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THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
serve God. God wants to see similar faith in us these days. New Testament Proof When the Lord Jesus healed the no bleman’s son we are told, that “ he be lieved and his whole house.” John 4:53. When God does a work of grace, we feel that the right and proper outcome ought to be, that the whole household should believe and be saved. Cornelius was a Roman captain brought up in heathenism, but heard of the true God in Palestine and sought salvation. God saw the deep desire of his soul, and sent an angel with a mes sage from God’s own heart saying to him, “ send for Peter who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” Acts 11:13, 14. Cor nelius believed God and sent two sol diers to Joppa for Peter. In the mean time he visited all “ his kinsmen,” and even “ his near friends,” inviting them to come to his house and hear the words of salvation. When Peter arrived he found that “ many had come together” and he preached to them of Christ. God, who is no respecter of persons, poured out His Holy Spirit upon them and they were all saved. Acts 10:44. We see here Cornelius going beyond the promise of God, that all his house should be saved, and he brought in his kinsmen and near friends, yet God in His mercy saved them all. This is typical of what God always does when we believe in Him. It is well for us to remember that every saved soul is an addition to God’s family, and there is joy in heaven over every sinner who repents and believes. Lydia was a capable business woman, prosperous and having a house large enough to entertain friends. God opened her heart and she believed and all her household. Acts. 16:14, 15. Stephanas and his household were saved. The Philippian jailer, awakened at midnight by an earthquake, and after wards convicted of sin, cried, “ What
must I do to be saved?” Paul replied, “ Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” Acts 16:31. These last three words are often omitted when this precious prom ise is quoted, and the largest part of the blessing is lost. The jailer believed every word of it, and took Paul and Silas out of prison that same night. They spoke to all who were in his house, and before morning dawned the jailed “ re joiced and believed in God with all his house.” We see from Noah downwards that it is the uniform purpose of God to save whole households wherever He finds one believing, soul. God’s will is still the same today. He wants the family circle to be unbroken, and He honors every one who believes for the salvation of his house. A Truth That Works In India we preach this precious truth, and when we get a convert we show him God’s promise, “ Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house,” and he believes the whole of it. We proceed along fam ily lines to win the relatives, and God has honored this course. It is like pur suing a vein of gold, and today ninety percent of all our converts are won in this way. One young woman was saved out of heathenism, her husband was a drunkard. We showed her this prom ise and her heart went out in faith and prayer. Soon afterwards we had the joy of seeing this man saved, and even will ing to lose several days’ work in order to come to special meetings to learn more of the Word of God. Another young man was brought to Christ out of heathenism: his family were espe cially wicked and cruelly persecuted him, but he plead this promise and per severed for their salvation. Seven of their number were recently saved and baptised. A Policeman who was a notorious drunkard and opium smoker attended some special meetings we held. He
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