<h2>A model of the Spirit's method</h2>

I was thinking about how the work of the Holy Spirit relates to the relationships that Christians have, and it occurred to me that there is a progression. This progression is not primarily chronological, although that would seem to be implied, but rather each stage lays the groundwork for the following one.

• The first, and most fundamental, stage is the individual. Everyone has the calling to develop a personal relationship with God, and how this relationship develops will vary from one person to the next. I have thought that there are five steps each individual goes through, though maybe some steps may be skipped, and the progression is unlikely to be linear: (i) ignore God, (ii) fight with God, (iii) listen to God, (iv) trust God, (v) submit to God. Strongholds encountered in the individual's growth, when they are not spiritual, are typically psychological/emotional.
• When the first stage has become fairly internalized, the next stage in the Christian's growth relates to family. The most foundational relationship any human being has is with his or her spouse. Here is where the fruits of the Spirit are first manifest, and here is where God has the most leeway to make us holy. There is a Christian model of marriage which is central to success at this stage. Here the main non-spiritual obstacles are also psychological, though societal pressures can be quite strong in creating confusion and disarray.
• At the third stage, the family … as a unit … belongs to a community of Christians. I suspect that this is the level at which, when the community is truly under the sway of the Holy Spirit, transformation and acts of power come into their own. There are any number of things that can go wrong at this level, as "churches" (in the conventional, not scriptural, sense of the word) can easily degenerate into social clubs or old boys (or girls) clubs. Strongholds here are usually attributable to societal pressures, though any issues with control or power-seeking among leaders of the congregation can also be very disruptive.
• Finally, the community as a collection of families, consisting of individuals who are each filled with the Holy Spirit, reaches out to the broader society, creating a safe place where those who seek the Lord, or even just assistance, can come for help and comfort. Much of this will occur within the neighbourhood, but sometimes the outreach will go clear around the world as the Enemy lays siege to nations by imposing tyrants, fomenting civil war, or causing famine. The strongholds here are principally societal.

Any thoughts?