Apostasy takes time.

Apostasy takes time. • It takes time for the faith of one generation to be rejected by another generation.

Apostasy takes time. • It takes time for the faith of one generation to be rejected by another generation. • Satan works through dishonest ways and will deceive you as to his real intent. His most powerful weapons are found within the fellowship of God’s people.

Apostasy takes time. • Someone may have a family history and a personal history of being a leader among the people of God but in reality is something else. (2 Cor 11:13-15)

Apostasy takes time. • 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Apostasy takes time. • Many parents would have had no idea what thoughts and attitudes were being introduced to their children and relatives in the background. (2 Pt 2:1-2)

Apostasy takes time. • 2 Peter 2:1-2 - But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Apostasy takes time. • A combination of bitterness and pride are commonly found in dishonest leaders.

Apostasy takes time. • A combination of bitterness and pride are commonly found in dishonest leaders. • The reaction of one to the God’s word reveals the kind of heart he has. (Ex 7:1-4)

Apostasy takes time. • Exodus 7:1-4 - So the LORD said to Moses: "See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. 2 "You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall speak to Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land.

Apostasy takes time. • 3 "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. 4 "But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

Apostasy takes time. • Men who are self-willed become bitter over time at sound teachers and those who stand with them.

Apostasy takes time. • Their hardness of heart will often be revealed by looking to share bitterness with others. From Korah to Absalom false leaders can motivate others through inflaming passions over the unfairness of “traditional” brethren. (Num 16:3-7)

Apostasy takes time. • Numbers 16:3-7 - They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" 4 So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face;

Apostasy takes time. • 5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.

Apostasy takes time. • 6 "Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; 7 "put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!"

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • God intervened in a meeting of Ezekiel and the elders of Israel. (Ezk 8:1)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • Ezekiel 8:1 - And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • They looked and dressed like good men. Ezekiel is about to see as God does.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • They looked and dressed like good men. Ezekiel is about to see as God does. • Jesus knew men for who they really were. (Jn 2:23-25)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • John 2:23-25 - Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • Ezekiel comes into the presence of God. (Ezk 8:2-5)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • Ezekiel 8:2-5 - Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire -- from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • 3 He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was,which provokes to jealousy.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain. 5 Then He said to me, "Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north." So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • God wants us to know His nature. Our God is fire and light! (Ezek 16:38; 23:25)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • Ezekiel 16:38 - "And I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • Ezekiel 23:25 - I will set My jealousy against you, And they shall deal furiously with you; They shall remove your nose and your ears, And your remnant shall fall by the sword; They shall take your sons and your daughters, And your remnant shall be devoured by fire.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • No sin is in Him or can abide in His presence. (1 Jn 1:5-6)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • 1 John 1:5-6 - This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • God now allows Ezekiel to bear a burden, he will see these men as God does!

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • God now allows Ezekiel to bear a burden, he will see these men as God does! • God’s people need honest, mature shepherds that trust in God!

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • A shepherd knows the sheep. (John 10:3-5)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • John 10:3-5 - "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.“

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • A leader is concerned for the real welfare of the sheep. What comes first? (Jn 10:11-12)

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • John 10:11-12 - "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

The Leaders of Israel spoke and looked like spiritual men • A leader will lead by principle and not by convenience.

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • Ezekiel was able to see what went on behind closed doors. (Ezk 8:6-12)

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • Ezekiel 8:6-12 - Furthermore He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations."

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • 7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then He said to me, "Son of man, dig into the wall"; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. 9 And He said to me, "Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there."

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • 10 So I went in and saw, and there -- every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up.

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • 12 Then He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • The vision is almost like a science fiction movie where he is able to go through walls and see things that the elders did not others to see.

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • They had separated themselves from the people and likely despised them for their ignorant following of traditions. They were the enlightened ones!

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • These Elders had developed a secret “fellowship.”

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • This room was off limits except to the priests. The Elders used it because the people could not see them.

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • Can you imagine this scene? A room filled with idols, the walls covered with idols, and secret worship to idols by the leaders of God’s people?

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • Can you imagine this scene? A room filled with idols, the walls covered with idols, and secret worship to idols by the leaders of God’s people? • The most incredible statement is made about their thoughts about the nature of God! They did not develop these views overnight.

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • These men had lost the ability to be honest. They had become dishonest politicians only interested in retaining power.

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • These men had lost the ability to be honest. They had become dishonest politicians only interested in retaining power. • Can you imagine how much they hated Jeremiah for his preaching? (Jer 19:1-4, 14-15)

The Leaders of Israel had a different agenda than what they professed • Jeremiah 19:1-4 - Thus says the LORD: "Go and get a potter's earthen flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests. 2 "And go out to the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words that I will tell you,

Apostasy takes time.