The Cheap Knockoff

Introduction

1 Peter 5:8.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

We are all well aware that Satan is working, so...

As Christians, we’ve got to be mindful that Satan is out there and seeking us… and so, Peter tells us to be watchful.

How can we be watchful if we don’t know what to look for?

That’s the point of this lesson. Through this lesson, I want to help us to see one of Satan’s tactics just a little bit better… The cheap knockoff.

Examples From Scripture

Adam and Eve

Genesis 3:1-7.

Genesis 3:1–7 ESV

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

In this context, we see Adam and Eve in the garden with the serpent, and the serpent tempts them to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And how does he do this? what does he say to get them to eat from the tree?

Genesis 3:4-5.

Genesis 3:4–5 ESV

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

It’s because God’s holding you back. You could have wisdom; you could even be like God if you eat from this tree.

So, that’s what Satan is offering them. He’s offering them the ability to be like God.

But the thing is, Adam and Eve were already like God.

Genesis 1:26-27.

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

How are Adam and Eve created? The text says that they are created in God’s image. The idea is that they are already like God because they are created in God’s image, and what does it mean to be created in God’s image?

It means that we rule righteously for God.

So, God is in charge, but we are in charge under him.

This is why David speaks the way that he does in Psalm 8. Psalm 8:1-9.

Psalm 8:1–9 ESV

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Here David says that we have dominion over the earth and all things are put in subjection under our feet.

So, Adam and Eve were already like God. As a matter of fact, they were more like God before the fall, than after the fall. They fell into Satan’s trap… they thought God was holding them back, and Satan was offering them something valuable.

And this is what Satan wanted them to think. He wanted them to think that he was offering something better.

something more convenient… but he wasn’t

Satan was offering them a cheap knockoff of what God had already given them.

Jeroboam

1 Kings 12:25-33. This context takes place soon after Israel divided into two kingdoms. Jeroboam ruled the northern kingdom while Rehoboam ruled the Southern kingdom.

1 Kings 12:25–33 ESV

25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. 32 And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings.

In the context, we see that Jeroboam feared the people going to worship in Jerusalem, so he offers them his own version of Jerusalem.

“You don’t need to go to temple in Jerusalem. I’ll build temples for you here.”

“You don’t need the Levitical priesthood. I’ll make a new priesthood for you here.”

“You don’t need the feast in Judah. I’ll make a feast for you here.”

“You don’t need Jehovah God in Judah. I’ll make a god for you here.”

Jeroboam wanted the people to think that he was offering them something better. He wanted the people to think that he was offering them something more convenient.

Really, he wanted the people to think that evil was good.

In reality, he was just offering them a cheap knockoff of what they already had.

Jesus in the Wilderness

Matthew 4:8-10.

Matthew 4:8–10 ESV

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Here we see that Jesus is being tempted in the wilderness.

So, Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and says, “these could be yours if you worship me.”

If you think about it, this would be very tempting to Jesus. Jesus was destined to be king, but what came first? The cross came first didn’t it. So, in order for Jesus to be king, he had to die.

Well, what was Satan offering? He was offering kingship with no death. It seemed like a pretty good deal compared to what Jesus had to go through.

But what type of kingship was Satan offering Jesus?

It was a limited/temporary/physical kingdom…

What sort of kingship did Jesus achieve through death? He achieved a universal/eternal/spiritual kingdom.

You see, Satan was offering Jesus kingship, but it was a cheap kingship; it was a knockoff of what Jesus already had.

Revelation

Revelation 13. In this context, we see two beasts controlled by Satan, and the text makes it clear that these beasts are cheap knockoffs meant to imitate the lamb.

Revelation 13:1-4.

Revelation 13:1–4 ESV

1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

Here we see the first cheap knockoff, and notice what the text says. Revelation 13:3. The text says that this beast had a mortal wound, but it had been healed. Well, who else had a mortal wound that had been healed?

Jesus… The lamb. Revelation 5:6.

Revelation 5:6 ESV

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Here, we see that the lamb was standing as though it had been slain, but was the lamb dead? No, the lamb was alive. So, it is like the lamb had a mortal wound that had healed.

In my opinion, the language is similar on purpose. The point is that Satan is offering a cheap knockoff of Jesus. It’s like he’s telling the Christians of Revelation, “Serving this beast is just like serving the lamb, but it’s more convenient for you.”

And many people fell into Satan’s trap. Revelation 13:4.

Revelation 13:4 ESV

4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

Revelation 13:11-14.

Revelation 13:11–14 ESV

11 Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

Here we see the second cheap knockoff, and we are told that it has two horns like a lamb.

The point is that this is another cheap knockoff. It’s like Satan is saying, “this beast is just as good as the lamb.” As a matter of fact, Satan wants these Christians to think that serving the beast is the same thing as serving the lamb.

The beast has horns like a lamb, but who does it speak like: a dragon

Satan wants these people to think that this beast is like the lamb, but really it’s a spokesperson for him.

The irony is that the Christians already had Christ. They don’t need a cheap knockoff.

So, what’s the point? The point is: this is something that we see throughout scripture, but we need to be able to see it in our lives as well. 1 Peter 5:8.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

So, let’s use the rest of our time let’s talk about application… Some things that we need to know about Satan’s tactics.

Application

1. Satan wants us to think that what he offers is better/more convenient.

Do you remember how Satan tricked Adam and Eve? He essentially said, “God is holding you back. I can offer you something better, and it will be more convenient.”

Satan does the same thing to us.

Satan will tell us that we aren’t truly living. “look, you guys aren’t truly living. You are all slaves to God’s will, and he’s holding you back.”

Have you ever heard that? “you guys aren’t really living.”

That’s what Satan wants us to think…

He wants us to think that laying up treasures on earth is better.

He wants us to think that hating our enemy is better.

He wants us to think that being powerful, prideful, and wealthy is better.

He wants us to think that God is holding us back from having the good life.

Satan wants us to think that God is holding us back from a happy life, and that he’s offering something better than what God can offer.

Satan wants to offer us Heaven on Earth… There’s no Heaven on Earth. Heaven is for the next life.

Don’t fall for the trap. It’s a cheap knockoff.

…Satan wants us to think that he offers something better...

2. Satan wants us to think that he is offering Christ.

Here’s what I mean: Satan wants us to look at all of the evil that he offers, and he wants us to see something good/something godly.

Think about how Satan tricked some of the Christians in Revelation.

He wanted to fool them into thinking that the two beasts were equal to, or alternatives to, the lamb. He wanted them to think that evil was good.

So, this is how Satan tricked some of the Christians in Revelation.

Think about how Satan tried to trick Jesus in the wilderness.

He would offer something evil, but he would quote scripture.

He wanted Jesus to look at evil but see good.

This is what Satan wants to do to us as well. Satan wants us to see evil as good.

He wants us to dedicate all of our time into work, but he doesn’t want us to see it as a bad thing. He wants us to think that we are “providing for our own.”

He wants us to be prideful, but he doesn’t want us to see it as a bad thing. He wants us to see it as “self-esteem.”

He wants us to be vain, but he doesn’t want us to see it as a bad thing. He wants us to see it as “self-improvement.”

He wants us to be adulterous, but he doesn’t want us to see it as a bad thing. He wants us to see it as “following our heart.”

He wants us to be greedy and gluttonous, but he doesn’t want us to see it as a bad thing. He wants us to see it as “living the American dream.”

Satan wants us to look at the bad and see good. He wants us to do evil and think that we are doing the work of Christ.

...Satan wants us to think that he’s offering Christ...

3. In reality, Satan is only offering us what we already have.

Satan wants us to believe that he can offer us a better life, but we already have life. As a matter of fact, we have the best life waiting for us in eternity.

Satan wants us to believe that he can offer us Christ/good, but we already have that.

Conclusion: We don’t need what Satan offers.

… because he’s offering us the cheap knockoff. He’s offering us Splenda. Do you want Sugar or do you want Splenda?

Do you want living water, or broken cisterns?

Jeremiah 2:13 ESV

13 for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

What Satan offers will not last.

Satan is the loser in this story.

He will be defeated, and the things that he offers us will not last.

What Jesus offers will last because Jesus is the winner of the story. Revelation 17:14.

Revelation 17:14 ESV

14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

So, what do you want? Do you want the real thing or the cheap knockoff? Do you want the Sugar or Splenda?