174 GOOD MORNING, HOLY SPIRIT
loves. It's like saying, "I love you."
I believe that if a person remains in a state of
unforgiveness the Spirit of the Lord will allow tormentors
to enter him. That's what Christ told Peter when the disciple
asked, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me,
and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" (Matt. 18:21).
The Lord answered, "I do not say to you, up to seven
times, but up to seventy times seven" (v. 22). Then he gave
the parable of the unforgiving servant, which ends with the
warning, "Should you not also have had compassion on
your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And his
master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers, until
he should pay all that was due to him" (vv. 33-34).
Christ concluded the parable by saying, "So My
heavenly Father will do to you if each of you, from his
heart, does not forgive his brother" (v. 35).
Does this mean that the Holy Ghost has made a
permanent retreat? No. It's just that God will remove His
hand of protection from those who won't forgive.
A person who has totally blasphemed the Holy Spirit
becomes filled with the demons of Satan. But if you ask,
"Benny, do you believe that a demon can possess a
Christian who is filled with the Holy Ghost?" Absolutely
not!
I do believe, however, that a person who has made a
confession of faith in Christ, but is not living for the Lord—
who is living in unforgiveness—can be influenced by
demons. They can be harassed and even oppressed by the
powers of darkness, but not possessed.
Peter, for example, said, "Lord, you're not going to die."
And Jesus said, "Get behind me, Satan." Peter was not
possessed by Satan. He was influenced. There is a big