Hostage Situaton

Good evening and Wonderful. As I was growing up there were a lot of things in the news that fascinated me. One of the strangest news story was hearing about a woman named Patty Hearst. Patty Hearst at the time was an heiress to the Hearst family fortune On February 4th 1974 M.s Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her apartment in Berkeley California by a group called the Symbionese Liberation Army. Ms. Hearst became a member of the  of the group that kidnapped her. There are many people of faith whose faith has been kidnapped by the enemy and instead of fighting we join the enemy. We are in a Hostage Situation.

After becoming a member of the SLA Ms. Hearst had plenty of chances to just walk away. She wound up participating in things such as bank robberies. She became as violent as the people who 

were once her kidnappers. Many times those of us who know God and turn away from him commit crimes and at times become more violent than the ones who brought us into the life away from God. Hostage Situation.

In beginning this teaching of a Hostage Situation I go to Psalms 107:7-12. In this passage of scriptures we see where the people of God knew the right way to go but then turned their backs on 

God and he is not there to help. Patty Hearst did not chose to go to the authorities for help when she had a chance. Those who have chosen to live their lives outside the protection of God can ask him for help but most times refused. They are in a Hostage Situation.

In continuing in the Word of God I go John 11:43-44. In these verses Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Even though Lazarus is now alive he is still bound and Jesus gives the command to loose him.

Patty Hearst eventually got caught up in a robbery case when the police arrested the members of SLA. There are some members of the body of Christ that can't seem to loose others from being bound because they are bound with things themselves. Hostage Situation.

In coming to the end of the biblical portion of the teaching of Hostage Situation I go to Acts 8:18-23. In these verses Simon the sorcerer has become part of the people of but was still bound by greed. The

wanting to be part of the SLA eventually got Patty Hearst convicted and sent to prison for 7 years. There are some who choose to use the gifts God gave us to profit in the world. They have become part of the Hostage Situation.

In closing Patty Hearst when from a heiress to a fortune to a convicted felon. Her grandfather Randolph Hearst created the largest newspaper, magazine, newsreel and movie business in the world. Once a hostage she was brainwashed into thinking she was not  hostage anymore but now part of the group. We as a people of God can get brainwashed by the enemy who has kidnapped us and have become part of the his group. The Hearst family paid the initial ransom for Patty Hearst but something went wrong. God sent his only son Jesus to pay the ransom for our sins, but some things are still not right. Before we turn out like Patty Hearst lets come back to God and get others out of their Hostage Situations. I give God all the honor and glory for this teaching.

Frederick Wesley is a technology teacher for Valley Kingdom Ministries International. We ask that God pours back into him what he has poured out in this teaching.