I Reckon

Text:

Romans 8:16-18:

16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

Theme:

I Reckon

 

Introduction:

• Being a southerner who has traveled to many different parts of the country and world, I have encountered many situations that have left me as the object of ridicule because of my southern heritage. Many of these situations have revolved around the way that I talk.  Regardless of how much travel or education a person gets, when they are from the deep south AND from the country like I am, there are some words, expressions, or sounds that will remind any and all around them that they are from the south.
  • Southern “twang” – like in country music
  • The way that syllables, words, or phrases are concatenated the make it easier to say…often times similar to African dialects as with the Gullah or “Geechie”
    • For example, instead of “I am going to go to the store”, one would say “I’m gwine go to the store”
    • In the south an example of this concatenation is seen in phrases like “I gonna”, or “yontoo” (Do you want to?)
  • “y’all” – you all
  • “ain’t” —  is/am not
  • “reckon”
    • Although reckon is a valid word in the English language, it is very commonly used in southern dialect.
    • In southern dialect, it is a synonym for “suppose”, “think” or “guess”
      • “I reckon it’s gonna rain.”
      • “Do you reckon you can fix it?”
• The word “reckon” has similar meanings when we look outside of southern dialect
  • Count, Compute, Estimate, Consider

 

Body:

• God will “reckon”
  • There will be a “Day of Reckoning”
    • 1John 4:17, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”
    • Revelations 6:17, “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
• The Bible gives examples of what it means to “reckon”
  • A basic understanding is given in the scenario found in 1Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions?  if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.  And the people answered him not a word.”
  • Hezekiah remembers his own suffering in sickness in Isaiah 38:13, “I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.”
  • The concept of “counting” is relayed in 2Kings 22:7when it says, “Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.”
  • Luke 22:37 reflects the concept of consideration or judgment when it says, “For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.”
  • Romans 6:11 then gives the liberating redemption of Jesus Christ, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• To “reckon” has direct relevance in our everyday lives also.
  • It is important to “think twice and speak once”
  • Rene Descartes, renown philosopher, coined the phrase, “I think, therefore, I am”
  • In difficult times, my grandmother always said, “I reckon I’ll make it!”
• The Bible commands us to “reckon”
  • God wants us to think with and on Him ONLY:
    • Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
  • Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
  • Jesus said in Matthew 6:28, “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:”

 

Conclusion:

• Shouldn’t we feel the unction to “reckon”?
  • Should we estimate our worth without God?
    • I reckon so
      • Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
  • Should we “count the cost”?
    • I reckon so
      • As Jesus said in Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
      • As Paul said in 1Corinthian 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
  • Should we consider the Salvation that only God can provide through His Son, Jesus the Christ?
    • I reckon so
      • Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
  • Should we think about our past experience?
    • I reckon NOT
      • Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
  • But, should we consider God’s goodness to us?
    • I reckon so
      • When I think of the goodness of God, and ALL that He has done for me, my soul cries out “Hallelujah!”

 

• This is where “I reckon” y’all!!!!
  • I think about how He has blessed me
  • I think about how He has kept me
  • I think about how He saved me
  • I think about how He raised me
  • I think about how He changed me
  • You see, as the text says in verse 18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
    • No matter what Satan says or does, When I think of the goodness of God, and ALL that He has done for me, my soul cries out “Hallelujah!” because I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!
      • I ain’t worried about the bills
      • I ain’t worried about the enemies
      • I ain’t worried about the problems
      • BECAUSE what is in me is greater
        • As it says in 1John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

 

• I reckon everything’s gonna be alright!!!
• As the song says,

I’ve got a feeling everything’s gonna be alright

I’m so glad that trouble don’t last always

 

 

#120