I. Creator Endowed Rights to Life, Liberty, and the Property/Pursuit of Happiness/Virtue are Self-evident

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. [We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America]  But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Tale of 2 Revolutions fiu.edu/~fcf/french.html  +3 rev;direct; terror;dict;+2king;5repub

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.    www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/    [21/27 currently]

II. We must look to God for our Life, Liberty, and Happiness, declaring our Daily Dependence upon Him.

Ps 145:15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. (see DTB Ps 5)
1Ch 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. 15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You,

Rm13:1 Let every soul be line up under the higher authorities/powers. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been set in place (pft pass)  by God.2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the arrangement of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers  are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing.7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. 1Pt 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Dan 2:21

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
Declare your Dependence Lk 22:42 "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

III. God has a plan for us to find our Life, Liberty and Happiness in our dependent relationship with Him

Jn 10:10 The thief...steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Mt 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 16:25  whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Ps 64:1; 86:2 (God) preserves life (of those who trust)

Jn 8:31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." [guilt; anxiety; bitterness; addiction; self tyranny; enslaved to history/opinion; fruits of flesh]
Gal 5:13 brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another

Jn 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.:7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.10 If you keep My commandments,  you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 16:24...in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 
1Jn 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Is it possible for a government to cease being that set in place by God (Hitler, Stalin, etc)? What about civil disobedience?
2. Is a person without any restraints really free? What's the difference between liberty and freedom? What do we enjoy in Christ?
3. To what are most people enslaved? How can you help them find freedom in Christ? Are you an example of freedom? How so?
4. How should one respond to an authority who rewards evil and punishes good? Are they a minister of God doing His work?
5. Since independence is the essence of sin, how can/do you express your daily (ongoing) dependence upon God? Rm 12:1-2