You are to answer them, "Listen to what the LORD is teaching you! Don't listen to mediums---what they tell you cannot keep trouble away."

"Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves.

A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad fruit.

And any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.

Then Jesus called the crowd to him once more and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand.

OMITTED TEXT

"Why do you not judge for yourselves the right thing to do?

The people there were more open-minded than the people in Thessalonica. They listened to the message with great eagerness, and every day they studied the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was really true.

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

It is only our own spirit within us that knows all about us; in the same way, only God's Spirit knows all about God.

Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis.

Whoever has the Spirit, however, is able to judge the value of everything, but no one is able to judge him.

But if no one is there who can explain, then the one who speaks in strange tongues must be quiet and speak only to himself and to God.

Try to learn what pleases the Lord.

so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ.

My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere.

I know what you have done; I know how hard you have worked and how patient you have been. I know that you cannot tolerate evil people and that you have tested those who say they are apostles but are not, and have found out that they are liars.

You recall what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab of the tribe of Reuben. In the sight of everyone the earth opened up and swallowed them, along with their families, their tents, and all their servants and animals.

"Obey everything that I have commanded you today. Then you will be able to cross the river and occupy the land that you are about to enter.

he said, "Be sure to obey all these commands that I have given you today. Repeat them to your children, so that they may faithfully obey all of God's teachings.

These teachings are not empty words; they are your very life. Obey them and you will live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy."

My child, don't forget what I teach you. Always remember what I tell you to do.

My child, hold on to your wisdom and insight. Never let them get away from you.

You can go safely on your way and never even stumble.

Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life---guard it well.

Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart.

Their instructions are a shining light; their correction can teach you how to live.

Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense---these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.

As soon as I left them, I found him. I held him and wouldn't let him go until I took him to my mother's house, to the room where I was born.

So Jesus said to those who believed in him, "If you obey my teaching, you are really my disciples;

Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can do so only if it remains in the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.

When he arrived and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad and urged them all to be faithful and true to the Lord with all their hearts.

They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. "We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God," they taught.

Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.

So then, my dear friends, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless.

However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

So then, our friends, stand firm and hold on to those truths which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter.

You know that everyone in the province of Asia, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, has deserted me.

Some of them go into people's houses and gain control over weak women who are burdened by the guilt of their sins and driven by all kinds of desires,

Alexander the metalworker did me great harm; the Lord will reward him according to what he has done.

Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.

But until I come, you must hold firmly to what you have.

Remember, then, what you were taught and what you heard; obey it and turn from your sins. If you do not wake up, I will come upon you like a thief, and you will not even know the time when I will come.

I am coming soon. Keep safe what you have, so that no one will rob you of your victory prize.