10 Responsibilities of Freedom | Dr. Myles Munroe

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the shift from dependence to responsibility as individuals mature. Using biblical metaphors, he explains that in times of immaturity, people are given provision by God, but in times of freedom and growth, they must take responsibility for their own needs—whether it’s digging wells, growing food, protecting their families, or cultivating their spiritual growth. Maturity requires self-reliance, worship, and taking control of one's life, as freedom comes with the expectation of accountability and discipline in all aspects of life.

Takeaways

• 🌱 You must take responsibility for the talents, abilities, and potential that have been invested in you. Maturity demands that you show your ability to respond to life's challenges.
• 🚰 In freedom, you must provide for yourself, such as digging your own wells. Unlike in the wilderness where water was provided, maturity requires self-sufficiency.
• 🌾 You must sow your own crops in freedom. In the wilderness, food was freely given, but in maturity, you must work to produce your own sustenance.
• 🐄 You need to breed your own cattle in freedom. In the wilderness, God provided meat, but in maturity, you must manage your own resources.
• 🛡️ In freedom, you must protect your own territory. Unlike in the wilderness where protection was provided, maturity demands that you defend what is yours.
• 👗 In freedom, you must make your own clothes. The wilderness provided without need, but maturity requires you to create and sustain your own necessities.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 You must defend your own family and children in freedom. Maturity means taking responsibility for the safety and well-being of those under your care.
• 🙏 In freedom, you must instigate your own worship and spiritual practices. Maturity requires discipline and self-initiation in your relationship with God.
• ⚔️ In freedom, you must fight your own battles. While God fought for you in the wilderness, in maturity, He fights alongside you as you take responsibility.
• 📋 In freedom, you must delegate and manage responsibilities. Maturity requires that everyone carries their own load rather than relying solely on leadership.

Q & A

What does the speaker mean by 'sponsor' in the context of this transcript?

The 'sponsor' refers to God, who has invested abilities, talents, and potential in people. The speaker emphasizes that God expects people to respond to life's demands using the gifts and responsibilities He has given them.

What does the speaker suggest people must do for themselves in the 'land of maturity'?

In the 'land of maturity,' people must take responsibility for themselves by digging their own wells, sowing their own wheat, breeding their own cattle, protecting their territory, and covering their own needs, like making clothes and defending their families.

How does the speaker contrast the wilderness and the land of Canaan?

In the wilderness, God provided everything for the people—food, water, protection, and even clothing. However, in Canaan, people had to work for these things themselves, symbolizing a shift to personal responsibility and maturity.

What is the significance of 'digging your own wells' in the context of this message?

'Digging your own wells' represents self-reliance and taking responsibility. In Canaan, people had to dig for their own water, unlike in the wilderness where God provided it miraculously. This highlights the need to actively work for what is needed in life.

Why does the speaker mention the need to 'sow your own wheat'?

The speaker uses 'sow your own wheat' as a metaphor for taking responsibility for your sustenance. In the wilderness, God provided manna, but in Canaan, they had to plant and harvest their own crops, symbolizing the shift to personal effort and responsibility.

What does the speaker mean by 'breed your own cattle'?

'Breed your own cattle' signifies the need to take charge of your resources and means of production. In the wilderness, God sent quail to provide meat, but in the land of freedom, the people had to raise and manage their own livestock.

How does the speaker describe the difference in worship between the wilderness and Canaan?

In the wilderness, worship was spontaneous, fueled by visible signs of God's presence (like fire and clouds). In Canaan, people had to be more intentional and disciplined in their worship, offering sacrifices and making efforts to commune with God.

What lesson does the speaker draw from the need to 'defend your own territory'?

The speaker teaches that in the 'land of freedom,' people must take responsibility for protecting their own homes and families. This symbolizes the importance of being proactive and prepared to defend what you possess, rather than relying on divine intervention.

What is the speaker's message about 'spiritual growth' in the land of freedom?

In the land of freedom, spiritual growth becomes a personal responsibility. While God may have nurtured growth in the wilderness, individuals in Canaan must actively seek communion with God, study the Word, and develop their spiritual lives.

What does the speaker mean by 'divide and delegate responsibility'?

The speaker suggests that in the land of freedom, leadership should not bear all responsibilities. Instead, everyone must take on their own roles and responsibilities, sharing the load and contributing to the community's well-being.

Outlines

00:00

💡 Embrace Responsibility and Maturity

This section emphasizes the importance of recognizing the gifts and abilities bestowed upon you, and how these blessings come with responsibilities. It highlights the transition from relying on external help to taking ownership of one's actions. In the land of maturity, you must respond to life's demands by showcasing your potential and abilities.

05:01

🌾 Self-Sufficiency in the Land of Freedom

Here, the focus shifts to the concept of self-reliance. It contrasts the wilderness, where God provided for everything, with the land of Canaan, where individuals must take responsibility. They must dig their own wells, plant their own crops, breed their own livestock, and protect their own territory. Freedom requires active participation and responsibility for one's survival and success.

🛡️ Defend and Provide for Your Own

This paragraph discusses the importance of protecting and providing for one's family and community. In Canaan, people had to defend their own homes and provide their own clothes. The idea of responsibility extends beyond oneself to include the well-being of those under their care, signifying a shift from divine protection to personal accountability.

🙏 Mature Worship Requires Discipline

In the land of freedom, worship is no longer spontaneous and easy, as it was in the wilderness. Maturity means worshiping out of knowledge and discipline, not just feelings. Individuals must take responsibility for their spiritual practices, such as praying and fasting, without relying on external motivation. Personal discipline becomes key to maintaining a strong connection with God.

⚔️ Take Ownership of Your Spiritual Growth and Battles

Spiritual growth and battles become personal responsibilities in the land of freedom. Unlike the wilderness, where God took care of everything, individuals must now actively participate in their spiritual development and fight their own battles. While God still supports them, they are expected to lead the charge and take ownership of their journey.

🤝 Share the Load and Delegate

The final paragraph highlights the importance of sharing responsibility and delegating tasks in a community. In the wilderness, the leader bore the entire burden, but in the land of freedom, everyone must contribute and carry their own load. This signifies a more mature, collaborative approach to life where leadership is distributed, and each person plays a role.

Keywords

💡Responsibility

Responsibility refers to the ability to respond to the tasks and demands that life places upon an individual. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that in the 'land of freedom,' one must demonstrate responsibility by taking control of their own actions and duties, such as defending their own territory, providing for their family, and maintaining their spiritual growth.

💡Maturity

Maturity is the state of being fully developed in terms of behavior, responsibility, and decision-making. The video contrasts the 'wilderness' phase, where individuals are dependent on external support, with the 'land of freedom,' where maturity requires taking charge of one's own needs, such as digging wells, sowing crops, and providing for one's family.

💡Wilderness

The 'Wilderness' is used metaphorically to describe a phase of dependency and reliance on external support. In the context of the video, it represents a period where people receive divine provision (e.g., manna from heaven, protection, and guidance), and they are not yet required to fend for themselves.

💡Canaan

Canaan symbolizes a land of freedom, self-sufficiency, and maturity. It represents the phase where individuals are expected to take full responsibility for their lives, make their own choices, and manage their own resources. The speaker mentions that in Canaan, they had to dig their own wells, plant their own crops, and fight their own battles.

💡Self-Sufficiency

Self-sufficiency is the ability to provide for oneself without relying on others. In the 'land of freedom,' the speaker highlights that individuals must become self-sufficient by digging their own wells, sowing their own wheat, and breeding their own cattle, reflecting a shift from dependence to independence.

💡Divine Provision

Divine Provision refers to the miraculous support and sustenance provided by a higher power. In the video, the 'wilderness' period is characterized by divine provision, such as water from the rock, manna from heaven, and protection. This provision is contrasted with the responsibility to provide for oneself in the 'land of freedom.'

💡Worship

Worship in the video is portrayed as an act of devotion that requires personal initiative and maturity. In the 'wilderness,' worship was spontaneous and supported by visible signs of divine presence, such as a cloud or fire. In the 'land of freedom,' worship must be intentional, based on knowledge and discipline, rather than emotional or external prompts.

💡Growth

Growth refers to both spiritual and personal development. In the 'wilderness,' growth is facilitated by external factors and divine intervention. In contrast, in the 'land of freedom,' individuals are expected to take charge of their growth, including their spiritual communion with God and self-improvement practices.

💡Freedom

Freedom in the video is portrayed as both a privilege and a responsibility. It involves moving from a state of dependence (the 'wilderness') to one of independence and maturity (the 'land of freedom'). It requires individuals to take ownership of their actions, resources, and spiritual life, and to handle their challenges directly.

💡Battle

Battle is used metaphorically to represent the struggles and challenges one must face in life. In the 'wilderness,' God fights for the people. In the 'land of freedom,' God fights with them, meaning they must actively engage in their battles, defending their own territory, family, and values.

Highlights

Appreciate the gifts, talents, and abilities that have been invested in you; responsibility is demanded in return.

In the land of maturity, you must manifest and show your ability to respond to life's demands.

In the wilderness, God provided water, but in Canaan, you must dig your own wells.

In the wilderness, free manna was provided, but in Canaan, you must sow your own wheat.

You must breed your own cattle in freedom; no more quail provided like in the wilderness.

Protect your own territory in freedom; God defended you in the wilderness, but in Canaan, you must defend yourself.

In freedom, you must sow your own clothes; no more free clothes like in the wilderness.

You must defend your own family and children in freedom; take responsibility for their protection.

Offer your own sacrifices and instigate your own worship in the land of freedom.

In Canaan, you must worship out of knowledge, not just feelings.

In freedom, you must bring your own worship; maturity means taking responsibility for your spiritual life.

In the wilderness, God grew you up, but in Canaan, you must grow yourself up.

In freedom, you fight your own battles; God fights with you, not for you.

In freedom, you must divide and delegate responsibility; everyone has their own load.

Take responsibility for your own communion with God in freedom; you are responsible for your own spiritual growth.

Transcripts

[Music]

you must appreciate the gifts

and the talents and the abilities and

the potential

and the capacity that the sponsor has

invested in you

now he's demanding a response ability

from you

he sponsored you with ability and

strength and wisdom

and potential he's invested treasure in

you and now he's demanding that he sees

the treasure back

in the line of maturity you must

manifest and

show your ability to respond to the

demands

life places upon you in the land of

maturity

these are the things you must do for

yourself write this down this is the

list

you must dig your own wells

in the wilderness god gave them water

from the rock

but in canaan they had to dig their own

wells to get water

number two you must sow your own wheat

in the wilderness they got free food

free bread free manna from heaven but in

canaan

god shut the manor down and they had to

plant their own fields their own corn

their own wheat number three in the

wilderness

you got to breed your own cattle

in the wilderness in in freedom rather

you got to bridge your own cattle

in the wilderness god sent quail down

quail is good meat at one time they got

tired of the quail and god sent down

another kind of meat i mean they had

changed a menu

even they enjoyed the meat but

in the land of canaan and freedom they

had to

breed their own cattle their own goats

and sheep and lamb

why because god demanded responsibility

number four in freedom

you have to protect your own territory

in the wilderness god defended them

god protected them but in canaan god

told them every man get a sword

and protect the land that you possess

you got to protect your own land when

you're free number five

sow your own clothes

in the wilderness they didn't have to

buy any clothes nor make any the bible

says their clothes did not wear out

god is awesome but in the wilderness

he did that because he knew that they

could not sow

but the reason why god would give you a

lot of free stuff so you could use the

time

to learn to get it for yourself do you

understand

he will give you free stuff so you don't

have to worry about where stuff is

coming from

so you can concentrate on learning how

to get it for yourself

but when they ran into canaan

their clothes wore out and they had to

now learn to make

wool out of the sheep so they can make

cloth

so they can develop their own clothes

they have to learn how to spin their own

thread

in the in the land of freedom you have

to cover your

own body

number six in freedom you must defend

your own family and children

you must defend your own family and

children whatever comes under your care

got to be covered by you

you know in the land of

of the wilderness god protected all the

children he covered them he kept them

healthy kept them alive

but in the land of freedom in canaan the

bible says

god told the men of fighting age to

protect the homes of the children

we can read this later on in the book of

joshua where they had to defend

their territory every single time the

enemy came

god even though he fought with them he

never fought for them

they always have to go to battle they

have to be in the fight

number seven

you must offer your own sacrifices

in the land of freedom that means you

must instigate your own worship

in the early part of your walk with the

lord you'll find that worship is very

spontaneous

how many of you know that when you first

i mean you were so you come into service

you're ready to dance whoo

and some of you men you know i just

watched you dance now you've been saved

for 10 years you don't dance no more

why because when you first enter the

land of the wilderness

you have a tambourine it's really easy

to dance miriam i mean there's joy in

your heart hallelujah but when you reach

into canaan

and you're grown up and you're free now

and you are mature

then the feeling ain't no more hello

you got to worship out of what knowledge

now

you got to say he deserves my praise my

body don't want to do it i'm going to

make it do it i'm gonna discipline

my body to sing i'm gonna discipline my

hands and lift it up

and some of you wondering well you know

some years ago we'd walk in and we just

all be so happy

yeah how long how long has it been been

seven years now right lift your own hand

don't let brother mark make you lift

your hand no more

can i hear a slight amen somewhere you

got to be responsible now for your own

worship

in the wilderness believe me god would

appear to them all day and all night

in the night a pillar of flash fire

showed up and god was there all night

yeah this fire is crackling in the air

and you come out at 10 in the night look

at three o'clock in the morning and god

is right over in the middle

of the camp this big blaze of fire there

i mean the presence of lord is with us

why it was all based on feeling and

based on tangible things that you could

see

in the day he comes in a cloud and that

cloud was right there in the middle of

the camp

all day this big cloud heavy white

powerful

light filled cloud just there and they

knew god is with us

and then when they reached canaan ain't

no cloud show up

ain't no more fire by night god says

take the ark on your

own shoulder

and walk into the land with it they have

to carry the presence by themselves

do you see maturity when you become

an adult and you claim that you are free

in the lord jesus christ

then it means that your freedom demands

that you bring your own worship

and that's why you shouldn't come to

this meeting saying well i hope they

packed me up today

bring your own prep hello

you matured pray yourself up before you

come to service

fast but don't wait for me to tell you

to fast that's maturity that's

discipline

that's maturity take responsibility to

read the word

and get your mind on god before you come

to a corporate meeting so when we come

together we can all flow together

and number eight in the land of freedom

you are responsible for your own

communion

with god you got to commune with god

for yourself it's very important in

freedom

you are responsible for your own

spiritual growth

in the wilderness god will grow you up

but in the

canaan you grow yourself up

number nine in freedom you fight

your own battles

in the wilderness god fights for you

in the wilderness he fights for you in

canaan he fights

with you

and number 10 in freedom

you must divide and delegate

responsibility

in the wilderness the leader does

everything

everything is resting on the shoulders

of the leader but

in freedom everyone gets their own load