Striving for Holiness | Francis Chan

Summary

Crazy Love Podcast

Episode: Striving for Holiness | Francis Chan

Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Crazy Love Ministries | Guest: Francis Chan

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Overview

In this powerful episode, Francis Chan challenges listeners to pursue true holiness and sanctification with intentionality and effort. Centered on 2 Peter 1, Chan reminds believers that through God’s divine power, they have been equipped with everything necessary for life and godliness. He passionately urges listeners not to settle for passivity but to actively strive towards the life God calls them to—becoming true partakers of the divine nature, pursuing moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gratitude for the Cross & The Example of John the Baptist

• Sustained Reflection on the Cross

  • Francis and a co-host discuss how the previous night’s sermon kept them in awe of the cross, inspiring ongoing gratitude.
    • “Last night, that’s what I did. I went to bed praising God for the cross. When I woke up, the first thing on my mind was, God, thank you for the cross. I want this to be every night and every day, but it isn’t.” (00:44, Co-host)
  • The goal for every minister and preacher: drop people at the feet of Jesus and leave them with Him, not the personality of a speaker.
    • “Can we somehow just drop you off at the feet of Jesus and then you go with him?” (02:29, Francis Chan)

• John the Baptist: Becoming Less, Pointing to Jesus

  • Emphasizes the humility and mission of John: his ministry was to direct everyone to Christ and then “decrease” so Jesus would “increase.”
    • “He’s got to increase. He’s got to become more. And I’ve got to become less and less and less. …They’re supposed to go with Jesus. And that was the plan here.” (01:51, Co-host)

2. The Father's Perspective in the Garden of Gethsemane

• Francis contemplates Jesus’ agony as God’s Son, imagining himself in the father’s place.
  • “What would I feel if she’s looking at me and going, dad, is there any other way?...But not my will, but your will...And to hear that it was the will of the Lord to crush him. And all night, I’m just going, God, are you kidding me? You went through that for me?” (04:03, Francis Chan)

3. Striving After Holiness: 2 Peter 1

Divine Power and Equal Standing

• You Have Everything You Need

  • Believers possess a “faith of equal standing” with the Apostles, and God has given them “all things that pertain to life and godliness.” (13:39)
    • “Please get it out of your heads that somehow you are inferior to someone else in your faith with God…You’ve got a faith of equal standing with the Apostle Peter.” (11:56, Co-host; 12:45, Francis Chan)

• Living as Partakers of Divine Nature

  • Through God’s promises and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Christians become genuine “partakers of the divine nature” (17:02).
    • “What did I tell you? My spirit would actually enter into you…But you’re an actual partaker of the divine nature. Amazing. These promises are for you.” (17:31, Francis Chan)

The Miracle of Transformation

• Francis likens spiritual transformation to Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones coming alive (Ezekiel 36-37).
  • “He goes, this is what it’s gonna be like. People are gonna go, this is nuts. God just put these people together. He just put their spirit, his spirit in them.” (21:05, Francis Chan)
  • The true miracle is a changed life: “The Bible says that's what people should see when they see you.” (22:32, Co-host)

Active Pursuit: Make Every Effort

• Sanctification is Not Passive
  • Christians must strive in faith, rather than waiting passively for God to make them holy.
    • “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…” (25:05, Co-host)
    • “This is not a passive…Yes, God does this…But then he says in the very next verse, he goes, so now you make every effort, okay? You do something. You don’t just sit there and go, okay, God, make me holy.” (25:16–25:59, Francis Chan)
  • Self-Control & Perseverance are Key
    • “There are times when it’s gonna take every bit of energy in you...He says, make every effort towards that. Yes. There are times when a different miracle happens…But that’s the exception…others who just have to make every effort, Every effort. And you fight and you fight and you fight…that’s what self control is all about.” (30:46–31:43, Francis Chan)
  • Knowledge Requires Effort (Even When It’s Hard)
    • “Have you made every effort to do that? Seriously, are you a student of the word of God?...The issue is, are you making every effort to pursue this knowledge?” (27:39–27:59, Co-host)
    • “I hate reading. I just don't like it…But I go, you know what, Lord? Your Word says I should be making every effort to add…this knowledge of you.” (28:04–28:29, Francis Chan)

The List of Virtues (2 Peter 1:5–7)

• Faith supplemented by:
  • Virtue (moral excellence, the “expected result” of faith) (26:41)
  • Knowledge
  • Self-control
  • Steadfastness (perseverance)
  • Godliness (worshipful living)
  • Brotherly affection (genuine Christian love, even across differences)
  • Love
• Each requires dedication and action.

Spiritual Nearsightedness vs. Eternity

• Warning Against Spiritual Nearsightedness
  • Letting temporal frustrations eclipse eternal realities is spiritual blindness.
    • “Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind…” (39:32, Francis Chan)
    • “You crack your [phone] screen and you’re so nearsighted…You miss out on all of these things. And I’ve seen this in so many people.” (40:58–41:13, Francis Chan)
• Eternity and Unseen Reality
  • Draws from 2 Corinthians 4:17–18: true hope is rooted in what is unseen and eternal.
    • “So we don’t look to the things that we can see. We look to the unseen.” (42:07, Francis Chan)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…”
  — (25:05, Co-host, reading 2 Peter 1:5)
• “You have everything you need when it comes to life and godliness. Do you believe that?”
  — (13:59, Francis Chan)
• “We have physical limitations. We have intellectual limitations. …But what the scripture is saying [is]…all things that pertain to life and godliness. …There’s no reason why I can’t be the one that’s most alive, you know? And there’s no reason why I cannot be the godliest person in this room.”
  — (14:32–15:21, Francis Chan)
• “God, I want all of that life. I want all of that godliness. I want your spirit just to flow through me.”
  — (16:25, Co-host)
• “If these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
  — (36:50, Francis Chan)
• “Don’t you want to be at the end of your life, go, God, I just want to be the most loving…”
  — (36:28, Co-host)
• “Don’t get so nearsighted that you lose sight of these spiritual realities.”
  — (41:27, Co-host)
• “Look to the things that are unseen...the things you can see are transient. They’re temporary. Everything you see right now is temporary.”
  — (42:07–42:24, Francis Chan)
• “Can you see that you’re a partaker of the divine nature?”
  — (44:48, Co-host)
• Practical Exercise in Worship—Focus on the Unseen:
  • Francis leads listeners in a moment of prayer, urging them to block out physical distractions and worship God “in spirit and in truth” (45:05–47:33).

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Reflecting on the Cross and its Cost
  00:41 – 05:33
• John the Baptist: Pointing Only to Jesus
  01:51 – 02:29
• Personal Anecdote: Dropping Off a Daughter & Trust in Jesus
  02:29 – 03:33
• Analogy: The Miracle of Transformation—Chicken Bones & Ezekiel’s Vision
  21:05 – 22:56
• Emphasis on Individual Responsibility: Make Every Effort
  25:05 – 27:22
• Self-Control and Perseverance
  30:05 – 32:43
• Brotherly Affection & Unity Despite Differences
  35:13 – 36:27
• Spiritual Nearsightedness (Temporal vs. Eternal Perspective)
  39:32 – 41:27
• Exercise in Focusing on the Unseen (Closing Application & Prayer)
  45:05 – End

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Conclusion / Takeaway

Francis Chan’s message is a passionate call to recognize the depth of God’s provision and the active, striving role believers must take in sanctification. The indwelling Holy Spirit equips every Christian with all they need for life and holiness; their only limitation is their own willingness to “make every effort.” The true miracle is a transformed, holy life—obvious to the world as something only God could do. Chan closes with an invitation to pray and see beyond the temporary, focusing on union with Christ, gratitude for the cross, and the pursuit of godliness above all else.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Welcome to the Crazy Love Podcast. Do you believe that you have divine power to put sin to death in your life? Today, Francis unpacks 2 Peter chapter 1, where it says that we've been given all things that pertain to life and godliness. He challenges us to not have a passive attitude towards our sanctification, but rather make every effort to lay hold of that power in faith.

[Francis Chan]

You guys can have a seat.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I don't know about you, but last night I went to bed just thanking.

[Francis Chan]

God for the cross. Like, I just laid in bed.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Last thing I did was I just. After Louie's talk, I just kept thinking, thinking about the cross and enjoying the cross and thanking God over and over. This is not what I do every night. I'm sad to say, but last night, that's what I did. I went to bed praising God for the cross. When I woke up, the first thing on my mind was, God, thank you for the cross. I want this to be every night and every day, but it isn't. But I thank God for the message that was spoken last night.

[Francis Chan]

Cause it got me thinking that way.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And I thought, gosh, what an amazing message. Because that's what a sermon should do, is not get you thinking about Louie or the speaker or anyone else. It gets you praising Jesus. And I go, wow, that was amazing. That's all I thought about last night. That's all I thought about this morning was going, God, you're so amazing. How did you do that? How could you love us that much?

[Francis Chan]

And I just. I even asked God, God, help me.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

To thank you deeply, because I don't want to casually say thank you for.

[Francis Chan]

What you did for me. You know, like, Louis was talking about.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

How John the Baptist, you know, his whole point of his existence was, look, behold, there he is. There he is. There's the Lamb of God. Look, I just brought you to Him. Now I'm dropping you off. Go. And you read later in chapter three, some people are saying to John the Baptist, they go, hey, some of your followers, they're leaving you and they're going to Jesus. And John the Baptist is like, that's the plan. You know, he's got to increase. He's got to become more. And I've got to become less and less and less. This is good. They're supposed to go with Jesus. And that was the plan here.

[Francis Chan]

It's like, can we somehow just drop you off at the feet of Jesus and then you go with him? It's like on Thursday, on Thursday, I dropped off my oldest daughter to College for the first time. You know, it's like, Thursday, go, honey, you're out of here. You know?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And there's that bittersweet, like, oh, man. I remember when I brought her home from the hospital, this little bloody thing, you know, And. And now to drop her off.

[Francis Chan]

But it was like, good, good.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You know what?

[Francis Chan]

This is good, because I've got a decrease. You go with Jesus now. You and Jesus, you're on your own, okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You're in better hands now with him than with me.

[Francis Chan]

So go get close to him. Draw near to him. And I couldn't help but think about last night when Louie was talking about the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus being there. You know, as a dad of five children, I pictured my oldest daughter, and.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I thought, what would I feel if she's looking at me and going, dad, is there any other way? Like if, in the words of Jesus, where he says, my soul is grieved to the point of death, where Jesus is going, I already feel like I'm dying right now. This is killing me. I am sorrowful to the point of death. And then to go to his dad and go, daddy, is there any other way? Is there any other way? I mean, to the point where he's sweating drops of blood. And I try to picture my daughter looking at me and go, dad, is there any other way? To where she's dripping blood from the intensity and saying, I already feel like I'm gonna die right now. Is there any other way? And to do it three times, three times to come to me and go, dad, is there any other way? And I just tried to think, as a dad, how could I look at that? But then for Jesus to say, but not my will, but your will. Not my will, but your will. If there's any other way, please take this cup from me. As he's sweating drops of blood, please take it from me. But not my will. Your will be done. And then to hear that it was.

[Francis Chan]

The will of the Lord to crush him. And all night, I'm just going, God, are you kidding me? You went through that for me? Help me. Thank you. Help me. Thank you, Lord. Because I don't think I can do justice.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I don't want to just say, thank you for the cross. Help me, God. Help me. Thank you. With every bit that's in me.

[Francis Chan]

That's all I want to do is thank him. Thank him.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Thank him.

[Francis Chan]

Praise him. Praise him. Praise him. And I don't want us to leave the cross. I don't want us to move on from the cross. I just want to drop you off there.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That's all we want to do. Everyone that's going to be on the.

[Francis Chan]

Stage, we're saying, you know what? We're just telling you, go with Jesus. Oh, you're leaving us and going with.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Good, good, good, good.

[Francis Chan]

Because we've got to become less and less and less. Your parents need to become less and less and less, and your, your youth pastor needs to become less and less and less. And everyone is trying to drive you to the feet of Jesus so you could just commune with him, thank him by yourself, enjoy him, love him, get to know him. Man, forget about us, get close to him. The that's what this is all about. It's a good day. It's a good day. So this afternoon I'm going to Africa. Yeah, pretty exciting.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Anyone wanna go with me? All right, let's go. But you know what?

[Francis Chan]

One of the coolest things about this.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Trip, I'm going with maybe the most.

[Francis Chan]

Intriguing guy in my life right now. This guy is so interesting to me. He's like that guy on that beer commercial, the most interesting man in the world.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He ran a marketing firm. He was running a marketing firm, big deal, you know, but in his spare time, he would go to the Middle.

[Francis Chan]

East, he would go to Africa and he would set up these feeding programs for those who were starving to death.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He'd figure out ways to dig wells.

[Francis Chan]

And get clean water to them. He would build medical clinics out this.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

All in his free time. He would hire evangelists out there just.

[Francis Chan]

To go and spread the gospel.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He would rescue trafficked children. He would go to the red light districts in some of these towns where it just seemed like the women just felt trapped. Like there's no other way to make a living other than being in this little tiny shed and having guy after guy come into my room for $2 dollars, you know, and he'd go to these girls, share the good news of Jesus, see them fall in love with Jesus, but then educate them. And some of them have become nurses, some have become, you know, teachers. But the coolest thing was I saw pictures of him walking these girls up the aisle on their wedding day. And I thought, oh, I want to do that. You know, is there anything cooler you could do in your life than to.

[Francis Chan]

Lead someone like that out of that.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Lifestyle, introduce them to Jesus and have.

[Francis Chan]

Them fall in love with someone. You walk them down that aisle and give them away on their wedding day. I just go, lord, this guy is.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So cool to me. And, you know, so I'm just intrigued by this guy.

[Francis Chan]

And I just.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

One day he told me one of his secrets.

[Francis Chan]

He says, you know, I wake up every day and I think, this is going to be the best day of my life. He says, and you know what? It usually is.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And I thought, what? Every day? That just sounds exhausting, doesn't it? I mean, I get it if we did it today, because it's passion, it's going to be the best day of my life. But really, you're going to do that tomorrow, too, you know, next Wednesday? Cause I just thought in my mind after he told me that, I thought, I like having, like, a few throwaway days in between, you know, and go, okay, next Saturday is gonna be amazing. You know, and sometimes even throw away.

[Francis Chan]

Years where you go, oh, when I graduate, when I get into that position, when I get married, that's gonna be the greatest year. Now, when I have my kid, that's gonna be the greatest year.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But why not believe that God, that could make every day better than the last? Why not believe that today, like, this next worship set, could that be the.

[Francis Chan]

Greatest worship in your life?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

See, you have control over that.

[Francis Chan]

You could say, okay, this next time we sing God, I want to be more passionate than I've ever been to say God, the next time I pray, I want it to be the most intimate you and I have ever been.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

To say, even right now, okay, when Francis reads from the word of God, okay, when he's done with all his stories and he actually opens the word, you know, can you make it so.

[Francis Chan]

That I just get it like, I get your word like never before? Make it the best. The best, the best. And to keep on increasing in all of these areas. Do you believe that? Are you even striving for that? You know, I. There's so many things in our lives we can't control. But the things that make your life the best, those are under your control. You know that. See, you can't control your money. God could take it away any second. You can't control your job, your position. God can end that. Whatever. People can end it. You can't control your relationships. You can't control other people and what they're gonna do to you and whether they're gonna love you for the rest of your life or not. You can't control that. But the things that make your life great are under your control.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So you can decide. You could decide. You know what? This year, I am gonna be the purest I've ever been. God, I want you to Put to death sins in my life and according to the Word. I can do that. You can decide and say, God, I want to be so close to you this year. I'm going to seek you with all.

[Francis Chan]

Of my heart and to go after those things I love. What Peter says in Second Peter. Second Peter, chapter one, verse one. It says, simon Peter, a servant, an.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing.

[Francis Chan]

With ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. I love that phrase.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He's assigned Peter's servant and apostle Jesus Christ to those. That's you. To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours. Peter says to me, francis, you have a faith of equal standing with me. See, we've got. Please get it out of your heads that somehow you are inferior to someone else in your faith with God, Okay? Don't come to passion and go, oh, man, Louie must have this, you know, Piper must be here. You know, here's Christine, you know, and then here's me. Because what Peter immediately is saying is, look, you've got a faith of equal.

[Francis Chan]

Standing with the Apostle Peter.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Equal standing. That's the word of God. You've got a faith of equal standing. I hear all the time when I talk about God or I talk about, you know, living by faith or this time I had with Jesus, people have literally looked at me and said, well, that's easy for you. You're Francis Chan. What does that even mean? Like, we do that. We go, well, that's him.

[Francis Chan]

That's her.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And I'm going, but that's not scripture. Peter says, you've been given an equal faith. You're an equal standing with me. In fact, in the next verse, you know, after he says, may grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Look what he says in verse 3.

[Francis Chan]

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

His divine. So God's divine power has given you everything you need when it comes to life and.

[Francis Chan]

And godliness. Do you believe that?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So you're in equal standing with Peter and God himself.

[Francis Chan]

By his power, he just gave you everything. Everything you need as it pertains to life and godliness. Now, that doesn't mean we don't have limitations in some areas. Like, I could study all day long.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You know, but my mind. I don't know that I'll ever know.

[Francis Chan]

As much as Piper. I'm not saying my mind is there. I got limitations.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

There are gonna Be. He's not saying that. He's not talking about intellect, just like Chris Tomlin. Chris Tomlin could shoot baskets all day long, all year long. Get a private coach and just practice. Shoot, shoot, shoot, dribble, shoot this, do this, and he'll never beat me. It's limit. We have limitations. We have physical limitations. We have intellectual limitations.

[Francis Chan]

We have.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But what the scripture is saying. He says all things that pertain to life and godliness. I will never be the best athlete in this room. I can't. I just. I'm limited compared to some of you.

[Francis Chan]

But there's no reason why I can't be the one that's most alive, you know? And there's no reason why I cannot be the godliest person in this room.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And there's no reason why. You see, you've been given everything. This is scripture. Don't believe the lies that everyone else tells you, that you're somehow inferior. No, this is up to you. You've been given it all by his divine power.

[Francis Chan]

God says, here it is. I'm granting it to you. Everything you need. You can have the purest mind. Did you know that? You can have the purest mind. Your thought life could be the purest one because he's given you everything you need for that. You have the ability to have the purest mind. Your thoughts, to make a covenant with your eyes and say, God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, purify me. I want that.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Make this the purest year of my life. Help me to receive more life from.

[Francis Chan]

You than ever before. Because he says it's through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. He didn't call us to mediocrity.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Do you understand that? He didn't call you just to survive and to try not to sin too much. He called you to his own glory and excellence. That's what he saved you for. God, I want all of that life. I want all of that godliness. I want your spirit just to flow through me.

[Francis Chan]

Powerful, powerful words. Then he says, then it gets even better. Verse 4.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

By which he has granted to us.

[Francis Chan]

His precious and very great promises, so.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That through them you may become partakers.

[Francis Chan]

Of the divine nature. Are you kidding me?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Not only that, he says you can actually partake. You become partakers. It's not just like if Francis is here and God's gonna help me out beside me. No, he says, read my promises sometime. What did I tell you? My spirit would actually enter into you. Okay, so now you're not even just walking alongside of me.

[Francis Chan]

But you're an actual partaker of the divine nature. Amazing. These promises are for you. You ever read, like, the Old Testament and some of those miracles and you ever read some of those Old Testament miracles and go, God, could I just.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

See one of those?

[Francis Chan]

Right?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You ever do that? You read the Old Testament and go, God, all I need is one of those. Okay, Just. Just one. I don't care. Name it Fire from heaven. That'd be cool. Have someone thrown in a pit of fire. Let me just see him not burn. You know, whatever. Any of those. It doesn't even have to be me in the pit. I just want to watch someone, you know, it's just God. Can I see one of those? Or do you ever go or you ever look in the New Testament, you read about Jesus and go, gosh, could I just see one? I just want to see one. I just wanna see him. The water one.

[Francis Chan]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Walking on water. Can I just see it? Can I see it? And I've done this where I'm reading scripture, I'm going, God, I just need one. Let me see one of those.

[Francis Chan]

But I realized when I long for the Old Testament miracles and when I long to see something Jesus did, then I have a faulty understanding or experience of the Holy Spirit.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

If I'm longing for the Old Testament, if I'm longing for Jesus, then I don't understand the Holy Spirit, because everyone back then was man, I can't wait for the future. I can't wait for this period of time. We talked about this last year for those who were here, remember Ezekiel's vision? You know, in ezekiel, in chapter 36, you gotta understand, they were all envying us. They were envying this day when God was gonna put his spirit inside of us. We'd be partakers of the divine nature. They're going, are you kidding me? I mean, I get the Holy of Holies, man. No one goes in there. You're telling me that much power is gonna enter into people? I want a piece of that. You read about it In Ezekiel, Ezekiel 36, where he says, in verse 26, I'll give you a new heart, a new spirit I will put within you. I'll remove your heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

[Francis Chan]

And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules. God says, I'm gonna do a new thing. A new thing. I'm gonna do something new.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay, you know how you can't obey the commands right now.

[Francis Chan]

Wait till you see what happens in the future. I'm actually gonna put my spirit, yeah, my spirit into people. And it's to get them to the point where they'll actually have the power to walk in my commands. They're gonna actually become a slave to righteousness, okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That's what the Holy Spirit's gonna do into them. And then you see this vision. And then in the next chapter where he's put in this valley of dry bones in chapter 37. And in verse seven, he says, I prophesied. There was a sound and a rattling and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked and no way. There were sinews on him. And flesh came upon them. Skin had covered them. You know, it's like he's in this valley of bones. And suddenly these bones start rattling and coming together.

[Francis Chan]

He goes, this is what it's gonna be like. People are gonna go, this is nuts. God just put these people together. He just put their spirit, his spirit in them. You know, I have, I brought some chicken bones and I don't know if you can see that, but just this pile of chicken and. I don't, I can't see the screen. Are you focusing on my chicken bones? Are they, Are you, Can you see my bones on the screen? Okay, seriously, you guys, watch what happens. Just stare at it. Watch what's about to happen, All right? Had to give it a shot.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But imagine, imagine, seriously, okay, what if, what if right now we're looking and suddenly you saw these bones rattling and.

[Francis Chan]

Start coming together, okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And then, what if, you know, the, the liver and stuff start growing and then flesh grew on it, and then feathers grew on it. And then suddenly this thing jumps off of the stage and just, you know, just starts going. I mean, just try to imagine what you would do.

[Francis Chan]

You'd go, best passion ever.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You know, this, that was insane. You would walk away going, you'll never believe it. Francis bought a five piece meal, you know, took all the meat off, it turned into a chicken, right? You would never be the same again. And the Bible says that's what people should see when they see you.

[Francis Chan]

When.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

They go, what happened to you? How did you do this? That was the miracle that's supposed to take place in us. So then we're not longing for these Old Testament miracles. We're not wishing, I could have walked with Jesus. He says, it's going to be to your advantage. And so somehow I've got to believe this. And I was praying God could You get a new generation to believe in this miracle, that they are partakers of the divine nature, that they will stop idolizing speakers and pastors. Yes, learn from them, grow from them. But they're just here to drop you off at the feet of Jesus to say, make you a partaker of the divine nature.

[Francis Chan]

And go, man, the power that's in you, I wanna release you. I want everyone to see this. Chicken. You know, I wanna see everyone. I'm gonna. I'm gonna leave this open just to leave room just in case you guys, right here, watch it and tell us if anything happens.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But that's what's supposed to be, man.

[Francis Chan]

Has that happened in your life? Some of you, last night, do you understand when you understood the cross for the first time and you said, you know what, Jesus, I want you. I want you. I want that. I'll give everything up for that. I just found this treasure. You can have everything. I finally have eyes to see.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Give me that.

[Francis Chan]

The Bible says, now you trust in those promises. It's through those promises that you become a partaker of this divine nature. And then I love what he says next, having escaped from the corruption that's in the world because of sinful desire. And he says this in verse 5. For this reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, your virtue with knowledge, your knowledge with self control, self control with steadfastness, self steadfastness with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, brotherly affection with love. But I want you to pay attention.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

To what he says. Verse 5. For this very reason, make every effort.

[Francis Chan]

To supplement your faith with virtue.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Do you understand those words? Make every effort. See, this is not a passive. Because some of you guys are going to. I see what you're saying.

[Francis Chan]

I guess it didn't work on me.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I think the Holy Spirit entered me.

[Francis Chan]

But it didn't work because I'm still not holy. I still don't know that much. I'm still not that guy.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

The Bible says this is not some passive act. Yes, God does this. He makes you a partaker. He puts you on equal standing with Peter. But then he says in the very next verse, he goes, so now you make every effort, okay? You do something. You don't just sit there and go, okay, God, make me holy.

[Francis Chan]

No.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He says, no, you make every effort. Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue.

[Francis Chan]

Supplement. Have you been doing that? Have you been making every effort, going, God, I want to be this virtuous.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

The virtue.

[Francis Chan]

It's.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

The word's interesting.

[Francis Chan]

It's almost like an appropriate. Like an appropriateness, like a. Like a godliness, I guess. It's a word we would use for godly. Like, okay, someone who has faith should have these results. Like, these glasses should help me to see. This table should hold up this Bible. That's what tables do.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This key should fit in that lock. This Christian should be godly.

[Francis Chan]

You understand that?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It's the natural outcome, this moral excellence. We as believers should be morally excellent because the Spirit of God is in us. Like Ezekiel promised, he's gonna put him in us and we're gonna be able to obey his commands. So someone with the Spirit in him is gonna have this power. And he says so. But you've gotta make every effort at it. I've got to strive for this Holy Spirit that's in me. You've given me everything that pertains to life and godliness. So guess what? I'm going to use that. And I'm going to make every effort.

[Francis Chan]

To be the godliest man or woman. I'm going after it.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And he goes, and then add. Add to that. Make every effort to add to your virtue knowledge. Add to your virtue knowledge.

[Francis Chan]

Make every effort towards knowledge. Okay. You don't just naturally know all the things.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

People go, well, I don't know the Bible that well.

[Francis Chan]

And I go, have you made every.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Effort to do that? Seriously, are you a student of the word of God? I understand some of us don't have the same mental capacities as other people.

[Francis Chan]

Some of you are beyond me. Some of you are below. It doesn't matter.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

The issue is, are you making every.

[Francis Chan]

Effort to pursue this knowledge?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Look, I hate.

[Francis Chan]

I hate reading. I just don't like it. Yes. Thank you.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay. Me and him hate reading, man. We just hang out all day. We'd rather play video games, we'd rather go surf. But reading, I just.

[Francis Chan]

I don't enjoy it. I'd rather snuggle with a cat.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And I hate cats.

[Francis Chan]

You know, it's just.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I just don't enjoy.

[Francis Chan]

It's not natural. But I go, you know what, Lord? Your Word says I should be making every effort to add to my moral excellence this knowledge of you. And I want to know you.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So I'm going to study this word and I'm going to force myself and I'm going to read this over and over, man. I'm going to commit to reading through your Word every year. Do you know it only takes 10 minutes a day?

[Francis Chan]

And you can read through the Bible in a year.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You don't even need that they've got these apps now that read it for you. You push a button and it takes 12 minutes, 12 minutes a day.

[Francis Chan]

And you can listen to the Bible as you're driving, just going, you know what, God? Okay, maybe I have a hard time reading. I'm gonna listen, I'm gonna listen. And then you just push play. I'm not gonna do it right now.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But, you know, it's just.

[Francis Chan]

You just go, God, I want to know you. And that's why I'm getting into your word right now. Even 10 minutes a day, and you'd get through the whole book, which probably some of you have never done in your whole life. And the Bible says, make every effort to know me. Make every effort to add to that moral excellence. Yes. You're a godly person. Yes. You know, the morals are there. And I'm saying, you need to know me, really know me, understand more about me, know my character, know what I love, know what I hate. Make every effort towards that. Then he says, add to your knowledge, self control. This is key. This is such a big one for all of us. He says, make every effort to add.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

To your knowledge, self control. I have heard so many people blame.

[Francis Chan]

The Holy Spirit for their lack of effort.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Where they go, well, I asked God to take away my desire for marijuana. I told him and he didn't. I told him, I go, God, take away this lust for women. And he didn't. I asked God to take away these un. You know, improper sexual desires, and he didn't take it away.

[Francis Chan]

And what does the scripture say? It says, make every effort towards self control. What is self control? It's when you want to do something.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And you don't do it. And there are times when it's gonna take every bit of energy in you where you just wanna scream at someone.

[Francis Chan]

And it takes everything in you to just hold back and go, I'm not gonna yell. I'm gonna love her. Oh, gosh, I wanna say it. Just let me say it. It's gonna take every ounce of effort not to push send. Right? Or to look at this website. It's like, ah. He says, make every effort towards that. Yes. There are times. There are times when a different miracle happens where you pray that God takes away. I've heard of this. People who have been addicted to. I have friends like this.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

They were addicted for years on crack for 20 years, prayed that God would take it away. Boom. They said it was weird.

[Francis Chan]

It's like I woke up and it was gone. But that's the exception there's others who just have to make every effort, Every effort. And you fight and you fight and you fight and you go, look, I know I have power over this. God promised me he would not let me be tempted beyond what I can handle. There's a way I've escaped and I'm gonna take that route. I'm gonna make every effort I'm getting out of this one. That's what self control is all about. He says, add to that self control, perseverance.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Perseverance. Because there are days when we all want to give up, okay? You're not alone. We all want to quit. There are days when your temptation is so strong, you go, God, would you just take me home? I don't want to fail you. I'd rather you just kill me right now because I don't know if I'm gonna make it through the day without sinning against you. And he says, make every effort toward that perseverance. You have it in you. I've given you everything you need for life and godliness. I gave it to Peter. I'm giving it to you. You're a partaker of the divine nature.

[Francis Chan]

This can happen. Make every effort. Don't give up. Don't give up. Make it through another day. He says, add to your steadfastness. Godliness. Godliness is worship. Godliness is this idea of bowing down. What I was doing last night, what I did this morning, it takes effort to worship him all through the day, doesn't it? I was thinking about this passage. I've been meditating on this passage the last two weeks. And it's weird because it's so dumb.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But sometimes it takes every ounce of effort in me just to turn off the radio. You ever find that, like, you want.

[Francis Chan]

To worship, but then a song comes.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

On, you're like, I kind of want.

[Francis Chan]

To listen to that one, You know, I gotta confess. Nevermind. Yeah, why not? I've got four daughters and one of them got, like a year ago, this Taylor Swift cd. It's really embarrassing, but she put it in my car and I started to like it. And, you know, pretend she's like, dad, when am I gonna get that CD back?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Like, never, ever, ever. Okay, I'm just giving you an example of confession, you know, and so even I'm on. And so sometimes it's just hard to turn it off, you know, and go, gosh, this is so dumb. Here I am, a pastor, a speaker.

[Francis Chan]

And I don't wanna push that button to worship. It takes effort to block. Like Louis Said we are the most distracted people ever. And to just say, no, I'm not gonna think about anything else when I go to bed tonight. I'm not turning on that tv. I'm not jumping on that computer.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I'm just gonna worship him. Because I want to make every effort to be this godly person.

[Francis Chan]

I want to add this godliness to me. I want to be a person of worship. And that means taking away some of these distractions. You know, there's a do not disturb button on this. I'm pushing that. I just don't want any noise. I don't want any. And want to be a man of worship all throughout the day. Godly. It takes effort, though. It takes effort.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You can't just say, oh, I'm just.

[Francis Chan]

Not one of those people that worships all the time. You're not making the effort.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He goes on, adding to that. He goes, add to that brotherly affection. Brotherly affection. People are going to irritate you to death, right? People in your own ministry are gonna irritate you to death. Youth pastors, your students are gonna drive you crazy. Your students, your leaders will drive you crazy. You're gonna bother one another. You're gonna do this. And he says, would you guys make every effort towards his brotherly affection? You guys, we need this so badly. I understand there's gonna be theological differences in this room, and I'm gonna disagree with you on some of the finer points of theology, but I gotta be able to pursue this brotherly affection for you. Okay? Some of you may believe differently on some of these issues in this book. Does that really excuse you from loving me dearly like a brother? Or if anything were to happen to me, you're like, no, don't let that happen to me. That's my brother up there.

[Francis Chan]

Make every effort towards that. Make every effort towards love. Add to this. This is work love. Isn't this who you want to be?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Don't you want to be at the.

[Francis Chan]

End of your life, go, God, I.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Just want to be the most loving, you know. You know, towards unbelievers, towards the poor, towards people who hate me, towards my enemies. I just want to be so loving. I want to have this brotherly affection. I want to be pure. I want to be steadfast. I want to have self control. I want to have so much knowledge of you and I can have it all.

[Francis Chan]

And then I love how he says in one of the verses, 8, if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful. In the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If these qualities are yours and increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful. I love that. God guarantees you if you just work on these character issues, you won't be ineffective. See, so often we do it backwards, right?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I mean, we all want to do great things for the Lord, don't we? Don't you just want to go, God, I just listened to the Burnettes. Are you kidding me? They own TV for your glory. And you go, I want to do that. I want to do that.

[Francis Chan]

Well, how do you do that? According to the Bible, don't just pursue that. He goes, if you pursue these qualities and you increase in them every year, I promise you, you will not be unfruitful or ineffective. See, sometimes we do it all backwards. You go, I want to do this. I want to do this. No, why don't you work on being this? And I promise you, you'll do some amazing things. God promised because some of you are.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Sitting here, you're going, man, this is my fifth year of college. I haven't even declared a major. I don't know what my plan is. I don't. I don't know what God's calling me to.

[Francis Chan]

And I'm telling you. Yeah, you do. Brotherly affection, love, self control, perseverance, godliness, virtue, knowledge.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Pursue these things.

[Francis Chan]

You won't waste your life. None of us want to waste our life, not after reading Piper's book.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We don't want to waste our lives.

[Francis Chan]

We go, God, I want to do something. I don't want to just sit. I don't want to just grow old and collect seashells. I don't want to do that. Right? I want to do something while I'm here. And God says, okay, start with you. Start with your character. You've got everything you need, now go after it. You be the godliest person in this room. You get the most. Be the most intimate with Jesus. There's no reason nothing's stopping you. You're a partaker of the divine nature. My favorite part of this verse. Now, finally got or passage, verse 9. Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind. I love that phrase. Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he's blinded, having forgotten he was cleansed from his former sins.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He goes, if you lack this, he goes, you're so nearsighted, you're blind. I love that phrase. The idea of being.

[Francis Chan]

You know what nearsighted is?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You can only see the things that are right.

[Francis Chan]

In front of your face.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Like, I wouldn't be able to see you.

[Francis Chan]

All I could see is my hands. He goes, some people are so nearsighted, all they can see is what's right in front of them at that moment.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

They forget all of these things I just talked about.

[Francis Chan]

Like if I dropped my phone right now, like some of you dropped your iPhone and you crack the screen.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This whole weekend is ruined for you, Right? It's going, oh, man, that's 22 months before my next upgrade. Why didn't I get insurance? And suddenly all you're doing is staring at this one thing. Never mind that you have faith on equal standing with Peter. Forget that you're a partaker of the divine nature. Forget that God's given you everything you need for life and godliness. Forget that one day you're gonna stand before God completely pure because of the cross of Jesus Christ. Forget that one day we're gonna be together with him. Just no more death, no more sickness, and just security, like, forever and ever and ever, inheriting the riches of his king kingdom, the one who died for us.

[Francis Chan]

Because you cracked your screen and you're so nearsighted going on. But you don't understand. I had a chance to buy the protective case last week, and no one's.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Going to get through it. Why? Because you're so nearsighted, you're blind and.

[Francis Chan]

You miss out on all of these things. And I've seen this in so many people. You're going to get so nearsighted. You guys, we're not going to live that long, okay? Some of us won't be here next year.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It's any second for us. Don't get so nearsighted that you lose sight of these spiritual realities. That's why 2nd Corinthians 4:17 says, Our light and momentary troubles. I know it doesn't feel like light and momentary to you. Some of your pain right now, it's so real, you just think it's like Jesus, is there any other way? And yet what God says, your light and momentary troubles, they're achieving for you this eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all. So he says, so we don't look to the things that we can see. We look to the unseen.

[Francis Chan]

Have you ever done that? Look at things that you can't see? He says, stop looking at what you can see, he says, because the things you can see are transient. They're temporary. Everything you see right now is temporary.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

When you look in the mirror, take.

[Francis Chan]

A good look because that's temporary, okay? You're not gonna look like that in 10 years. You can try to do plastic surgery, whatever, but usually it just makes you look creepy. Just.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Just.

[Francis Chan]

It's temporary. I'm temporary. You're temporary. This table's temporary. That screen's temporary. My time is very temporary.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I only got two minutes left. It's all temporary, okay? Everything you can see. And the Bible says, look to the things that are unseen. You know what's crazy is I've been praying for you. Before I came here, I've been praying Second Kings, chapter six over you. Second Kings, chapter six is that passage. You've read it before, but I don't know how seriously you took it. Second Kings 6 is that story where Elisha has an army that's going to kill him. Remember that? And they surround his house, and his servant's like, dude, you've got a whole army outside waiting to kill you.

[Francis Chan]

And Elijah's like, lord, open his eyes. Give him eyes to see. And suddenly his eyes were open, and he sees, like, these chariots of fire, this whole army that he never saw before and going, oh, I guess we're fine. And then God says, okay, you opened his eyes, would you blind everyone else? And everyone went blind. So I told you, it's easy. You just have to see these things you don't see. And I've been praying, oh, God, could you take thousands of young people and maybe for the first time in their lives, they give them eyes? That's why it blew me away last night when Louie talked about this. Give them eyes. This happens almost every year. You know, where Louie and I, some go, oh, you know when you and.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Louie hang out all year long, I see him once a year.

[Francis Chan]

But somehow our messages always come together perfectly. Where God was saying, you know what? They need eyes to see. And I started praying the same thing Elijah prayed for his servant, God, give them eyes that they could take their eyes off of the things that are right there, causing them to be nearsighted. Your job's not gonna last forever. College isn't gonna last forever. You know, whether you're married or not, it doesn't matter. Marriage is not that long. It's just all temporary stuff. Can you see that you're a partaker of the divine nature?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Can you see that?

[Francis Chan]

If Peter was right here standing next to me, it's like, big deal. You guys would all go running to Peter. I'm like, why?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We're the same. We're partakers of divine nature. We've just both been dropped off at the feet of Jesus, getting close to him.

[Francis Chan]

Two weeks ago, I had one of the best, maybe the best prayer time of my life. Okay. You know, talking about how this could be the best and what I did. Cause I want you to try it. I want right now, right before the worship team comes up, I want you to have the best prayer time ever. I can't guarantee that, but you can. And what I did was, for the first time, after reading and meditating on Second Corinthians 4, I thought, he tells me to look to the things that are unseen. I just said, God, I'm gonna forget about everything I could see and touch right now. And I just closed my eyes, and I was no longer in my living room. There's no floor in front of me. There's no chairs in front of me. You know, there's no trees outside. There's nothing else. I go, God, I'd want to look to the things that are seen, just what's unseen. And I thought, what's left? What's left? When I take away everything I can see and touch my soul.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

God, angels.

[Francis Chan]

And demons and the spiritual world and this thing that's not flesh and blood in the true war, that's what's left. And now suddenly, I'm worshiping God in spirit and in truth and just for a moment, forgetting anything that's out there. And I just want to see if we could all do that together. Just bow your heads right now.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Just close your eyes.

[Francis Chan]

And don't be nearsighted right now.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Forget about anything you could see and touch and look to the things that are unseen, that though we don't see him, we love him. And there's this being in heaven in all of his glory. Like Louis says, you can't see see it, but he's there. And the angels are screaming, holy, holy, holy. And that God watched as his son was going, daddy, is there any other way? And he says, oh, it's my will to crush him for you. So don't be blinded by all these things you can see right now in your spirit.

[Francis Chan]

Would you pray to God in spirit and truth and just thank him for the cross?

[Podcast Host]

Thank you for listening to the Crazy Love podcast. Join us next week for a new episode. But until then, for more resources from Crazy Love Ministries or to support the work of Crazy Love, please visit our [e-mail] Sam.