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Slide 2 SUSTAINING THE HARVEST FORCE IN A HOSTILE WORLD ENSURING THAT THE FEW AND ENDANGERED HARVEST FORCES ARE NO FURTHER DEPLETED BY THE ORGANIZED OPPOSITION TO THE GOSPEL Slide 3 MANIFESTATIONS OF HOSTILITIES AGAINST THE HARVEST FORCE PLENTIOUS HARVESTS FEW AND ENDANGERED LABOURERS Matthew 9:37 WIDE OPEN DOORS MANY ADVERSARIES [I Corinthians 16:9] ANSWER SENT INTERCEPTION AND DELAY ON THE WAY [Daniel 10:12-14] Slide 4 CONTEXT OF FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION HABITATIONS OF CRUELTY Psalms 74:20 SHEEPS IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES Matthew 10:16 PEOPLE IN THE GRIP OF A STRONGMAN Matthew 12:29 DWELLERS AND MINISTERS WHERE SATAN HAS HIS HEADQUARTERS Revelations 2:13 ORGANIZED SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS AND OPPOSING POWERS Ephesians 6:12 Slide 5 CONTEXT OF FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION ANTAGONISTIC POLITICAL AND DESPOTIC LEADERS AND GOVERNMENTS Psalms 2:1-3 SATANIC INSPIRED OPPOSITION FROM OTHER RELIGION, CULTURES AND TRADITIONS Acts 6:8-10, 54-59; 19:23-34 PEOPLE BLINDED BY THE GOD OF THIS WORLD AND THEIR HEARTS CLOSED TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL II Corinthians 4:3-4 Slide 6 DIMENSIONS OF THE HOSTILITIES LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH SPIRITUAL FORCES AT WORK USING DIFFERENT AVENUES AND AGENTS [e.g. Tobiah & Sanballat, Geshem & Shemaiah Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:3, 7; 11-12; 6:1-2; 9-13] PSYCHOLOGICAL/EMOTIONAL ATTACKS - DECEPTION, INTIMIDATION, CONFUSION, DISCOURAGEMENT PHYSICAL ATTACKS, MATERIAL LIMITATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL FORCES INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL DESTABILIZING FORCES within us, from among us and outside us [Neh. 4:10, 11 &12, 5:2-11] DISTRACTIONS, LOSS OF FOCUS [6:2-14, 17-19] Slide 7 OTHER FORMS OF HOSTILITIES IN THE MISSION FIELDS PHYSICAL AND NATURAL OBSTACLES Harsh conditions, Unconducive environments, Health hazards, Difficult terrains [limited access] GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES Visa denials and restriction of religious activities LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPPLIES/SUPPORT cutting off supply line; using starvation as a weapon of warfare Slide 8 JESUS IS AWARE OF THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT OF MISSIONS AND HAS FOREWARNED US MATTHEW 10:16 JOHN 15:18-22 HENCE HE GAVE US ASSURANCES AND HAS ASKED THE FATHER NOT TO TAKE US AWAY FROM THE WORLD BUT TO KEEP US SAFE AS WE WITNESS FOR HIM IN SUCH HOSTILE CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS. JOHN 16:33, JOHN 17:12-16; 18