How to Experience God (The Holy Spirit as Breath) // Jeff Brodie // Closer Than You Think (Part 1)

·42 min·4 clips

Jeff Brodie asks if you believe in God but don't feel a personal connection, kicking off a series on the Holy Spirit.

This episode is the first part of a series titled 'Closer Than You Think,' exploring the Holy Spirit over four weeks. Host Jeff Brodie begins by acknowledging that many people, whether seekers or long-time Christians, question how to personally connect with God. He introduces the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, emphasizing it is a person, not a force, and notes a study showing 53% of Christians mistakenly view it as a force. Brodie references a Billy Graham quote about Christians feeling unfulfilled and experiencing recurring defeats, suggesting this stems from a lack of engagement with the Holy Spirit. He introduces the term 'functional cessationist,' coined by Tyler Staten, describing those who theologically believe the Holy Spirit works today but functionally live as if He doesn't. The host then turns to the biblical account of Nicodemus, a Pharisee who secretly visits Jesus at night. Nicodemus recognizes Jesus' miraculous signs but struggles to understand Jesus' teaching about being 'born again' through the Spirit. Brodie explains that Nicodemus represents those who seek explanation before experience, whereas Jesus often works through experience first. The metaphor of the Holy Spirit as wind or breath is explored, with examples from Genesis, Ezekiel, and Acts. Brodie shares a personal story about his son being stranded on a plane in Iceland due to strong winds, illustrating the Spirit's uncontrollable power. He encourages listeners to step out in faith, using his own experience of learning to windsurf late in his camp career as a metaphor for leaving the 'shore' of safe faith. Brodie outlines a formula from John Mark Comer: intimacy plus holiness plus faith equals the power of the Holy Spirit. He warns against stifling the Spirit, referencing 1 Thessalonians, and invites listeners to identify areas where they resist the Spirit. The episode concludes with a prayer and practical resources, including a magnet with a QR code for daily Holy Spirit encouragement.

As heard by us

A practical sermon on trusting God amid uncertainty, shaped by Nicodemus, a workplace nudge, and the image of leaving the shore.

Closer Than You Think frames personal knowledge of God as something more immediate than belief from a distance. It keeps that idea practical, tracing how attention to the Holy Spirit might show up in ordinary choices: praying for someone at work, giving generously, asking…

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Why you'd press play

When you want to follow a spiritual nudge before demanding the full explanation, this is your kind of morning.

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