Today, we are going launching a new series called, “At the Movies!” Each Sunday we will take a current blockbuster movie and use it as a parable to tell the amazing story of God’s Good News!

This is fourth of July weekend, so obviously we are going with  INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE

This movie is a sequel to the original 20 years ago. There was an alien attack on the world in 1996 and a crew led by Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum fought back to reestablish their independence from alien occupation.

Now, in 2016 there has been a resurgence of domination, fear, and possession.  The aliens represent an occupation of evil that strips humanity of its dignity, creativity, and most of all our independence.

The aliens are huge, multi-layer, extremely quick and intelligent. Obviously, more power than humans and can maintain complete control over humans. Our guns are big enough. Our money doesn’t matter to them. Our beauty, Athletic skill, education, means NOTHING to them. Aliens are not intimidated at all. When your spaceship lands on the Atlantic ocean (the whole Atlantic ocean) there isn’t much that earthlings can do.

In reality, there IS a force that dominates humanity.   There is a force of darkness that descended on the planet many years ago.

The devil has been fighting us for millennia. Breaking up marriages, pitting us against each other, spreading diseases, violence erupting, natural disasters, greed is a contagious power that eats away the soul and spirit of humanity

The good news is that we can be FREE from this grip of the devil.  JESUS CHRIST came to the earth to live as one of us and fight the fight.  Jesus Christ took on our sins and brokenness and nailed it to the cross.

Colossians 4:13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

When wondering how to apply this VICTORY of JESUS to our life, the story of America’s independence has an amazing parallel. Tomorrow, we will be BBQing, shooting fireworks, hanging out at the River.

Ironically, on July 4, 1776, a battle was not won. A Document was voted on. It wasn’t even signed (it was signed a month later). We celebrate our DAY of Independence, not on a battle day but instead as the day our make-shift congress voted on a document.

BUT It was more than a document. It was a declaration! A Declaration is a statement asserting or protecting a legal right.

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 the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown…

• They made it known formally or officially. They revealed or made it manifest.
• They stated emphatically or authoritatively.
• “Not longer will we be dictated, ruled, controlled, by the King of England.”
  The king didn’t have their interest in mind.

When you declare something it begins to manifest. IT IS TIME THAT WE DECLARE OR ASSERT OUR LEGAL RIGHT AS GOD’s Kids.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm (profess), for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

What do you need to be independent from?  Because Jesus literally lived a sinless life and then willingly gave his life for the sins of all the world, then we have a legal right as God’s kids to live a life of freedom!
We declare to OURSELVES, our PEERS, our ENEMY our independence from:

• OUR SIN
• OUR EMOTIONS
• OUR MINDS
• OUR APATHY

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN THERE IS A RESURGENCE?

Sometimes, even after the devil has been defeated in your life, he will rear his ugly head and act like it never happened.

What do you do in a resurgence?

John 8:35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

John 8:44 …He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR.

When temptation comes your way, you need to say, “Oh, Hell NO”!

Do you know John Dickinson or Robert Livingston? They both did not sign because they clung to the idea of reconciliation with Brittan.