Evening Scripture

1 John, Chapter 4
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Evening Reflection

If we’re honest for a minute, fear is real…even in those who love and know God in a very intimate and personal way. So, for the sake of our reflection tonight, we won’t pretend that it doesn’t exist or cast one off if they are experiencing it. Tonight, my hope is that we both debunk the power fear can have over our lives and allow love to seep into the deepest of fears.

Fear, according to John, “has to do with punishment” and “the one who fears is not made in perfect love.” When we examine why we are experiencing fear, I think it helps to ask, “What am I afraid of?” After experiencing three miscarriages, I am hopeful of having a successful pregnancy. And yet when I imagine going into the doctor's office for another ultrasound, fear washes over me. When I go deeper into the thoughts and feelings behind the fear, I am scared of another ultrasound tech saying, “I’m sorry, we do not detect the heartbeat.” I am scared of the disappointment and deferred hope. I’m nervous about the uncontrollable outcome. And then I am reminded of His love.

Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). John doesn’t say that it’s not there. He says love drives it out. When I go back to the fears I’m experiencing, I have to preach to my soul, and I’m thankful I have this chapter to encourage me. From our reading tonight, this is the message I’m telling my soul. Maybe think of the fear that you have in your life right now and preach this to your soul, too!

Dear Soul,
You’re precious in God’s eyes. You are dearly loved. If you saw what God sees, you’d never question what He allows. When you start to panic and feel fear creeping in, remember Jesus. The suffering you’ve walked through is known deeply by a Savior who suffered. Remember, He has given you His Spirit. When fear rears its ugly head, allow love to drive it out. God is love, and love cares, comforts, and has only pure intentions. Your test will turn into a testimony. Your pain into purpose. Soul, love Him, and love others. By your love, you will loosen the grip of fear and replace it with trust and peace.

Evening Prayer

Father,
I pray you would sound the alarm when fear tries to take over. Remind me of the authority in Christ I have to drive it out in His name. I plead to you, Jesus, for your perfect love to wash over me tonight. I pray for unexplainable peace. I pray for ultimate trust and a surrendered heart and hands. Tonight, I declare my love for you and my unending commitment to walk forward in your Spirit, staying in step with you and your leading. Fear, you must flee in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.

Evening Scripture
1 John, Chapter 4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.&nbsp;This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh&nbsp;is from God,&nbsp;but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,&nbsp;which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
You, dear children,&nbsp;are from God and have overcome them,&nbsp;because the one who is in you&nbsp;is greater than the one who is in the world.&nbsp;They are from the world&nbsp;and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.&nbsp;We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.&nbsp;This is how we recognize the Spirit&nbsp;of truth&nbsp;and the spirit of falsehood.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.&nbsp;Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.&nbsp;This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son&nbsp;into the world that we might live through him.&nbsp;This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us&nbsp;and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.&nbsp;Dear friends,&nbsp;since God so loved us,&nbsp;we also ought to love one another.&nbsp;No one has ever seen God;&nbsp;but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
This is how we know&nbsp;that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.&nbsp;And we have seen and testify&nbsp;that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.&nbsp;If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,&nbsp;God lives in them and they in God.&nbsp;And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.&nbsp;This is how love is made complete&nbsp;among us so that we will have confidence&nbsp;on the day of judgment:&nbsp;In this world we are like Jesus.&nbsp;There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,&nbsp;because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.&nbsp;Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister&nbsp;is a liar.&nbsp;For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,&nbsp;cannot love God, whom they have not seen.&nbsp;And he has given us this command:&nbsp;Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Evening Reflection
If we&rsquo;re honest for a minute, fear is real&hellip;even in those who love and know God in a very intimate and personal way. So, for the sake of our reflection tonight, we won&rsquo;t pretend that it doesn&rsquo;t exist or cast one off if they are experiencing it. Tonight, my hope is that we both debunk the power fear can have over our lives and allow love to seep into the deepest of fears.
Fear, according to John, &ldquo;has to do with punishment&rdquo; and &ldquo;the one who fears is not made in perfect love.&rdquo; When we examine why we are experiencing fear, I think it helps to ask, &ldquo;What am I afraid of?&rdquo; After experiencing three miscarriages, I am hopeful of having a successful pregnancy. And yet when I imagine going into the doctor's office for another ultrasound, fear washes over me. When I go deeper into the thoughts and feelings behind the fear, I am scared of another ultrasound tech saying, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sorry, we do not detect the heartbeat.&rdquo; I am scared of the disappointment and deferred hope. I&rsquo;m nervous about the uncontrollable outcome. And then I am reminded of His love.
Perfect love drives out fear (<a href="https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-john/4-18.html">1 John 4:18</a>). John doesn&rsquo;t say that it&rsquo;s not there. He says love&nbsp;drives it out.&nbsp;When I go back to the fears I&rsquo;m experiencing, I have to preach to my soul, and I&rsquo;m thankful I have this chapter to encourage me. From our reading tonight, this is the message I&rsquo;m telling my soul. Maybe think of the fear that you have in your life right now and preach this to your soul, too!
Dear Soul, You&rsquo;re precious in God&rsquo;s eyes. You are dearly loved. If you saw what God sees, you&rsquo;d never question what He allows. When you start to panic and feel fear creeping in, remember Jesus. The suffering you&rsquo;ve walked through is known deeply by a Savior who suffered. Remember, He has given you His Spirit. When fear rears its ugly head, allow love to drive it out. God is love, and love cares, comforts, and has only pure intentions. Your test will turn into a testimony. Your pain into purpose. Soul, love Him, and love others. By your love, you will loosen the grip of fear and replace it with trust and peace.
Evening Prayer
Father, I pray you would sound the alarm when fear tries to take over. Remind me of the authority in Christ I have to drive it out in His name. I plead to you, Jesus, for your perfect love to wash over me tonight. I pray for unexplainable peace. I pray for ultimate trust and a surrendered heart and hands. Tonight, I declare my love for you and my unending commitment to walk forward in your Spirit, staying in step with you and your leading. Fear, you must flee in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Want More?
If tonight&rsquo;s episode blessed you, be sure to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962">follow the show</a> so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION&reg;. NIV&reg;. Copyright &copy; 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="https://www.biblica.com/">Biblica</a>. All rights reserved worldwide.

Your Nightly Scripture — 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God’s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.

Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture &mdash; 260-Day Bible Reading Plan for Peaceful Sleep is a calming, Scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end each day with God&rsquo;s Word. Brought to you by BibleStudyTools.com, this 5-day-a-week Bible reading plan features carefully selected passages from across the Bible, paired with slow, reflective devotionals and gentle evening prayers.
Perfect for bedtime listening, each episode is read at a peaceful pace with natural pauses to create a quiet, meditative experience that helps you rest, reflect, and draw closer to God. From Psalms and Proverbs to the Gospels and beyond, this year-long journey includes special Easter and Christmas readings, guiding you through the story of Scripture with hope, peace, and spiritual renewal.

Your Nightly Scripture

Letting Perfect Love Cast Out Fear ( 1 John 4)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/c9e0088d-1239-4109-87d5-b47100e49ea8/transcript