1. Does the Lord Ask too Much?
Title Slide: Does the Lord Ask Too Much? (1 Kings 12:26-28)
1 Kings 12:26-28

2. The Text
“And Jeroboam said in his heart, ‘Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah. Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!’“ {1 Kings 12:26-28}
The Text: 1 Kings 12: After the kingdom divided, King Jeroboam was concerned that some of the people who had left with Him would return to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God—and then stay there in Jerusalem. To allay his fear, and make it more convenient for the people to worship, he placed golden calves in Dan and Bethel. He told them “it is too much for you” to make the journey to Jerusalem. Of course, this solution led all of the kings in the northern kingdom to endorse idol worship and eventually led to the kingdom’s destruction!
Question—does God asked of us TOO MUCH?

3. Is It Really Too Much… Keeping His commandments?
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” {1 John 5:3}
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.” {John 14:15}
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” {Matthew 11:28-30}
Is It Really Too Much…
Keeping His Commandments. 1 Jno.5:3—Jno.14:15—Matt.11: Which of His commandments would be harmful to us? Which will not be of personal benefit? To ask the question is to answer it!

4. Is It Really Too Much…
To respond to His invitation and obey the Gospel?
“…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” {Mark 16:15,16}
“…Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” {Acts 2:38}
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” {Acts 22:16}
Is It Really Too Much…
To respond to His invitation and obey the Gospel? Mk.16:15,16; Acts 2:38; 22:16. We also see the eunuch’s conversion in Acts 8: What is hard about erasing the burden of sin’s condemnation and guilt? It’s only hard for those who desire to remain in the bondage of sin!

5. Light Afflictions vs. Blessings…
Temporary difficulties…
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” {Ephesians 1:3-5}
Is It Really Too Much… Light Afflictions vs. Blessings. (Eph.1:3-5)…
Every spiritual blessing we can enjoy is found in Christ—no place else. We are honored and privileged to be adopted into His family—having the opportunity to be children of the King! What special blessings we have!

6. Light Afflictions vs. Blessings…
Temporary difficulties…
“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” {Ephesians 1:6,7}
Is It Really Too Much… Light Afflictions vs. Blessings. (Eph.1:6,7)…Every spiritual blessing we can enjoy is found in Christ—no place else. We are honored and privileged to be adopted into His family—having the opportunity to be children of the King! What special blessings we have! What might we have to pay…

7. Light Afflictions vs. Blessings…
Temporary difficulties…
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” {2 Corinthians 4:16,17}
Is It Really Too Much… Light Afflictions vs. Blessings. (2 Cor.4:16,17)……Every spiritual blessing we can enjoy is found in Christ—no place else. We are honored and privileged to be adopted into His family—having the opportunity to be children of the King! What special blessings we have! We have some discomfort and difficulties while we live here—but with God’s help we can overcome them and prepare ourselves to live with God throughout eternity! We get the better end of the deal!

8. Is It Really Too Much… To worship Him faithfully?
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."{John 4:23,24}
Spirit—involves the heart of the worshipper
Truth—the word of God that authorizes the acts
Is It Really Too Much… To Worship Him Faithfully? (Jno.4:23,24) God established a worship pattern. If we love Him, we will follow the pattern. In order for our worship to be acceptable to God, not only must we worship according to the pattern, we must also have the proper attitude. The next chart gives the acts…

9. Pray— Sing— Preaching— Lord’s Supper— Giving— 1 Corinthians 14:15
Ephesians 5:19
Five Acts of Worship…
Preaching—
1 Timothy 4:1,2
Lord’s Supper—
Acts 20:7
Giving—
1 Corinthians 16:1,2

10. Is It Too Much to Ask Us to Live Godly Lives?
Living godly in the world…
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” {Titus 2:11-14}
Is It Really Too Much… to Ask Us to Live Godly Lives. (Titus 2:11-14) We live in this world, but is it too much for God to expect His people to live differently, according to a different standard?

11. Does the Lord Ask Too Much?
Conclusion: Does the Lord Ask Too Much? Summary—Invitation
It depends on whether you believe the conditions are warranted by what you gain in return.