Where do ideas come from?
     1.   Your mind, your spirit, other people's minds/spirits, God (Spirit), Satan (spirit).
     2.   Conclusion
               a.   Ideas originate in either the mind or the spirit.
               b.   Normally associate ideas only with the mind, but as Christians we acknowledge
          that both God & Satan influence our thinking.

Four types of creative people
     1.   Rationalist, relies on intellect
               a.   Creativity limited to what he can think of.
               b.   Rational/analytical thought is limited by what one understands or thinks is
          true/good.
               c.   Often critical of ideas that don't make sense or seem on surface to be
          unworkable.
               d.   Least creative level.
               e.   May become more innovative by using mental techniques which promote new
          thoughts.
                         i.   Will consider some of these later.
                         ii.  Try asking "What if..." questions, for example.
               f.   Can stimulate innovative thoughts by exposing yourself to other's new ideas.

     2.   Natural creative ability
               a.   Man was created in God's image.
               b.   Therefore has inherent ability to think new thoughts, do new things.
                         i.   Human spirit has limited creative ability.
                         ii.  Capable of superseding rational thinking, coming up with innovative
               ideas, concepts.
                                   (1)  instinct, intuition, spontaneity.
                         iii. These new ideas often do not make rational sense at first
                                   (1)  time required for rational thought to accept innovation.
                                   (2)  eventually the innovation becomes part of rational thinking
                    (becomes understandable) and joins the host of other ideas that
                    either encourage or discourage other innovations.
                                   (3)  Example
                                             (a)  Sending pictures through the air once seemed impossible
                         and ridiculous.
                                             (b)  Today we call it television and we still think much of it is
                         ridiculous.
               c.   How innovative thought happens
                         i.   Typical statement:  "The thought just came to me."
                         ii.  Said of Einstein:  concept of relativity just came to him, later worked
               out details and mathematics.
               d.   This initial insight can take many forms:
                         i.   "There ought to be a better way!"
                         ii.  "I know a better way!"
                         iii. This is first step in using your creative ability; often is spontaneous.
                         iv.  Secular writers distinguish between conscious thought, subconscious
               thought.
                         v.   I recognize existence of human spirit.
                         vi.  Whether subconscious thought is strictly a mental function, or is actually
               a spiritual function, or is an interaction between mind & spirit, I don't
               know.
                         vii. Bible's position:  you become what God intended through spiritual
               growth & changing the way you think (your attitudes).
                              viii.     I interpret:  conforming thinking to spiritual reality.
                         ix.  My inclination:  creativity originates in spirit.

     3.   Holy Spirit-led Christian has an advantage.
               a.   God's Spirit, Holy Spirit, lives in you.
                         i.   Cor 3:16  "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and
               that God's Spirit lives in you?"
               b.   God works in you
                         i.   Php 2:13  "it is God who works in you to will and to act according to
               his good purpose."
                         ii.  Col 1:29  "To this end I labor, struggling with all his [Christ's] energy,
               which so powerfully works in me."
               c.   Since God is the only true Creator, since he knows everything, since his ability
          is not limited by human ability, wouldn't it be fantastic if we could tap into his
          creativity?
                         i.   Good news:  we can, we should, & we will.
               d.   Anyone who relies entirely on his own abilities has an incompetent assistant, at
          worst, or is handicapped, at best.
               e.   Anyone who has learned to rely on God in every aspect of his life is the greatest
          in God's kingdom, that is very desirable.
               f.   If you think & do things the way the world does, drawing on human intellect
          and spirit, your results will be no better than what the world gets.
                         i.   Business-as-usual produces results-as-usual.
                         ii.  Garbage in, garbage out.
               g.   "Wait a minute!  People have done a lot of good things and come up with a lot
          of innovations.  Technology is exploding all around us.  You're being too
          critical."
               h.   I'm glad you brought that up.  From a strictly human standpoint, what you say
          is true, but I would prefer not to be strictly human.  Bible clearly & strongly
          encourages us to leave our natural humanity behind and take on a new
          existence:  a supernatural humanity, a divine image, a new creature working in
          harmony with the Creator.  If that is your goal, as it is mine, then we can
          expect major, major changes in our personality, attitudes, perspective, lifestyle
          & effectiveness.  As we said earlier, need creativity just to respond successfully
          to change.  That is why we must learn to depend on creative ability of God's
          Spirit living within us.

     4.   Also possible for Satan & demons to enhance human creativity.
               a.   Satan is not creative in same sense that God is.
               b.   However, mankind is a little lower than the angels and demons
                         i.   Ps 8:4-5  "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that
               you care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
               and crowned him with glory and honor."
                         ii.  Angelic and demonic powers are supernatural.
                                   (1)  Their abilities are greater than man's
                         iii. A demonically-inspired person can far surpass normal human abilities,
               and that is precisely why many people get involved in the occult.
               c.   Although Satan's abilities can amaze people & fill them with awe, he actually is
          very limited in what he can do if you compare him with God.
               d.   Satan can influence your thoughts
                         i.   Mt 16:22-23  "Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  'Never,
               Lord!' he said.  'This shall never happen to you!'
                                             (a)  "Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Out of my sight, Satan!
                         You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in
                         mind the things of God, but the things of men.'"
                         ii.  Acts 5:3  "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled
               your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for
               yourself some of the money you received for the land?'"
                         iii. Eph 2:2  ". . . the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now
               at work in those who are disobedient."
                         iv.  Satan influences men's thoughts, can give them ideas they would not
               normally have.

Summary
     1.   Anyone who limits himself to what he can understand with his mind will be very
     limited in his creative ability.
               a.   He generally accepts only what he believes is true.
               b.   He usually is critical of new ideas.
               c.   Can use mental techniques to become more creative.

     2.   The person who recognizes the creativity of his deeper nature will enhance his
     creativity.
               a.   May call this deeper nature subconscious thought or spirit.
               b.   I suspect:  subconscious thought is closely related to activity of your spirit.

     3.   The few people who learn to rely on God in all areas of their lives are likely to:
               a.   maximize their inherent creativity;
               b.   experience God's creativity.

     4.   Creativity seems dependent on a basic assumption:  we are not limited to our current
     situation; there is more than we are presently experiencing.

     5.   It seems to me that anyone who relies heavily on God, the One who is much greater
     than myself, has the greatest creative potential.