of faith are the people that are often ugly inward and outward of their earthen vessel. These people are destructive force, but are not without the ability to be destroyed. It better to allow God to break them down when possible, because we were once people without Christ. It is the love of a believer that often testifies to unbeliever about God. Would we want Christ if we did not see his grace in another human life. Not many have burning bush experience, but if we were too, it would motivate for us to follow God. To follow Christ we must have the experience of Holy ground. Knowledge of being in God's presence though we in his presene always, this is the presence and knowledge of his holiness to our imperfection and sinfulness. The conviction comes because of our sin. Human chastising, or conditioning to provoke one to believe they sin, only works on children for a time. A child will learn to sass if they are not guilty or do not feel they wrong another. Yet in reality our sight of sin is not God's sight of our sin. God sees the human heart, and though man can lay a guilt trip on another, it is not God's conviction necessarily. God shows man his/her's unworthiness to be in his presence because of his/her sin, not because of a guilt trip of humanity that say you repent or else, yet God does say repent and turn from one's wicked ways, and he will heal our heart/soul when we receive Christ as Lord. God's presence brings us into the knowledge his authority in our life. His presence in not like human presence. Isaiah recognize he was a man with unclean lips, Paul ask who the light was that blinded him, and the soldiers fell backwards when they went to arrest Jesus at the will of the Father God to have the soldiers to arrest his Son. God power manifest to the people whose soul seeks him in the form of conviction of sin. When a believer is being corrected by the world, they know when it not of God and when God using someone to speak to their heart. Persecution of saints comes when one is not in violation of any law, but still corrected despite being innocent. It is unbelievers looking for lies, deception, sin within the believer life, to find a way to tear the believer apart with often false evidence. Our job is to plant and sow the word of God everywhere we go.

Believer walks by the Spirit of God, because they were reborn by God's Spirit into children of light. We become children of God, with confession that we are a sinner. Paul conviction has he wrote the Corinthian church talks about his own journey of faith, of having to be reminded of the cross of Christ to bear the cross of Christ so others would be saved. There were places Paul went and face persecution, and later people would be saved, because of the victory he had in Jesus of living through persecution.

Jesus did not tell his disciples to die for him after the crucifixion, only to take up one's cross and follow him, before the cross. He told his disciples to teach and to preach to all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our cross with Christ's cross allows us to teach and to preach. To share the good news of Jesus.

The innocent of a child is often seen even young people and even old women. Yet old women have experienced much in life, good and bad. There innocents covered by years of denial of sin, struggle and sorrow, to horrorifying to remember or repeat. Who would believe it after seeing how far they have come in life. Men we know you get into all kinds of trouble whether you speak it or not, your not exempt. God knows the inner man and sees it all. Often the grace to the golden years, and not judging what we often see in children, young adults because of our own mistakes. Without God no one would be convicted of sin.

Faith, love, hope works in our life to purify and to sanctify our hearts to honor and obey God's word has believers. That word so hidden but it comes to life as we learn to obey it. God's Spirit in us workth the word into our life, that we learn to obey God, not by force but by learning to obey, learning God's ways. Faith is grown in our hearts. God see the repented heart, the innerward man of when we mock or do not see our faults. He sees it all. His grace and mercy is sufficient for all our needs.

Dear Heavenly Father convict our hearts of our sin, of what Christ did on the cross for all man's sin. May we receive Christ as Lord, and walk in his teaching and ways, because we believe and receive his grace. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Psalm 119:9-16 KJV
9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

1 Corinthians 3:7 KJV
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.