Do you ever watch children in a store? I watch my own and am fascinated by something. If there is a ball anywhere in sight Nicholas will pick it up and bounce it. He doesn't just do this at the store but at home, anytime he walks by a ball, he is compelled to bounce it.
When was the last time you were completely compelled to do something? I mean really compelled, the feeling was so strong you didn't think you just reacted. Maybe to help someone in need. Maybe to sit with someone who was hurting.
You see when we are compelled to do something we act without thinking. In a way it is an indicator of who we truly are. In those split-second opportunities do we act or do we simply walk on by?
But what about Christ? What about your relationship with God and the fact that you know people who don't know Jesus? When was the last time you were compelled to act for Christ?

I'm afraid that we as a society have become too comfortable with the phrase "God bless you" and completely uncomfortable with the phrase, "do you know Jesus? Is Jesus your Savior?"
I think the reason we have is because we don't want to be invasive. We don't want to "intrude" on peoples lives. We live by the mantra, "what I do in the privacy of my own life is up to me"

Ladonna is a great example of this - I have a bad habit of saying - "i'll be praying for you" and then yes I will go and pray for you, but how do you know? Ladonna on the other hand is much more invasive when it comes to prayer. You tell her you have a concern she will make you lay out on the table and you will not leave the room or hang up the phone without her praying over you. I should be more like that. You should be more like that.
As Christians who know and love Jesus Christ we should feel a strong conviction. A conviction so compelling, so intense that we can't help but pour Jesus into the lives of others.

I have to confess something. I am getting tired of our catch phrases. Evangelism is a buzz word, we plan to go out and share Jesus on a quick trip around the neighborhood. Why not live your life so that everyone sees Christ at all times?

You need to be convicted today. In fact, Paul gives us in his second letter to the Corinthians three convictions that should compel us to invade people's lives with the Gospel.
Read 2 Cor. 5:16-6:2

We are convicted to invade people's lives with the Good News of Jesus because WE WERE LOST (16-17)

illustrate "There was a local hunting guide who got himself into a real fix. His party became hopelessly lost in the mountains and his party blamed him for leading them astray. "You told us you were the best guide in Colorado!" they attested. "I am", he said, "but I think we are in Wyoming now!" Do you realize that like that guide you were once or maybe you still are completely lost?
Scripture is clear that when we do not know Christ as our Savior we operate from a worldly point of view. We are fascinated and interested only in things of the flesh, things that will fade away, things that are meaningless to the kingdom of God.

illustrate My dad looking at the houses in Charleston and saying, yep, none of them have gone into heaven.

I think sometimes we want to see the world, we want to look upon things of the earth but that pesky cross just keeps getting in the way. We try to look around it but it's all we can see. But I thank God everyday that He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.
Who I was is no longer living - he's dead. Who I am is a new creation in Christ Jesus. Now I can't see anything but the cross and frankly that's all I want to stay focused on.
We were lost but just like a road map that cross showed us the way. Firmly grounded, yet reaching up to heaven, and at the same time pointing out to a lost world.

We are convicted to invade people's lives with the Good News of Jesus because WE WERE CHANGED (17-19a)

When you know Jesus your life is transformed. And that transformation is Christ's presence.
A child growing inside of his mother is attached by a chord, yet when they are born they are a new creation. You and I were attached to the world in that way but Christ and the cross cut that chord now we are free to worship, to praise, to serve God, to share Christ.
But you know there is nothing special about Christians that make them Christians. We don't inherit super-powers, this new life is available to everyone who calls on the name of Jesus.
We are simply ordinary people with an extraordinary life-changing story.
We have been reconcilled to God

In financial terms that word means to check against something else for accuracy. God has done that with his son. He checks us against Himself, he can't find it in us, but rather through Christ in us.

The Scripture says that God is making an appeal through us. We are His spokespeople.
The greek word is 'presbeuo' and it means to act on behalf of the emperor. With full rights and privileges.

*...delivered the message or request

*...reflected the convictions, agenda, and cause of the one he represented.

*...we proclaim what God has done so people can respond.

*...we direct them to the possibility of reconciliation.

*...we let them know their sin has been praid for by Christ. They can be made right with God.

But it wasn't just what the ambassador said, but also what the ambassador did that showed people the one he represented. It's the same with us. We can't just say it, we have to live it.
We represent God in our words, in our actions, in our character, in our nature. It's in us that people will see Jesus
Do you know Jesus? If you do, you are His ambassador. Are you living like it?
Here are three words to help you remember to be a good ambassador.

Prayer - pray for those around you to know Jesus. Pray with them.
Care - be proactive in looking for ways to show God's love in people's lives.
Share - you have a homework assignment this week - tell somebody about Jesus. Not just "Jesus loves you" but really invading their life with the Gospel. You may offend them - but you might also be the one who introduces them to the God who can save them. And for that they will thank you.

Many of us don't see opportunities to witness or share Christ because simply God knows we wouldn't take the opportunity if it were there.

If you know Christ - be compelled to invade people's lives with that good news of salvation.
If you don't know Christ - let me invade your life for a second. If you die today apart from Christ you will spend eternity separated from him. There is no other way to put it. Jesus paid the price that your sin costs, invite Him to be the Lord of your life. Stop wasting time.