Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority

This Will Solve Most Problems

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Civil Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2025-07-20

Synopsis: John Weaver argues that a lack of submission is the root of most problems in life. Using the examples of Joseph and Daniel, he shows that their submissive attitudes toward God and His providence, even in unjust suffering, led to their exaltation. The sermon calls believers to submit to God, to one another, and to God-ordained authorities, promising that such submission would resolve conflicts in homes, churches, and nations.

[John Weaver] If you would open your Bibles this morning to 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5, and believe it or not, I'm not actually going to preach on this verse, but I'm going to illustrate this verse, and it is certainly a verse that you and I need to apply. The title of the message is, This Would Solve Most Problems. Stop and think about this. I could add this one thing would solve most problems. Every one of us has problems. Many different kinds of problems. Physical problems, financial problems, emotional problems, mental problems, spiritual problems, family problems, you name them. Everybody has problems. But I want you to look in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5 at what the Word of God says.

[John Weaver] Likewise, you younger submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility. For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. There are two men in the Bible of which we read absolutely nothing negative about them. And those two men are Joseph and Daniel. Yes, they were sinners, and yes, they knew they were sinners. But they're unique in this sense that nothing's ever really said negative about these two men. The one thing that stands out about both of these men is that they were absolutely submissive to God and to his providential dealings in their lives.

[John Weaver] I'm going to show you this this morning, but there were no complaints, there were no whinings, there were no groanings, there were no grumblings from them, just simply submission. Now here's the basic truth. Because of our sinful nature, we hate submission. Yet the truth of the matter is, it is a lack of submission that causes most problems. Twice in the New Testament, our Lord commands that if we are in the wrong, the wise thing to do would be to submit and work things out before it gets to a court of law.

[John Weaver] These passages do not convey an attitude of compromise. Rather, what they convey is an attitude of submission to an adversary when we are wrong and we have basically are being held over a barrel and our Lord is telling us that we need to just submit and work things out and not destroy ourselves. Here are these two passages. Let me just read them. First one is Matthew 5 in verse 25 where our Lord says this, agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."

[John Weaver] So what he is saying is don't wait around, don't be so rebellious and so defiant that you end up destroying yourself. You will find the same truth again in Luke chapter 12 and verse 58 where he says this, when thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou may be delivered from him, lest he hail thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison." Now here's the problem, and here is the absolute truth.

[John Weaver] There are most people that have an attitude of rebellion and resistance and defiance to the absolute extent that they would much rather destroy themselves and others rather than to submit to God or anyone else. Now, when we think of submission, and Tom and I were talking about this this morning before service, when we think of submission, the very first passage that we think about is the passage that demands that wives be in submission to their husbands. And listen to this, if you would, Ephesians 5, verses 22 through 24. Submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Here's why.

[John Weaver] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he's the Savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let their wives be to their own husbands, and everything.

[John Weaver] Now, most men will take those verses and say, all right, woman, listen to me. You're to be in submission to me. That's what the Word of God says. Yes, that is what the Word of God says. But however, God also commands the husbands. He said in Ephesians 5 in verse 25, husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. Now listen, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. show up men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

[John Weaver] For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth him." So listen to me, just as God requires the wives to be in submission to the husbands, He requires the husbands to be in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the Bible says in Ephesians 5 in verse 21, submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. There is a place for submission for each of us to everyone.

[John Weaver] I told someone the other day, I would have no problem listening to a woman teach on herbs as long as she's not preaching in church. Because if she knows more about herbs, fine. I'd listen to her. If I want to know how to deliver a baby, I'm going to listen to Dr. Bowen. He's done it far more times than I have, so I can submit to him in that. In other words, we can submit in many, many different areas. I want you to just stop and think about this this morning. I want you to think about all of the heartache, all of the sorrow, and all of the hurt that could have been avoided if children just simply submitted themselves and honored and obeyed their parents as God requires, and if wives submitted their husbands as God requires, and if husbands submitted themselves to Jesus Christ as God requires.

[John Weaver] You see, the truth of the matter is this. No one escapes submission. Do you realize that even congregations or commanded to be in submission to their pastors, that is, the under-shepherds, who are under the chief shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17. I could multiply passages here, but look at this one. Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17, the Word of God says, Obey them that have the rule over you.

[John Weaver] Now, who would that be? Well, look at the context. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you." So, the Bible says that you are to submit to me, or to any under-shepherd who's teaching the Word of God. You're not to submit to me if I'm telling you I think you ought to part your hair on the other side of your head.

[John Weaver] That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about teaching and preaching the Word of God. And he says, obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account. So that means this, I will give an account to each one of you to the Lord Jesus Christ. So I can say to Christ, well, Tom, listen to me, and Angie, listen to me, because she's submissive to him and he's submissive to Jesus Christ, I'm going to give an account. Or if I have to come up and say, Lord, Boy, that man was so defiant, that man was so rebellious, he wouldn't listen at all. Now, that's going to be unprofitable for him, not for me, but I'll give an account to everyone who sits under this ministry. Wow.

[John Weaver] So, notice this if you would please. The Bible also says in James 4 and verse 7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he'll flee from you. And I just read 1 Peter 5 and verse 5, and I want to repeat it again. Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility. Why? For God resisted the proud, but he gave the grace to the humble. Now, here's another truth. Listen to me. We're commanded to obey and submit to magistrates. Did you know that? The Bible says in Titus 3 and verse 5, So God expects us to be in subjection to magistrates however. He also commands the magistrates to be in subjection to him.

[John Weaver] That's why the Bible says in Romans 13, verses 1 and 2,"...let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God, and shall receive to themselves damnation or condemnation." In other words, God is absolutely the highest power. There's no one higher than Him.

[John Weaver] And so all then are commanded to be in subjection to him. There are no exceptions. It's true that God has ordained magistrates. It's true that God has ordained rulers. But the one that ordained them is higher in authority than they are, and therefore they are accountable and responsible to him. Like I said earlier, no one escapes submission. No one.

[John Weaver] Now, you ask, What in the world has all of this to do with Daniel and Joseph? I'm not going to dwell on the life of Daniel today, because the life of Joseph is going to take up most of my time. But I do want to give you one instance from Daniel. I want you to look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Daniel, chapter 6. And I want us to begin reading there with verse 16. And I want to ask you a question.

[John Weaver] Remember now, if you would please, we're talking about submission. I said this one thing would solve most problems. So, if you look in Daniel chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Look at this. Daniel 6 and verse 16. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lord's, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried, with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver him from the mouth of the lions?

[John Weaver] Then Daniel said unto the king, O king, live forever." Now, I want you to be absolutely honest at this point, because I'm going to ask you a question. Here you go. If you had been wrongly and wickedly accused and wrongly and wickedly condemned and thrown into a den of lions when you knew that you were thrown into that den of lions because of wicked men that the king had appointed and these men got together and lied to the king and actually forced him in one sense of the word to sign a law that was absolutely stupid and foolish and got you thrown in the lion's den. Now, here's my question. If you knew all of that, and you had to spend the night with those stinking lions, when the king came out the next morning, would your attitude be like Daniel's? Oh, king, live forever.

[John Weaver] What would you have done? I know what you would have done. I know what I would have done. We would have given that king a tongue lashing that he really truly deserved because he was so foolish and so stupid to be deceived by those men that he appointed. But Daniel was very submissive. He just said, O king, live forever.

[John Weaver] Now, as I read through the life of Joseph again this past week, I was struck at the fact that nowhere in Scripture is it recorded that he fought back, he struck back, or complained. Everything that Joseph went through he merely submitted to. In this sense, he was a type of Christ that submitted to all of the indignities and sufferings and reproaches and then finally was elevated to the highest position. It is said of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 53 in verse 7, and he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before shearers is done, so he opened not his mouth. Now, I believe that it was Joseph's faith in the absolute sovereignty of God, as well as the promises of God that kept him in submission in all that he endured. He believed that God's providence would work out that which was best in his life, and that which was going to bring God honor and glory.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to just run you through this. I know that you know the story, but you've got to see the point that I'm making. First of all, I want you to look in Genesis chapter 37, because Joseph was hated and despised by his brothers because of his dreams. And you know those dreams how, of course, God gave them the dreams about the sheaves arising and bowing down and all of this. And it's difficult in reality for me to imagine that one could be so hated and despised because of dreams, even if those dreams do indicate a position of superiority or rulership.

[John Weaver] I mean, let's face it, a dream is a dream. And so it would be sufficient, in one sense of the word, just to dismiss Joseph's dreams as a dream of a boy. What boy has not dreamed of being a warrior? Or a racer? Or a cowboy? Or a rodeo rider? Or a president? Or a king? I remember when I was a little boy, and this is so stupid, My sister's two years older than I am, but I never will forget. She told me one day that if I never stepped on an ant, I would be a king someday. I carefully avoid stepping on an ant until I realize that was mighty stupid. That was foolish.

[John Weaver] It didn't take me long. But I, you know, stop and think about that. Boys have dreams. Girls have dreams. I'm just simply saying. But these dreams were taken as a personal slam by the brothers. The older brothers despised him for his dreams. So look in Genesis chapter 37, beginning there with verse 1, the Bible says that Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and his land was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all of his children, because he was the son of an old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peacefully unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren, and they hated him yet the more.

[John Weaver] And he said to them, Here, I pray you, this dream which I dreamed. For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheep arose, and also stood upright. And, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheep. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us, or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.

[John Weaver] if he just kept his mouth shut. In other words, he could have the dreams if he just didn't tell them. And he dreamed yet another dream, and he told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more, and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it his father and to his brethren, and his father rebuked him and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I, thy mother and thy brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee and unto the earth? And his brethren envied him, but his father observed the same."

[John Weaver] Now, I've pointed this out previously in other sermons. I hope you remember it. This coat of many colors was not just simply a pretty coat. The coat of many colors indicated that Joseph was now going to be considered the firstborn.

[John Weaver] Now, he was the firstborn of Rachel, but Reuben was his firstborn, but Reuben defiled his father's count, So, Reuben was cast out from the position of firstborn, okay? So, this coat of many colors then indicates that Joseph is now going to be the executor of the estate. Now, Joseph, of course, was only 17 years of age. I think the dreams were secondary to their hatred for Joseph.

[John Weaver] Because, if you'll notice in verse 2, These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with his sons of Zilpah, and with his sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now, Joseph was not a tattletale, but these boys were going to do something that was really wicked and wrong. Maybe they were going to steal the sheep. I don't know what they were going to do. But Joseph came and said, that's not right, dad. This is what's happening.

[John Weaver] You need to correct this. And when when Jacob saw that Joseph was honorable and doing things right, he says, you're going to be the one that takes over.

[John Weaver] Now, here's the interesting thing. The dreams, I believe, were secondary to their hatred of him. So skip down to verse 18, if you would, please. Genesis 37, verse 18.

[John Weaver] Now, his father has sent him to his brethren. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit. And we will say some evil beast hath devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.

[John Weaver] And Reuben heard it, and he delivered them out of their hands, and he said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness. and lay no hand upon him, that he might rid him out of their hands, deliver him to his father again."

[John Weaver] Now look at this,"...and it came to pass when Joseph was coming to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him, and they took him and cast him into the pit, and the pit was empty." There's no water. What's the first thing that they did? They destroyed his coat. They stripped him of that coat. That is why I'm telling you that I do believe that the dreams were secondary, they were jealous of the fact that Joseph was chosen over them and the fact that he had more honor than they had. Now, so instead of murdering Joseph, they decide they're going to sell him. So if you'll look in Genesis chapter 37, look at verse 26, and Judas said to his brethren, what profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? and let us sell them to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, and our flesh, and his brethren were consent. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen, and they drew him, lifted up Joseph out of the bed, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt."

[John Weaver] Now, I've pointed this out before, I'll say it again. Who did he sell to? Who was Joseph sold to? The Ishmaelites or the Midianites? Well, the answer is both because they're one and the same. The Ishmaelites lived in Midian, so they were Midianites because of where they lived, but they were Ishmaelites in that they were descendants of Ishmael.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note something here. Joseph did not fight, though he did protest against the treatment. When I say that, he did beseech them not to do what they were doing, which anyone would have done. If you would look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 42. Genesis 42. The brethren are standing before Joseph. They do not recognize him. He knows who they are. So notice, if you would, Genesis 43 verse 41. And verse 21, Genesis 42 verse 21, And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear.

[John Weaver] Therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child, and you will not hear. Therefore, behold, his blood is required."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to note the words anguish and distress are the same Hebrew word, sarah, and it refers to trouble, anguish, distress, affliction, adversity, and tribulation. So here's what they're saying. We are now in the same adversity. We're now in the same tribulation. We're now in the same anguish and distress that Joseph was in when he besought us. And the word besought happens to be the Hebrew word kanan and it means to show favor and to be gracious and to pity. All Joseph was saying is just be faithful and have pity upon me. Wow!

[John Weaver] He asked them not to do what they were doing. I would have done the same thing. Would you not have done that? And so here he is hated and sold into slavery by his brothers. So here's the second thing. He was not only hated, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. Now watch this. I want you to hold the book of Genesis, but turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 105. And I want you to look at verses 17 and 18. Psalm 105. verses 17 and 18. Look at this. Now, Joseph was sold as a slave into slavery.

[John Weaver] You know, we tend to think, well, they took him out, put him on a camel, and there he went down to Egypt with these Ishmaelites. Well, that's not quite the way it was. So in the book of Psalms, Psalm 105, verse 17, the Bible says this. He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant. whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron.

[John Weaver] So they chained him and fettered him just like they do any slave. I mean, he was sold for a slave. So they put heavy chains on him as well.

[John Weaver] Now, if you go back to Genesis chapter 39, you'll find once he got into Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar. So if you'll notice, if you will, beginning there with verse one, Genesis 39, and Joseph was brought to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him at the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hands. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, And he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer of the house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians' house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field."

[John Weaver] Watch this,"...and he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He knew not all he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person and well favored." Wow. So far, everything is wonderful. Everything is good. Joseph is number one. Joseph is. It's the head honcho, so to speak. Oh, but look in verse seven. And it came to pass after these things that this master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said. Lie with me. But he refused and he said to his master's wife, behold, My master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath into my hand. There is none greater in this house than I, neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife.

[John Weaver] How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business, And there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by the garment and said, lie with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled forth. Then she called to the men of her house and spake of them, saying, See, he has brought us a Hebrew unto us to mock us. And he came unto me to lie with me.

[John Weaver] And I cried with a loud voice. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice, he cried. He left his garment with me and fled and got him out. Now watch this. And she laid up his garment by her until his Lord came home. And she spake on him according to all these words, saying, The Hebrew servant that thou brought unto me or us came in to mock me. And it came to pass as I looked at my boss and cried that he left his garment with me and fled out. And it came to pass when his master heard the words of his wife, which he spake unto him, saying, Look now, After this manner did thy servant unto me, then his wrath was kindled.

[John Weaver] And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison. Now, I want you to listen very carefully. I cannot think of anything more distasteful, more wicked, more vile, and hateful than to falsely accuse someone in this area. I have known men, I have known pastors, that have lost their wives, lost their families, lost their ministries because of false accusations. In fact, I have a book in my library concerning one man And yes, some of these women who made false accusations repented and came back and said, I lied.

[John Weaver] But it was too late. The wife had already left him. The family deserted him. His ministry is over. All because of a lie. The astounding thing to me is you never read in scripture right here where Joseph protested. Joseph argued. You never read where Joseph says, your wife is lying. You never read where Joseph said, wait a minute, let's sit down and think about this thing rationally.

[John Weaver] No, no, nothing like that ever happened. I'm going to tell you why, and I'll show it to you momentarily. Joseph was being tried, and he's being tried by the Word of God. I want to ask you, how difficult do you think this might have been for Joseph? If I had been in Joseph's place, I know what my fleshly, carnal response would have been. I can assure you. But if I were Joseph and had Joseph's faith and Joseph's attitude of submission, I would have done probably exactly as Joseph did. And the truth is that the Lord was with Joseph in all of these trials. Joseph never tried to defend himself. Here's the third thing. Not only was he hated by his brothers, not only was he sold into slavery, but here's the third thing.

[John Weaver] He helped others, and then were forgotten by them. Now that hurts. That really hurts. When you help somebody, and I mean you really help them, and then they totally forget. Not only unthankful, not only ungrateful, but totally forget. Well, look back in your Bible, if you would, Genesis chapter 39 and verses 21 and 23. The Bible says, but the Lord was with Joseph. Thank God for that. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy.

[John Weaver] Now look at this, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed Joseph's hand to Joseph's hand, all the prisoners that were in the prison. And whatever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand because the Lord was with him. And that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Wow. Wow. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy. Wow. That is astounding. Joseph's in prison.

[John Weaver] He's been put there wrongly, wickedly. Now you know the story of the baker and the butler. I'm not going to read all of that particularly, but I've got to point some of it out. So look in Genesis chapter 40, if you would, beginning there in verse 2. Genesis 40 verse 2. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in a ward in the house of the captain of the guard into the prison, the place where Joseph was found. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them, and they continued to seize in the ward.

[John Weaver] And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream. The butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, they were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of the Lord's house, saying, Wherefore look you so sadly today? And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God?

[John Weaver] Tell me them, I pray you. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and he said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me, and the vine was there were three branches. and it was as though it budded and blossomed and shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh's cup was in mine hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup unto Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it, the three branches are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee into thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

[John Weaver] For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into this dungeon. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white baskets on my head. and in the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh and the birds said to eat them out of the basket upon my head and Joseph answered and said this is the interpretation thereof the three baskets are three days yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee and shall hang thee on a tree and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee and it shall come to pass the third day which was Pharaoh's birthday that he made a feast in all of his servants and he lift up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants, and he restored the chief butler into his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

[John Weaver] But he hanged the chief baker as Joseph had interpreted them, yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Now, I want you to look at this again. Joseph just asked one thing. I'm willing to wait on you. I'm willing to serve you. I'm willing to interpret your dreams. Just one thing. Look back to verse 14. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

[John Weaver] For indeed I was stolen away of the land of the Hebrews. And here also have I done nothing that they should put me in this dungeon. I'm innocent. I'm here. All I'm asking you is just remember me before Pharaoh. Get down to verse 23 again. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him. Wow. Let me point this out. Here is another truth that reveals our faults.

[John Weaver] We're ungrateful, we're unthankful, we're unappreciative. And we're ungrateful and unthankful for the kindnesses that others have shown unto us. I don't know about you, but I think had I been that butler, knowing what happened to the baker, I think when I got out I could be extremely thankful and grateful that this one man gave me a good interpretation. I don't know how in the world I could ever have forgotten Joseph. But he did. You know, we do that.

[John Weaver] We have people that help us and people that minister to us and people that are gracious to us and kind to us and not just once or twice, but sometimes for weeks and months and even years. And we forget them. Well, I want to ask you this question. How long did the chief butler forget Joseph? We know he forgot him. He said so in chapter 40 verse 23. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him. Now, skip down to chapter 41 in verse 1. And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river. Now skip down to verse 9, because no one can interpret Pharaoh's dreams. Verse 9, Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward, in the Captain of the Guard's house, both me and the Chief Baker, and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

[John Weaver] And there was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant of the Captain of the Guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams, to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was, he restored him an office and him he hanged and then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon then he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came into Pharaoh now the interesting thing is it took him two full years to think about Joseph wow two full years. I want to tell you the thing that grabbed my heart and my attention as I read through the life of Joseph again. It's astounding to me. But Joseph held no grudges. Joseph never sought revenge. He never complained.

[John Weaver] and he readily and willingly forgave all of those who caused him so much suffering and pain. You remember that Joseph was elevated a second in Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, only in the throne will I be greater than thou. No man will put his foot down without you. Joseph was in a position to teach Bonhoeffer a lesson. But he did not. Joseph was in a position to say, OK, Mr. Butler, you forgot me for two years. I'm going to forget you for two years now that I'm in command.

[John Weaver] Get out of my sight. He never did anything like that. He had the authority and he also had the power to oppress and yet he did not. He was not so inclined. So here's the question. I want you to think about this. Why did Joseph not seek revenge? Why did Joseph not beliate, gripe, and complain? and mumble and groan. Why did Joseph do only that which is right, good and godly? Here's the answer. He recognized not only the sovereignty of God, but the providence of God. And he realized that everything that happened to him had been ordained by God for his good and for God's glory.

[John Weaver] Let me say this another way. He was abased, then he might be exalted. And he was humbled, then he might be lifted up. And he suffered, then he might reign.

[John Weaver] Now there are two verses in the book of Proverbs that verify what I just said. Proverbs 15 and verse 33. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is humility. Before honor is humility. Then Proverbs 18 and verse 12. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty. and before honor is humility.

[John Weaver] Now, what I want to do is this. I want to show you from the Bible how Joseph dealt with those who hated him, despised him, and misused him. I want you to see His graciousness. His kindness. His forgiveness. Because he realized that God was in absolute control of his life. So I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Genesis chapter 45. Genesis 45. Joseph is revealing himself now to his brothers. Okay? Look at this. Genesis 45 verse 1, Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all of them that stood by him.

[John Weaver] And he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud. and the Egyptians at the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Does my father yet live? Now look at this. And his brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence.

[John Weaver] Let me stop there just for a moment. You remember he had held Simeon in prison. till they came back, said, if you don't bring Benjamin. And you remember how they found all their money in the sack's mouth and then how the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. And now. He said, I am Joseph. And all of a sudden, everything's coming back to them that they had done to Joseph.

[John Weaver] Now, look at verse four. And Joseph said to his brethren, come near to me, I pray you. and they came near, and he said, I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt.

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, be not grieved or angry with yourselves that you sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years in which there shall be neither earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you, apostarity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God. And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all in his house, and ruler of all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith Joseph thy son Joseph, God hath made me the Lord of all Egypt.

[John Weaver] come down unto me and carry not. Look at the words of Joseph, and God sent me before you to preserve you of posterity in the earth and to save your lives. What did he say? God sent me to save you. You hated me, but that's fine. God just used your hatred to work out his will to get me down here.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll turn to Genesis chapter 50. Jacob is now dead. He's been buried. Lived 147 years. So in Genesis chapter 50, beginning there with verse 15. In fact, let's read verse 14. And Joseph returned into Egypt, he and his brethren, all that went up with him to bury his father after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will for adventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evils which we did unto him. Wow!

[John Weaver] Their conscience is still bothering them. And they're thinking, well, Joseph dealt well with us because our father was alive. But now he's dead. And he'll probably hate us, and he'll pay us back for what we did to him. Well, look in verse 16. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, Whether he did or not, I don't know. Go shall you say to Joseph, forgive, I pray thee now, the trespasses of thy brethren and their sin, for they did unto thee evil, and now we pray thee, forgive the trespasses of thy servants of the God of thy father." Look at this, and Joseph wept when they spake unto him. Oh, and his brethren also went and fell down before his face, and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not, for am I in the place of God, but is for you. Ye thought evil against me, but God ninted of thee good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.

[John Weaver] Watch it, now therefore fear ye not, I will nourish you and your little ones, and eat comfort of them, and stay kindly unto them." What? Here are the men that started all of the pain and agony and suffering that he endured from the pit to the prison to the palace. And he says, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. And you don't have to worry. I will nourish you. I will sustain you. I will take care of you not just you but your little ones I will I will see that you're taking care of I'll tell you what I I was just astounded and I got to thinking do you realize this one thing submission would solve most problems.

[John Weaver] If we could grasp that fact, it would change our lives. Think of the problems that exist today between husbands and wives. Think about it. We're depraved and we're naturally rebellious. The truth of the matter is this. The wives need indeed to submit to the husbands, but the husbands need indeed to submit to Jesus Christ. If the husbands and wives submitted, that would solve most of the problems. If the children submitted to the parents, that would solve most of the problems. If we submitted to legitimate, lawful, biblical authority, that would solve a lot of problems. And if those authorities would submit to God as God commands them, that would solve a lot of the problems as well.

[John Weaver] The point being, all through Joseph's life, and the same is true with Daniel, all through Daniel's life, there was submission over and over and over. I want you to just stop and think about this. If each of us submitted the way God commands, I want you to think, if you would, how that peace would reign in our lives, in our homes, in our churches, in our nation. I have no problems being in submission to a man who's in submission to the Word of God and to God himself.

[John Weaver] Now, let me tell you something. I want you to think about this. will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself. God will never use you to help others unless you're willing to be helped yourself. God will never use you to instruct others unless you're willing to be instructed yourself. God will never use you to minister to others unless you're willing to be minister to yourself. God will never use you to rule unless you're willing to be ruled over.

[John Weaver] I've been preaching for 60 years. Alice will remember the pastor that we had in Thomasville, Georgia. And in his office, he had this gold colored vinyl couch i've never forgotten that couch ugly as the day is long it really was but i was young now i was full of a lot of zeal didn't really have all the knowledge i should have but boy the lord had saved me and i wanted to preach and i wanted to serve him and i wanted to do this and i wanted to do that And every now and then the pastor would call me in his office and I would sit down and we would talk for a few minutes and then he would look at me

[John Weaver] and he would say this, Now John. And when he said, Now John, I knew I'd done something wrong. I didn't know what, but I knew I'd done something wrong. And then he would tell me what I should have said or what I shouldn't have said or what I should have done or what I shouldn't have done. I have no idea how many times I was on my knees with my face in that old ugly gold pouch with tears streaming down my face, repenting because I had so much zeal and not had enough knowledge.

[John Weaver] And God was using him to rebuke me, to help me, to minister to me, to correct me. And had I not been willing to receive it, God would never use me to get it out. Submission would solve most of our problems. In our homes, in our lives, in our churches. The path to life, the path to love, the path to freedom lies in submission to God and His Word. Joseph never complained. He submitted.

[John Weaver] He said to his brothers, you meant it for evil. but God meant it for good. He knew that God was sovereign and God's providence is working everything out for his good and God's glory. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and your kindness. And Lord, we ask that you would teach us the importance of submission Lord, help us to see that how indeed it would indeed resolve most of the problems in our lives if we just submitted to thee and to thy word. Oh, God, help us. Give us, Lord, the attitude of Daniel. Give us the attitude of Joseph. And may, Father, we just submit and learn from everything you send our way and grow from everything you send our way.

[John Weaver] Whether we like it or not, we know it's bound to be for our good because you ordained it. And whatever our God ordains is right. Give us your grace and your mercy in the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.

This Will Solve Most Problems

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	731251752467703
Subject	Civil Government
Course	Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority
Genre	Sermon
Date	2025-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 008: Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13 — Chapter 20
Source Timed Segments	80

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Problem of Rebellion

Weaver introduces 1 Peter 5:5 and states that a lack of submission causes most problems. He notes that Joseph and Daniel are unique in Scripture for having no negative recorded about them because they were submissive to God.

If you would open your Bibles this morning to 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5, and believe it or not, I'm not actually going to preach on this verse, but I'm going to illustrate this verse, and it is certainly a verse that you and I need to apply. The title of the message is, "This Will Solve Most Problems." Stop and think about this. I could add, this one thing would solve most problems. Every one of us has problems. Many different kinds of problems. Physical problems, financial problems, emotional problems, mental problems, spiritual problems, family problems, you name them. Everybody has problems. But I want you to look in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5 at what the Word of God says.

"Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility. For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." There are two men in the Bible of which we read absolutely nothing negative about them. And those two men are Joseph and Daniel. Yes, they were sinners, and yes, they knew they were sinners. But they're unique in this sense that nothing's ever really said negative about these two men. The one thing that stands out about both of these men is that they were absolutely submissive to God and to his providential dealings in their lives.

I'm going to show you this this morning, but there were no complaints, there were no whinings, there were no groanings, there were no grumblings from them, just simply submission. Now here's the basic truth. Because of our sinful nature, we hate submission. Yet the truth of the matter is, it is a lack of submission that causes most problems. Twice in the New Testament, our Lord commands that if we are in the wrong, the wise thing to do would be to submit and work things out before it gets to a court of law.

Biblical Commands to Submit

Jesus commands quick agreement with an adversary when in the wrong (Matthew 5:25; Luke 12:58). Submission is required in marriage (Ephesians 5:22-24), and husbands must submit to Christ. All believers are to submit to one another.

These passages do not convey an attitude of compromise. Rather, what they convey is an attitude of submission to an adversary when we are wrong and we have basically been held over a barrel and our Lord is telling us that we need to just submit and work things out and not destroy ourselves. Here are these two passages. Let me just read them. First one is Matthew 5 in verse 25 where our Lord says this, "Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."

So what he is saying is don't wait around, don't be so rebellious and so defiant that you end up destroying yourself. You will find the same truth again in Luke chapter 12 and verse 58 where he says this, "When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou may be delivered from him, lest he hail thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison." Now here's the problem, and here is the absolute truth. There are most people that have an attitude of rebellion and resistance and defiance to the absolute extent that they would much rather destroy themselves and others rather than to submit to God or anyone else. Now, when we think of submission, and Tom and I were talking about this this morning before service, when we think of submission, the very first passage that we think about is the passage that demands that wives be in submission to their husbands. And listen to this, if you would, Ephesians 5, verses 22 through 24. "Submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Here's why.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he's the Savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let their wives be to their own husbands, in everything." Now, most men will take those verses and say, "All right, woman, listen to me. You're to be in submission to me. That's what the Word of God says." Yes, that is what the Word of God says. But however, God also commands the husbands. He said in Ephesians 5 in verse 25, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." Now listen, "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it." So listen to me, just as God requires the wives to be in submission to the husbands, He requires the husbands to be in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the Bible says in Ephesians 5 in verse 21, "submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." There is a place for submission for each of us to everyone. I told someone the other day, I would have no problem listening to a woman teach on herbs as long as she's not preaching in church. Because if she knows more about herbs, fine. I'd listen to her. If I want to know how to deliver a baby, I'm going to listen to Dr. Bowen. He's done it far more times than I have, so I can submit to him in that. In other words, we can submit in many, many different areas. I want you to just stop and think about this this morning. I want you to think about all of the heartache, all of the sorrow, and all of the hurt that could have been avoided if children just simply submitted themselves and honored and obeyed their parents as God requires, and if wives submitted to their husbands as God requires, and if husbands submitted themselves to Jesus Christ as God requires.

Submission to Authorities

Congregations must submit to pastors (Hebrews 13:17), and all must submit to God (James 4:7). Even magistrates are to be in subjection to God, who is the highest authority (Romans 13:1-2).

You see, the truth of the matter is this. No one escapes submission. Do you realize that even congregations are commanded to be in submission to their pastors, that is, the under-shepherds, who are under the chief shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17. I could multiply passages here, but look at this one. Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17, the Word of God says, "Obey them that have the rule over you.

Now, who would that be? Well, look at the context. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you." So, the Bible says that you are to submit to me, or to any under-shepherd who's teaching the Word of God. You're not to submit to me if I'm telling you I think you ought to part your hair on the other side of your head. That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about teaching and preaching the Word of God. And he says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account." So that means this, I will give an account to each one of you to the Lord Jesus Christ. So I can say to Christ, well, Tom, listen to me, and Angie, listen to me, because she's submissive to him and he's submissive to Jesus Christ, I'm going to give an account. Or if I have to come up and say, "Lord, boy, that man was so defiant, that man was so rebellious, he wouldn't listen at all." Now, that's going to be unprofitable for him, not for me, but I'll give an account to everyone who sits under this ministry. Wow.

So, notice this if you would please. The Bible also says in James 4 and verse 7,

Scripture Reading — James 4:7

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he'll flee from you."

And I just read 1 Peter 5 and verse 5, and I want to repeat it again. "Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility. Why? For God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble." Now, here's another truth. Listen to me. We're commanded to obey and submit to magistrates. Did you know that? The Bible says in Titus 3 and verse 5, so God expects us to be in subjection to magistrates. However, He also commands the magistrates to be in subjection to him.

That's why the Bible says in Romans 13, verses 1 and 2,

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-2

"...let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and shall receive to themselves damnation or condemnation."

In other words, God is absolutely the highest power. There's no one higher than Him. And so all then are commanded to be in subjection to him. There are no exceptions. It's true that God has ordained magistrates. It's true that God has ordained rulers. But the one that ordained them is higher in authority than they are, and therefore they are accountable and responsible to him. Like I said earlier, no one escapes submission. No one.

Daniel's Example of Submission

Daniel, wrongly thrown into the lions' den, responded to the king with respect: 'O king, live forever.' His submission contrasts with the natural human desire for revenge.

Now, you ask, "What in the world has all of this to do with Daniel and Joseph?" I'm not going to dwell on the life of Daniel today, because the life of Joseph is going to take up most of my time. But I do want to give you one instance from Daniel. I want you to look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Daniel, chapter 6. And I want us to begin reading there with verse 16. And I want to ask you a question. Remember now, if you would please, we're talking about submission. I said this one thing would solve most problems. So, if you look in Daniel chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Look at this. Daniel 6 and verse 16.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 6:16-23

"Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the mouth of the lions?

Then Daniel said unto the king, O king, live forever." Now, I want you to be absolutely honest at this point, because I'm going to ask you a question. Here you go. If you had been wrongly and wickedly accused and wrongly and wickedly condemned and thrown into a den of lions when you knew that you were thrown into that den of lions because of wicked men that the king had appointed and these men got together and lied to the king and actually forced him in one sense of the word to sign a law that was absolutely stupid and foolish and got you thrown in the lion's den. Now, here's my question. If you knew all of that, and you had to spend the night with those stinking lions, when the king came out the next morning, would your attitude be like Daniel's? "O king, live forever."

What would you have done? I know what you would have done. I know what I would have done. We would have given that king a tongue lashing that he really truly deserved because he was so foolish and so stupid to be deceived by those men that he appointed. But Daniel was very submissive. He just said, "O king, live forever."

Joseph's Submission in Suffering

Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Throughout, he did not fight back or complain, trusting in God's sovereignty.

Now, as I read through the life of Joseph again this past week, I was struck at the fact that nowhere in Scripture is it recorded that he fought back, he struck back, or complained. Everything that Joseph went through he merely submitted to. In this sense, he was a type of Christ that submitted to all of the indignities and sufferings and reproaches and then finally was elevated to the highest position. It is said of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 53 in verse 7, "and he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." Now, I believe that it was Joseph's faith in the absolute sovereignty of God, as well as the promises of God that kept him in submission in all that he endured. He believed that God's providence would work out that which was best in his life, and that which was going to bring God honor and glory.

Now, I want to just run you through this. I know that you know the story, but you've got to see the point that I'm making. First of all, I want you to look in Genesis chapter 37, because Joseph was hated and despised by his brothers because of his dreams. And you know those dreams how, of course, God gave them the dreams about the sheaves arising and bowing down and all of this. And it's difficult in reality for me to imagine that one could be so hated and despised because of dreams, even if those dreams do indicate a position of superiority or rulership. I mean, let's face it, a dream is a dream. And so it would be sufficient, in one sense of the word, just to dismiss Joseph's dreams as a dream of a boy. What boy has not dreamed of being a warrior? Or a racer? Or a cowboy? Or a rodeo rider? Or a president? Or a king? I remember when I was a little boy, and this is so stupid. My sister's two years older than I am, but I never will forget. She told me one day that if I never stepped on an ant, I would be a king someday. I carefully avoided stepping on an ant until I realized that was mighty stupid. That was foolish.

It didn't take me long. But I, you know, stop and think about that. Boys have dreams. Girls have dreams. I'm just simply saying. But these dreams were taken as a personal slam by the brothers. The older brothers despised him for his dreams. So look in Genesis chapter 37, beginning there with verse 1, the Bible says that Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all of his children, because he was the son of an old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peacefully unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren, and they hated him yet the more.

And he said to them, "Hear, I pray you, this dream which I dreamed. For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright. And, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf." And his brethren said to him, "Shalt thou indeed reign over us, or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?" And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words. If he just kept his mouth shut. In other words, he could have the dreams if he just didn't tell them. And he dreamed yet another dream, and he told it his brethren, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more, and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." And he told it his father and to his brethren, and his father rebuked him and said unto him, "What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I, thy mother and thy brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee and unto the earth?" And his brethren envied him, but his father observed the saying.

Now, I've pointed this out previously in other sermons. I hope you remember it. This coat of many colors was not just simply a pretty coat. The coat of many colors indicated that Joseph was now going to be considered the firstborn.

Now, he was the firstborn of Rachel, but Reuben was his firstborn, but Reuben defiled his father's couch. So, Reuben was cast out from the position of firstborn, okay? So, this coat of many colors then indicates that Joseph is now going to be the executor of the estate. Now, Joseph, of course, was only 17 years of age. I think the dreams were secondary to their hatred for Joseph. Because, if you'll notice in verse 2, "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report." Now, Joseph was not a tattletale, but these boys were going to do something that was really wicked and wrong. Maybe they were going to steal the sheep. I don't know what they were going to do. But Joseph came and said, "That's not right, dad. This is what's happening.

You need to correct this." And when Jacob saw that Joseph was honorable and doing things right, he says, "You're going to be the one that takes over." Now, here's the interesting thing. The dreams, I believe, were secondary to their hatred of him. So skip down to verse 18, if you would, please. Genesis 37, verse 18.

Now, his father has sent him to his brethren. "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit. And we will say some evil beast hath devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered them out of their hands, and he said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness. and lay no hand upon him, that he might rid him out of their hands, deliver him to his father again."

Now look at this,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 37:18-28

"...and it came to pass when Joseph was coming to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him, and they took him and cast him into the pit, and the pit was empty."

There's no water. What's the first thing that they did? They destroyed his coat. They stripped him of that coat. That is why I'm telling you that I do believe that the dreams were secondary, they were jealous of the fact that Joseph was chosen over them and the fact that he had more honor than they had. Now, so instead of murdering Joseph, they decide they're going to sell him. So if you'll look in Genesis chapter 37, look at verse 26,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 37:18-28

"And Judah said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt."

Now, I've pointed this out before, I'll say it again. Who did he sell to? Who was Joseph sold to? The Ishmaelites or the Midianites? Well, the answer is both because they're one and the same. The Ishmaelites lived in Midian, so they were Midianites because of where they lived, but they were Ishmaelites in that they were descendants of Ishmael.

Now, I want you to note something here. Joseph did not fight, though he did protest against the treatment. When I say that, he did beseech them not to do what they were doing, which anyone would have done. If you would look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 42. Genesis 42. The brethren are standing before Joseph. They do not recognize him. He knows who they are. So notice, if you would, Genesis 42 verse 21, "And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear.

Therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child, and you would not hear. Therefore, behold, his blood is required." Now, I want you to note the words anguish and distress are the same Hebrew word, sarah, and it refers to trouble, anguish, distress, affliction, adversity, and tribulation. So here's what they're saying. We are now in the same adversity. We're now in the same tribulation. We're now in the same anguish and distress that Joseph was in when he besought us. And the word besought happens to be the Hebrew word chanan and it means to show favor and to be gracious and to pity. All Joseph was saying is just be faithful and have pity upon me. Wow!

He asked them not to do what they were doing. I would have done the same thing. Would you not have done that? And so here he is hated and sold into slavery by his brothers. So here's the second thing. He was not only hated, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. Now watch this. I want you to hold the book of Genesis, but turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 105. And I want you to look at verses 17 and 18. Psalm 105, verses 17 and 18. Look at this. Now, Joseph was sold as a slave into slavery.

You know, we tend to think, well, they took him out, put him on a camel, and there he went down to Egypt with these Ishmaelites. Well, that's not quite the way it was. So in the book of Psalms, Psalm 105, verse 17, the Bible says this.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 105:17-18

"He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant. Whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron."

So they chained him and fettered him just like they do any slave. I mean, he was sold for a slave. So they put heavy chains on him as well. Now, if you go back to Genesis chapter 39, you'll find once he got into Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar. So if you'll notice, if you will, beginning there with verse one, Genesis 39,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 39:1-20

"And Joseph was brought to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him at the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hands. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, And he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer of the house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians' house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field."

Watch this, "...and he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He knew not all he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person and well favored." Wow. So far, everything is wonderful. Everything is good. Joseph is number one. Joseph is the head honcho, so to speak. Oh, but look in verse seven. "And it came to pass after these things that this master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, Lie with me. But he refused and he said to his master's wife, Behold, My master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath into my hand. There is none greater in this house than I, neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife.

How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business, And there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by the garment and said, Lie with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled forth. Then she called to the men of her house and spake unto them, saying, See, he has brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us. And he came unto me to lie with me.

And I cried with a loud voice. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice, he cried. He left his garment with me and fled and got him out. Now watch this. And she laid up his garment by her until his lord came home. And she spake unto him according to all these words, saying, The Hebrew servant that thou brought unto us came in to mock me. And it came to pass as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled out. And it came to pass when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, Look now, After this manner did thy servant unto me, then his wrath was kindled.

And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison. Now, I want you to listen very carefully. I cannot think of anything more distasteful, more wicked, more vile, and hateful than to falsely accuse someone in this area. I have known men, I have known pastors, that have lost their wives, lost their families, lost their ministries because of false accusations. In fact, I have a book in my library concerning one man. And yes, some of these women who made false accusations repented and came back and said, I lied.

Joseph Forgotten and Exalted

Joseph helped the chief butler, who forgot him for two years. When elevated to power, Joseph held no grudges and forgave his brothers, recognizing God's providential purpose.

He helped others, and then were forgotten by them. Now that hurts. That really hurts. When you help somebody, and I mean you really help them, and then they totally forget. Not only unthankful, not only ungrateful, but totally forget. Well, look back in your Bible, if you would, Genesis chapter 39 and verses 21 and 23. The Bible says, "But the Lord was with Joseph." Thank God for that. "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy.

Now look at this, "and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison. And whatever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand because the Lord was with him. And that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper." Wow. Wow. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy. Wow. That is astounding. Joseph's in prison.

He's been put there wrongly, wickedly. Now you know the story of the baker and the butler. I'm not going to read all of that particularly, but I've got to point some of it out. So look in Genesis chapter 40, if you would, beginning there in verse 2. Genesis 40 verse 2. "And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them, and they continued a season in ward.

And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream. The butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, they were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of the Lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly today? And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me them, I pray you. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and he said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me, and the vine had three branches. and it was as though it budded and blossomed and shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh's cup was in mine hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup unto Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it, the three branches are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee into thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into this dungeon. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white baskets on my head. and in the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head and Joseph answered and said this is the interpretation thereof the three baskets are three days yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee and shall hang thee on a tree and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee and it shall come to pass the third day which was Pharaoh's birthday that he made a feast unto all of his servants and he lift up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants, and he restored the chief butler into his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

But he hanged the chief baker as Joseph had interpreted them, yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Now, I want you to look at this again. Joseph just asked one thing. I'm willing to wait on you. I'm willing to serve you. I'm willing to interpret your dreams. Just one thing. Look back to verse 14. "But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews. And here also have I done nothing that they should put me in this dungeon. I'm innocent. I'm here. All I'm asking you is just remember me before Pharaoh." Get down to verse 23 again. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Wow. Let me point this out. Here is another truth that reveals our faults.

We're ungrateful, we're unthankful, we're unappreciative. And we're ungrateful and unthankful for the kindnesses that others have shown unto us. I don't know about you, but I think had I been that butler, knowing what happened to the baker, I think when I got out I could be extremely thankful and grateful that this one man gave me a good interpretation. I don't know how in the world I could ever have forgotten Joseph. But he did. You know, we do that. We have people that help us and people that minister to us and people that are gracious to us and kind to us and not just once or twice, but sometimes for weeks and months and even years. And we forget them. Well, I want to ask you this question. How long did the chief butler forget Joseph? We know he forgot him. He said so in chapter 40 verse 23. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Now, skip down to chapter 41 in verse 1.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 41:1, 9-14

"And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river."

Now skip down to verse 9, because no one can interpret Pharaoh's dreams. Verse 9, "Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward, in the Captain of the Guard's house, both me and the Chief Baker, and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

And there was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant of the Captain of the Guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams, to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was, he restored him to his office and him he hanged." And then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon then he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came into Pharaoh. Now the interesting thing is it took him two full years to think about Joseph. Wow. Two full years. I want to tell you the thing that grabbed my heart and my attention as I read through the life of Joseph again. It's astounding to me. But Joseph held no grudges. Joseph never sought revenge. He never complained.

and he readily and willingly forgave all of those who caused him so much suffering and pain. You remember that Joseph was elevated to second in Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. No man will put his foot down without you." Joseph was in a position to teach Bonhoeffer a lesson. But he did not. Joseph was in a position to say, "OK, Mr. Butler, you forgot me for two years. I'm going to forget you for two years now that I'm in command.

Get out of my sight." He never did anything like that. He had the authority and he also had the power to oppress and yet he did not. He was not so inclined. So here's the question. I want you to think about this. Why did Joseph not seek revenge? Why did Joseph not bellyache, gripe, and complain, and mumble and groan? Why did Joseph do only that which is right, good and godly? Here's the answer. He recognized not only the sovereignty of God, but the providence of God. And he realized that everything that happened to him had been ordained by God for his good and for God's glory.

The Key to Joseph's Attitude

Joseph understood that God sovereignly ordained his trials for good. He told his brothers, 'You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good' (Genesis 50:20).

Let me say this another way. He was abased, then he might be exalted. And he was humbled, then he might be lifted up. And he suffered, then he might reign.

Now there are two verses in the book of Proverbs that verify what I just said. Proverbs 15 and verse 33. "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is humility." Before honor is humility. Then Proverbs 18 and verse 12. "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility."

Now, what I want to do is this. I want to show you from the Bible how Joseph dealt with those who hated him, despised him, and misused him. I want you to see His graciousness. His kindness. His forgiveness. Because he realized that God was in absolute control of his life. So I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Genesis chapter 45. Genesis 45. Joseph is revealing himself now to his brothers. Okay? Look at this. Genesis 45 verse 1, "Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all of them that stood by him.

And he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud. and the Egyptians at the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Does my father yet live?" Now look at this. "And his brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence. Let me stop there just for a moment. You remember he had held Simeon in prison till they came back, said, if you don't bring Benjamin. And you remember how they found all their money in the sack's mouth and then how the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. And now he said, "I am Joseph." And all of a sudden, everything's coming back to them that they had done to Joseph.

Now, look at verse four. "And Joseph said to his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near, and he said, I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt. Now, therefore, be not grieved or angry with yourselves that you sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years in which there shall be neither earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God. And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all in his house, and ruler of all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith Joseph thy son, God hath made me the Lord of all Egypt.

come down unto me and tarry not." Look at the words of Joseph, "and God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives." What did he say? God sent me to save you. You hated me, but that's fine. God just used your hatred to work out his will to get me down here.

Now, if you'll turn to Genesis chapter 50. Jacob is now dead. He's been buried. Lived 147 years. So in Genesis chapter 50, beginning there with verse 15. In fact, let's read verse 14. "And Joseph returned into Egypt, he and his brethren, all that went up with him to bury his father after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evils which we did unto him." Wow!

Their conscience is still bothering them. And they're thinking, well, Joseph dealt well with us because our father was alive. But now he's dead. And he'll probably hate us, and he'll pay us back for what we did to him. Well, look in verse 16. "And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying," Whether he did or not, I don't know. "So shall ye say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespasses of thy brethren and their sin, for they did unto thee evil, and now we pray thee, forgive the trespasses of thy servants of the God of thy father." Look at this, "and Joseph wept when they spake unto him." Oh, and his brethren also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we be thy servants." And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Watch it, "now therefore fear ye not, I will nourish you and your little ones, and he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." What? Here are the men that started all of the pain and agony and suffering that he endured from the pit to the prison to the palace. And he says, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. And you don't have to worry. I will nourish you. I will sustain you. I will take care of you, not just you but your little ones. I will see that you're taken care of." I'll tell you what, I was just astounded and I got to thinking, do you realize this one thing, submission, would solve most problems.

Application: Submission Solves Problems

If husbands, wives, children, and authorities all submitted as God commands, peace would reign. Submission is the path to life, love, and freedom.

If we could grasp that fact, it would change our lives. Think of the problems that exist today between husbands and wives. Think about it. We're depraved and we're naturally rebellious. The truth of the matter is this. The wives need indeed to submit to the husbands, but the husbands need indeed to submit to Jesus Christ. If the husbands and wives submitted, that would solve most of the problems. If the children submitted to the parents, that would solve most of the problems. If we submitted to legitimate, lawful, biblical authority, that would solve a lot of problems. And if those authorities would submit to God as God commands them, that would solve a lot of the problems as well.

The point being, all through Joseph's life, and the same is true with Daniel, all through Daniel's life, there was submission over and over and over. I want you to just stop and think about this. If each of us submitted the way God commands, I want you to think, if you would, how that peace would reign in our lives, in our homes, in our churches, in our nation. I have no problems being in submission to a man who's in submission to the Word of God and to God himself.

Now, let me tell you something. I want you to think about this. God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself. God will never use you to help others unless you're willing to be helped yourself. God will never use you to instruct others unless you're willing to be instructed yourself. God will never use you to minister to others unless you're willing to be ministered to yourself. God will never use you to rule unless you're willing to be ruled over.

I've been preaching for 60 years. Alice will remember the pastor that we had in Thomasville, Georgia. And in his office, he had this gold colored vinyl couch. I've never forgotten that couch, ugly as the day is long, it really was. But I was young now, I was full of a lot of zeal, didn't really have all the knowledge I should have, but boy the Lord had saved me and I wanted to preach and I wanted to serve him and I wanted to do this and I wanted to do that. And every now and then the pastor would call me in his office and I would sit down and we would talk for a few minutes and then he would look at me and he would say this, "Now John." And when he said, "Now John," I knew I'd done something wrong. I didn't know what, but I knew I'd done something wrong. And then he would tell me what I should have said or what I shouldn't have said or what I should have done or what I shouldn't have done. I have no idea how many times I was on my knees with my face in that old ugly gold couch with tears streaming down my face, repenting because I had so much zeal and not enough knowledge.

And God was using him to rebuke me, to help me, to minister to me, to correct me. And had I not been willing to receive it, God would never use me to give it out. Submission would solve most of our problems. In our homes, in our lives, in our churches. The path to life, the path to love, the path to freedom lies in submission to God and His Word. Joseph never complained. He submitted.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Submission as the Solution to Problems

Summary: The central thesis is that a lack of submission causes most problems, and practicing biblical submission would resolve conflicts in all areas of life.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'it is a lack of submission that causes most problems' and 'this one thing, submission, would solve most problems.'

God's Sovereignty and Providence in Trials

Summary: Joseph and Daniel submitted because they trusted that God was in control and working all things for their good and His glory.

Evidence: Weaver says Joseph 'recognized not only the sovereignty of God, but the providence of God' and quotes Genesis 50:20.

Humility Before Honor

Summary: God exalts the humble. Joseph was abased before he was exalted, illustrating Proverbs 15:33 and 18:12.

Evidence: Weaver quotes Proverbs 15:33 and 18:12, and says Joseph 'was abased, then he might be exalted.'

Forgiveness and Refusal to Seek Revenge

Summary: Joseph forgave his brothers and provided for them, refusing to retaliate despite having the power to do so.

Evidence: Weaver notes Joseph 'held no grudges' and 'never sought revenge,' and quotes Genesis 50:19-21.

Submission to God-Ordained Authorities

Summary: Believers must submit to pastors, magistrates, and ultimately to God, who holds all authorities accountable.

Evidence: Weaver cites Hebrews 13:17, Romans 13:1-2, and says 'no one escapes submission.'

Key Arguments

Lack of Submission Causes Most Problems

Summary: Weaver argues that rebellion and defiance lead to destruction, while submission prevents conflict and heartache.

Evidence: He says, 'it is a lack of submission that causes most problems' and gives examples of marriage and family strife.

Joseph's Submission Was Rooted in Trust in God's Sovereignty

Summary: Joseph did not complain or seek revenge because he believed God ordained his suffering for a greater purpose.

Evidence: Weaver states Joseph 'realized that everything that happened to him had been ordained by God for his good and for God's glory.'

Submission Is Required of Everyone

Summary: No one is exempt from submission—wives to husbands, husbands to Christ, children to parents, congregations to pastors, and all to God.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'no one escapes submission' and lists multiple biblical commands.

God Uses Submission to Prepare Us for Greater Use

Summary: God will not use someone to rebuke, help, or rule others unless they themselves have learned to submit and be corrected.

Evidence: Weaver shares his personal experience of being rebuked by his pastor and says, 'God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself.'

Scripture References

1 Peter 5:5

Context: Opening verse: 'God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.'

Matthew 5:25

Context: Jesus commands agreeing with an adversary quickly to avoid prison.

Luke 12:58

Context: Similar command to give diligence to be delivered from an adversary.

Ephesians 5:22-24

Context: Wives submit to husbands as the church submits to Christ.

Ephesians 5:25-29

Context: Husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church.

Ephesians 5:21

Context: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Hebrews 13:17

Context: Obey and submit to those who rule over you, for they watch for your souls.

James 4:7

Context: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee.

Titus 3:5

Context: Mentioned in passing regarding subjection to magistrates (likely a misreference; Weaver may have meant Titus 3:1).

Romans 13:1-2

Context: Let every soul be subject to higher powers; resisting them resists God's ordinance.

Daniel 6:16-23

Context: Daniel in the lions' den; his respectful reply to the king.

Isaiah 53:7

Context: Christ as a lamb to the slaughter, not opening His mouth.

Genesis 37:1-11

Context: Joseph's dreams and his brothers' hatred.

Genesis 37:18-28

Context: Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers.

Genesis 42:21-22

Context: Brothers recall Joseph's anguish when he besought them.

Psalm 105:17-18

Context: Joseph sold as a servant, feet hurt with fetters.

Genesis 39:1-20

Context: Joseph in Potiphar's house, falsely accused, and imprisoned.

Genesis 40:1-23

Context: Joseph interprets dreams of the butler and baker; the butler forgets him.

Genesis 41:1, 9-14

Context: Two years later, the butler remembers Joseph; Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams.

Genesis 45:1-8

Context: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, says God sent him to preserve life.

Historical References

Joseph (Old Testament patriarch)

Context: Weaver uses Joseph's life as the primary example of submission through suffering.

Daniel (Old Testament prophet)

Context: Daniel is cited as another example of submission, specifically in the lions' den.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Context: Weaver mentions Bonhoeffer in passing: 'Joseph was in a position to teach Bonhoeffer a lesson.'

Important Quotes

it is a lack of submission that causes most problems.

Significance: This is the central thesis of the sermon.

O king, live forever.

Significance: Daniel's submissive response to the king who threw him in the lions' den, illustrating the attitude Weaver commends.

he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

Significance: Isaiah 53:7 quoted to show Christ's submission, which Joseph typified.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Significance: Joseph's recognition of God's sovereignty in his suffering, the key to his submissive attitude.

God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself.

Significance: A principle of spiritual growth through submission to correction.

The path to life, the path to love, the path to freedom lies in submission to God and His Word.

Significance: Summary application of the sermon's message.

Discussion Questions

Why does our sinful nature hate submission, and how can we overcome that tendency?

Context: Weaver states, 'Because of our sinful nature, we hate submission.'

In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to submit to God-ordained authority?

Context: Weaver lists multiple areas of required submission: marriage, church, government.

How did Joseph's belief in God's sovereignty enable him to forgive his brothers without bitterness?

Context: Joseph said, 'You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.'

What can we learn from Daniel's response to the king after being thrown into the lions' den?

Context: Daniel said, 'O king, live forever,' despite the injustice.

How does the principle 'before honor is humility' apply to our daily lives and ambitions?

Context: Weaver quotes Proverbs 15:33 and 18:12.

Why is it important for those in authority (husbands, pastors, magistrates) to also be in submission to God?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that no one escapes submission, including those in authority.

Applications

Practice Submission in All Relationships

Summary: Submit to God, to His Word, and to the authorities He has placed over you, trusting that this will resolve conflicts and bring peace.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If each of us submitted the way God commands... peace would reign in our lives, in our homes, in our churches, in our nation.'

Trust God's Sovereignty in Trials

Summary: Like Joseph, believe that God is working all things for your good and His glory, even when you suffer unjustly.

Evidence: Weaver states Joseph 'realized that everything that happened to him had been ordained by God for his good and for God's glory.'

Forgive and Refuse Revenge

Summary: When wronged, do not seek revenge but forgive, recognizing that God can use evil for good.

Evidence: Joseph forgave his brothers and provided for them, saying, 'Fear not, for am I in the place of God?'

Be Willing to Receive Correction

Summary: Accept rebuke and instruction from godly authorities so that God can use you to help others.

Evidence: Weaver shares his personal experience of being corrected by his pastor and says, 'God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:15:48Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:20:49Z

Clean Transcript

This Will Solve Most Problems

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

If you would open your Bibles this morning to 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5, and believe it or not, I'm not actually going to preach on this verse, but I'm going to illustrate this verse, and it is certainly a verse that you and I need to apply. The title of the message is, "This Will Solve Most Problems." Stop and think about this. I could add, this one thing would solve most problems. Every one of us has problems. Many different kinds of problems. Physical problems, financial problems, emotional problems, mental problems, spiritual problems, family problems, you name them. Everybody has problems. But I want you to look in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5 at what the Word of God says.
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"Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility. For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." There are two men in the Bible of which we read absolutely nothing negative about them. And those two men are Joseph and Daniel. Yes, they were sinners, and yes, they knew they were sinners. But they're unique in this sense that nothing's ever really said negative about these two men. The one thing that stands out about both of these men is that they were absolutely submissive to God and to his providential dealings in their lives.
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I'm going to show you this this morning, but there were no complaints, there were no whinings, there were no groanings, there were no grumblings from them, just simply submission. Now here's the basic truth. Because of our sinful nature, we hate submission. Yet the truth of the matter is, it is a lack of submission that causes most problems. Twice in the New Testament, our Lord commands that if we are in the wrong, the wise thing to do would be to submit and work things out before it gets to a court of law.
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These passages do not convey an attitude of compromise. Rather, what they convey is an attitude of submission to an adversary when we are wrong and we have basically been held over a barrel and our Lord is telling us that we need to just submit and work things out and not destroy ourselves. Here are these two passages. Let me just read them. First one is Matthew 5 in verse 25 where our Lord says this, "Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."
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So what he is saying is don't wait around, don't be so rebellious and so defiant that you end up destroying yourself. You will find the same truth again in Luke chapter 12 and verse 58 where he says this, "When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou may be delivered from him, lest he hail thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison." Now here's the problem, and here is the absolute truth.
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There are most people that have an attitude of rebellion and resistance and defiance to the absolute extent that they would much rather destroy themselves and others rather than to submit to God or anyone else. Now, when we think of submission, and Tom and I were talking about this this morning before service, when we think of submission, the very first passage that we think about is the passage that demands that wives be in submission to their husbands. And listen to this, if you would, Ephesians 5, verses 22 through 24. "Submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Here's why.
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For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and he's the Savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let their wives be to their own husbands, in everything."
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Now, most men will take those verses and say, "All right, woman, listen to me. You're to be in submission to me. That's what the Word of God says." Yes, that is what the Word of God says. But however, God also commands the husbands. He said in Ephesians 5 in verse 25, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." Now listen, "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
#8 | 4:39 to 5:25 | cleaned
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it." So listen to me, just as God requires the wives to be in submission to the husbands, He requires the husbands to be in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, the Bible says in Ephesians 5 in verse 21, "submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." There is a place for submission for each of us to everyone.
#9 | 5:26 to 5:58 | cleaned
I told someone the other day, I would have no problem listening to a woman teach on herbs as long as she's not preaching in church. Because if she knows more about herbs, fine. I'd listen to her. If I want to know how to deliver a baby, I'm going to listen to Dr. Bowen. He's done it far more times than I have, so I can submit to him in that. In other words, we can submit in many, many different areas. I want you to just stop and think about this this morning. I want you to think about all of the heartache, all of the sorrow, and all of the hurt that could have been avoided if children just simply submitted themselves and honored and obeyed their parents as God requires, and if wives submitted to their husbands as God requires, and if husbands submitted themselves to Jesus Christ as God requires.
#10 | 5:58 to 6:55 | cleaned
You see, the truth of the matter is this. No one escapes submission. Do you realize that even congregations are commanded to be in submission to their pastors, that is, the under-shepherds, who are under the chief shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17. I could multiply passages here, but look at this one. Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 17, the Word of God says, "Obey them that have the rule over you.
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Now, who would that be? Well, look at the context. "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy, not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you." So, the Bible says that you are to submit to me, or to any under-shepherd who's teaching the Word of God. You're not to submit to me if I'm telling you I think you ought to part your hair on the other side of your head.
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That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about teaching and preaching the Word of God. And he says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account." So that means this, I will give an account to each one of you to the Lord Jesus Christ. So I can say to Christ, well, Tom, listen to me, and Angie, listen to me, because she's submissive to him and he's submissive to Jesus Christ, I'm going to give an account. Or if I have to come up and say, "Lord, boy, that man was so defiant, that man was so rebellious, he wouldn't listen at all." Now, that's going to be unprofitable for him, not for me, but I'll give an account to everyone who sits under this ministry. Wow.
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So, notice this if you would please. The Bible also says in James 4 and verse 7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he'll flee from you." And I just read 1 Peter 5 and verse 5, and I want to repeat it again. "Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility. Why? For God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble." Now, here's another truth. Listen to me. We're commanded to obey and submit to magistrates. Did you know that? The Bible says in Titus 3 and verse 5, so God expects us to be in subjection to magistrates. However, He also commands the magistrates to be in subjection to him.
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That's why the Bible says in Romans 13, verses 1 and 2, "...let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and shall receive to themselves damnation or condemnation." In other words, God is absolutely the highest power. There's no one higher than Him.
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And so all then are commanded to be in subjection to him. There are no exceptions. It's true that God has ordained magistrates. It's true that God has ordained rulers. But the one that ordained them is higher in authority than they are, and therefore they are accountable and responsible to him. Like I said earlier, no one escapes submission. No one.
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Now, you ask, "What in the world has all of this to do with Daniel and Joseph?" I'm not going to dwell on the life of Daniel today, because the life of Joseph is going to take up most of my time. But I do want to give you one instance from Daniel. I want you to look in your Bibles very quickly to the book of Daniel, chapter 6. And I want us to begin reading there with verse 16. And I want to ask you a question.
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Remember now, if you would please, we're talking about submission. I said this one thing would solve most problems. So, if you look in Daniel chapter 6, and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Look at this. Daniel 6 and verse 16. "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the mouth of the lions?
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Then Daniel said unto the king, O king, live forever." Now, I want you to be absolutely honest at this point, because I'm going to ask you a question. Here you go. If you had been wrongly and wickedly accused and wrongly and wickedly condemned and thrown into a den of lions when you knew that you were thrown into that den of lions because of wicked men that the king had appointed and these men got together and lied to the king and actually forced him in one sense of the word to sign a law that was absolutely stupid and foolish and got you thrown in the lion's den. Now, here's my question. If you knew all of that, and you had to spend the night with those stinking lions, when the king came out the next morning, would your attitude be like Daniel's? "O king, live forever."
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What would you have done? I know what you would have done. I know what I would have done. We would have given that king a tongue lashing that he really truly deserved because he was so foolish and so stupid to be deceived by those men that he appointed. But Daniel was very submissive. He just said, "O king, live forever."
#20 | 13:44 to 14:07 | cleaned
Now, as I read through the life of Joseph again this past week, I was struck at the fact that nowhere in Scripture is it recorded that he fought back, he struck back, or complained. Everything that Joseph went through he merely submitted to. In this sense, he was a type of Christ that submitted to all of the indignities and sufferings and reproaches and then finally was elevated to the highest position. It is said of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 53 in verse 7, "and he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." Now, I believe that it was Joseph's faith in the absolute sovereignty of God, as well as the promises of God that kept him in submission in all that he endured. He believed that God's providence would work out that which was best in his life, and that which was going to bring God honor and glory.
#21 | 14:08 to 15:22 | cleaned
Now, I want to just run you through this. I know that you know the story, but you've got to see the point that I'm making. First of all, I want you to look in Genesis chapter 37, because Joseph was hated and despised by his brothers because of his dreams. And you know those dreams how, of course, God gave them the dreams about the sheaves arising and bowing down and all of this. And it's difficult in reality for me to imagine that one could be so hated and despised because of dreams, even if those dreams do indicate a position of superiority or rulership.
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I mean, let's face it, a dream is a dream. And so it would be sufficient, in one sense of the word, just to dismiss Joseph's dreams as a dream of a boy. What boy has not dreamed of being a warrior? Or a racer? Or a cowboy? Or a rodeo rider? Or a president? Or a king? I remember when I was a little boy, and this is so stupid. My sister's two years older than I am, but I never will forget. She told me one day that if I never stepped on an ant, I would be a king someday. I carefully avoided stepping on an ant until I realized that was mighty stupid. That was foolish.
#23 | 16:10 to 17:06 | cleaned
It didn't take me long. But I, you know, stop and think about that. Boys have dreams. Girls have dreams. I'm just simply saying. But these dreams were taken as a personal slam by the brothers. The older brothers despised him for his dreams. So look in Genesis chapter 37, beginning there with verse 1, the Bible says that Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all of his children, because he was the son of an old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peacefully unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren, and they hated him yet the more.
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And he said to them, "Hear, I pray you, this dream which I dreamed. For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright. And, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf." And his brethren said to him, "Shalt thou indeed reign over us, or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?" And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.
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If he just kept his mouth shut. In other words, he could have the dreams if he just didn't tell them. And he dreamed yet another dream, and he told it his brethren, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed a dream more, and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." And he told it his father and to his brethren, and his father rebuked him and said unto him, "What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I, thy mother and thy brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee and unto the earth?" And his brethren envied him, but his father observed the saying.
#26 | 18:36 to 19:09 | cleaned
Now, I've pointed this out previously in other sermons. I hope you remember it. This coat of many colors was not just simply a pretty coat. The coat of many colors indicated that Joseph was now going to be considered the firstborn.
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Now, he was the firstborn of Rachel, but Reuben was his firstborn, but Reuben defiled his father's couch. So, Reuben was cast out from the position of firstborn, okay? So, this coat of many colors then indicates that Joseph is now going to be the executor of the estate. Now, Joseph, of course, was only 17 years of age. I think the dreams were secondary to their hatred for Joseph.
#28 | 19:27 to 19:56 | cleaned
Because, if you'll notice in verse 2, "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought unto his father their evil report." Now, Joseph was not a tattletale, but these boys were going to do something that was really wicked and wrong. Maybe they were going to steal the sheep. I don't know what they were going to do. But Joseph came and said, "That's not right, dad. This is what's happening.
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You need to correct this." And when Jacob saw that Joseph was honorable and doing things right, he says, "You're going to be the one that takes over."
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Now, here's the interesting thing. The dreams, I believe, were secondary to their hatred of him. So skip down to verse 18, if you would, please. Genesis 37, verse 18.
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Now, his father has sent him to his brethren. "And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now, therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit. And we will say some evil beast hath devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.
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And Reuben heard it, and he delivered them out of their hands, and he said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness. and lay no hand upon him, that he might rid him out of their hands, deliver him to his father again."
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Now look at this, "...and it came to pass when Joseph was coming to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him, and they took him and cast him into the pit, and the pit was empty." There's no water. What's the first thing that they did? They destroyed his coat. They stripped him of that coat. That is why I'm telling you that I do believe that the dreams were secondary, they were jealous of the fact that Joseph was chosen over them and the fact that he had more honor than they had. Now, so instead of murdering Joseph, they decide they're going to sell him. So if you'll look in Genesis chapter 37, look at verse 26, "And Judah said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt."
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Now, I've pointed this out before, I'll say it again. Who did he sell to? Who was Joseph sold to? The Ishmaelites or the Midianites? Well, the answer is both because they're one and the same. The Ishmaelites lived in Midian, so they were Midianites because of where they lived, but they were Ishmaelites in that they were descendants of Ishmael.
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Now, I want you to note something here. Joseph did not fight, though he did protest against the treatment. When I say that, he did beseech them not to do what they were doing, which anyone would have done. If you would look in your Bibles to Genesis chapter 42. Genesis 42. The brethren are standing before Joseph. They do not recognize him. He knows who they are. So notice, if you would, Genesis 42 verse 21, "And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he besought us, and we would not hear.
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Therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child, and you would not hear. Therefore, behold, his blood is required."
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Now, I want you to note the words anguish and distress are the same Hebrew word, sarah, and it refers to trouble, anguish, distress, affliction, adversity, and tribulation. So here's what they're saying. We are now in the same adversity. We're now in the same tribulation. We're now in the same anguish and distress that Joseph was in when he besought us. And the word besought happens to be the Hebrew word chanan and it means to show favor and to be gracious and to pity. All Joseph was saying is just be faithful and have pity upon me. Wow!
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He asked them not to do what they were doing. I would have done the same thing. Would you not have done that? And so here he is hated and sold into slavery by his brothers. So here's the second thing. He was not only hated, he was sold into slavery by his brothers. Now watch this. I want you to hold the book of Genesis, but turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Psalm 105. And I want you to look at verses 17 and 18. Psalm 105, verses 17 and 18. Look at this. Now, Joseph was sold as a slave into slavery.
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You know, we tend to think, well, they took him out, put him on a camel, and there he went down to Egypt with these Ishmaelites. Well, that's not quite the way it was. So in the book of Psalms, Psalm 105, verse 17, the Bible says this. "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant. Whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron."
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So they chained him and fettered him just like they do any slave. I mean, he was sold for a slave. So they put heavy chains on him as well.
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Now, if you go back to Genesis chapter 39, you'll find once he got into Egypt, he was sold to Potiphar. So if you'll notice, if you will, beginning there with verse one, Genesis 39, "And Joseph was brought to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him at the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hands. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, And he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer of the house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians' house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field."
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Watch this, "...and he left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He knew not all he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person and well favored." Wow. So far, everything is wonderful. Everything is good. Joseph is number one. Joseph is the head honcho, so to speak. Oh, but look in verse seven. "And it came to pass after these things that this master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, Lie with me. But he refused and he said to his master's wife, Behold, My master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath into my hand. There is none greater in this house than I, neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife.
#43 | 27:15 to 28:10 | cleaned
How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her to lie by her, or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business, And there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by the garment and said, Lie with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. And it came to pass when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled forth. Then she called to the men of her house and spake unto them, saying, See, he has brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us. And he came unto me to lie with me.
#44 | 28:11 to 28:50 | cleaned
And I cried with a loud voice. And it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice, he cried. He left his garment with me and fled and got him out. Now watch this. And she laid up his garment by her until his lord came home. And she spake unto him according to all these words, saying, The Hebrew servant that thou brought unto us came in to mock me. And it came to pass as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled out. And it came to pass when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, Look now, After this manner did thy servant unto me, then his wrath was kindled.
#45 | 28:50 to 29:31 | cleaned
And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in the prison. Now, I want you to listen very carefully. I cannot think of anything more distasteful, more wicked, more vile, and hateful than to falsely accuse someone in this area. I have known men, I have known pastors, that have lost their wives, lost their families, lost their ministries because of false accusations. In fact, I have a book in my library concerning one man. And yes, some of these women who made false accusations repented and came back and said, I lied.
#46 | 29:32 to 30:38 | cleaned
But it was too late. The wife had already left him. The family deserted him. His ministry is over. All because of a lie. The astounding thing to me is you never read in scripture right here where Joseph protested. Joseph argued. You never read where Joseph says, "Your wife is lying." You never read where Joseph said, "Wait a minute, let's sit down and think about this thing rationally."
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No, no, nothing like that ever happened. I'm going to tell you why, and I'll show it to you momentarily. Joseph was being tried, and he's being tried by the Word of God. I want to ask you, how difficult do you think this might have been for Joseph? If I had been in Joseph's place, I know what my fleshly, carnal response would have been. I can assure you. But if I were Joseph and had Joseph's faith and Joseph's attitude of submission, I would have done probably exactly as Joseph did. And the truth is that the Lord was with Joseph in all of these trials. Joseph never tried to defend himself. Here's the third thing. Not only was he hated by his brothers, not only was he sold into slavery, but here's the third thing.
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He helped others, and then were forgotten by them. Now that hurts. That really hurts. When you help somebody, and I mean you really help them, and then they totally forget. Not only unthankful, not only ungrateful, but totally forget. Well, look back in your Bible, if you would, Genesis chapter 39 and verses 21 and 23. The Bible says, "But the Lord was with Joseph." Thank God for that. "But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy.
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Now look at this, "and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison. And whatever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand because the Lord was with him. And that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper." Wow. Wow. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy. Wow. That is astounding. Joseph's in prison.
#50 | 33:16 to 33:52 | cleaned
He's been put there wrongly, wickedly. Now you know the story of the baker and the butler. I'm not going to read all of that particularly, but I've got to point some of it out. So look in Genesis chapter 40, if you would, beginning there in verse 2. Genesis 40 verse 2. "And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them, and they continued a season in ward.
#51 | 33:53 to 34:33 | cleaned
And they dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream. The butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, they were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of the Lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly today? And they said to him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God?
#52 | 34:34 to 35:06 | cleaned
Tell me them, I pray you. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and he said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me, and the vine had three branches. and it was as though it budded and blossomed and shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh's cup was in mine hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and gave the cup unto Pharaoh's hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it, the three branches are three days. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee into thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.
#53 | 35:07 to 35:55 | cleaned
For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into this dungeon. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white baskets on my head. and in the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head and Joseph answered and said this is the interpretation thereof the three baskets are three days yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee and shall hang thee on a tree and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee and it shall come to pass the third day which was Pharaoh's birthday that he made a feast unto all of his servants and he lift up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants, and he restored the chief butler into his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
#54 | 35:56 to 36:52 | cleaned
But he hanged the chief baker as Joseph had interpreted them, yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Now, I want you to look at this again. Joseph just asked one thing. I'm willing to wait on you. I'm willing to serve you. I'm willing to interpret your dreams. Just one thing. Look back to verse 14. "But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.
#55 | 36:52 to 37:36 | cleaned
For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews. And here also have I done nothing that they should put me in this dungeon. I'm innocent. I'm here. All I'm asking you is just remember me before Pharaoh." Get down to verse 23 again. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Wow. Let me point this out. Here is another truth that reveals our faults.
#56 | 37:37 to 38:14 | cleaned
We're ungrateful, we're unthankful, we're unappreciative. And we're ungrateful and unthankful for the kindnesses that others have shown unto us. I don't know about you, but I think had I been that butler, knowing what happened to the baker, I think when I got out I could be extremely thankful and grateful that this one man gave me a good interpretation. I don't know how in the world I could ever have forgotten Joseph. But he did. You know, we do that.
#57 | 38:21 to 39:17 | cleaned
We have people that help us and people that minister to us and people that are gracious to us and kind to us and not just once or twice, but sometimes for weeks and months and even years. And we forget them. Well, I want to ask you this question. How long did the chief butler forget Joseph? We know he forgot him. He said so in chapter 40 verse 23. "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." Now, skip down to chapter 41 in verse 1. "And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river." Now skip down to verse 9, because no one can interpret Pharaoh's dreams. Verse 9, "Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day. Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward, in the Captain of the Guard's house, both me and the Chief Baker, and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
#58 | 39:22 to 40:55 | cleaned
And there was with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant of the Captain of the Guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams, to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was, he restored him to his office and him he hanged." And then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon then he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came into Pharaoh. Now the interesting thing is it took him two full years to think about Joseph. Wow. Two full years. I want to tell you the thing that grabbed my heart and my attention as I read through the life of Joseph again. It's astounding to me. But Joseph held no grudges. Joseph never sought revenge. He never complained.
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and he readily and willingly forgave all of those who caused him so much suffering and pain. You remember that Joseph was elevated to second in Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. No man will put his foot down without you." Joseph was in a position to teach Bonhoeffer a lesson. But he did not. Joseph was in a position to say, "OK, Mr. Butler, you forgot me for two years. I'm going to forget you for two years now that I'm in command.
#60 | 42:10 to 43:04 | cleaned
Get out of my sight." He never did anything like that. He had the authority and he also had the power to oppress and yet he did not. He was not so inclined. So here's the question. I want you to think about this. Why did Joseph not seek revenge? Why did Joseph not bellyache, gripe, and complain, and mumble and groan? Why did Joseph do only that which is right, good and godly? Here's the answer. He recognized not only the sovereignty of God, but the providence of God. And he realized that everything that happened to him had been ordained by God for his good and for God's glory.
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Let me say this another way. He was abased, then he might be exalted. And he was humbled, then he might be lifted up. And he suffered, then he might reign.
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Now there are two verses in the book of Proverbs that verify what I just said. Proverbs 15 and verse 33. "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is humility." Before honor is humility. Then Proverbs 18 and verse 12. "Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility."
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Now, what I want to do is this. I want to show you from the Bible how Joseph dealt with those who hated him, despised him, and misused him. I want you to see His graciousness. His kindness. His forgiveness. Because he realized that God was in absolute control of his life. So I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, to Genesis chapter 45. Genesis 45. Joseph is revealing himself now to his brothers. Okay? Look at this. Genesis 45 verse 1, "Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all of them that stood by him.
#64 | 45:17 to 46:27 | cleaned
And he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud. and the Egyptians at the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph. Does my father yet live?" Now look at this. "And his brethren could not answer him for they were troubled at his presence.
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Let me stop there just for a moment. You remember he had held Simeon in prison till they came back, said, if you don't bring Benjamin. And you remember how they found all their money in the sack's mouth and then how the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. And now he said, "I am Joseph." And all of a sudden, everything's coming back to them that they had done to Joseph.
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Now, look at verse four. "And Joseph said to his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near, and he said, I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt.
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Now, therefore, be not grieved or angry with yourselves that you sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years in which there shall be neither earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God. And he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and Lord of all in his house, and ruler of all the land of Egypt. Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith Joseph thy son, God hath made me the Lord of all Egypt.
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come down unto me and tarry not." Look at the words of Joseph, "and God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives." What did he say? God sent me to save you. You hated me, but that's fine. God just used your hatred to work out his will to get me down here.
#69 | 48:37 to 49:09 | cleaned
Now, if you'll turn to Genesis chapter 50. Jacob is now dead. He's been buried. Lived 147 years. So in Genesis chapter 50, beginning there with verse 15. In fact, let's read verse 14. "And Joseph returned into Egypt, he and his brethren, all that went up with him to bury his father after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us and will certainly requite us all the evils which we did unto him." Wow!
#70 | 49:10 to 49:55 | cleaned
Their conscience is still bothering them. And they're thinking, well, Joseph dealt well with us because our father was alive. But now he's dead. And he'll probably hate us, and he'll pay us back for what we did to him. Well, look in verse 16. "And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying," Whether he did or not, I don't know. "So shall ye say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespasses of thy brethren and their sin, for they did unto thee evil, and now we pray thee, forgive the trespasses of thy servants of the God of thy father." Look at this, "and Joseph wept when they spake unto him." Oh, and his brethren also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we be thy servants." And Joseph said unto them, "Fear not, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.
#71 | 49:57 to 51:11 | cleaned
Watch it, "now therefore fear ye not, I will nourish you and your little ones, and he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." What? Here are the men that started all of the pain and agony and suffering that he endured from the pit to the prison to the palace. And he says, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. And you don't have to worry. I will nourish you. I will sustain you. I will take care of you, not just you but your little ones. I will see that you're taken care of." I'll tell you what, I was just astounded and I got to thinking, do you realize this one thing, submission, would solve most problems.
#72 | 51:11 to 52:30 | cleaned
If we could grasp that fact, it would change our lives. Think of the problems that exist today between husbands and wives. Think about it. We're depraved and we're naturally rebellious. The truth of the matter is this. The wives need indeed to submit to the husbands, but the husbands need indeed to submit to Jesus Christ. If the husbands and wives submitted, that would solve most of the problems. If the children submitted to the parents, that would solve most of the problems. If we submitted to legitimate, lawful, biblical authority, that would solve a lot of problems. And if those authorities would submit to God as God commands them, that would solve a lot of the problems as well.
#73 | 52:34 to 53:35 | cleaned
The point being, all through Joseph's life, and the same is true with Daniel, all through Daniel's life, there was submission over and over and over. I want you to just stop and think about this. If each of us submitted the way God commands, I want you to think, if you would, how that peace would reign in our lives, in our homes, in our churches, in our nation. I have no problems being in submission to a man who's in submission to the Word of God and to God himself.
#74 | 53:36 to 54:11 | cleaned
Now, let me tell you something. I want you to think about this. God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself. God will never use you to help others unless you're willing to be helped yourself. God will never use you to instruct others unless you're willing to be instructed yourself. God will never use you to minister to others unless you're willing to be ministered to yourself. God will never use you to rule unless you're willing to be ruled over.
#75 | 54:14 to 55:05 | cleaned
I've been preaching for 60 years. Alice will remember the pastor that we had in Thomasville, Georgia. And in his office, he had this gold colored vinyl couch. I've never forgotten that couch, ugly as the day is long, it really was. But I was young now, I was full of a lot of zeal, didn't really have all the knowledge I should have, but boy the Lord had saved me and I wanted to preach and I wanted to serve him and I wanted to do this and I wanted to do that. And every now and then the pastor would call me in his office and I would sit down and we would talk for a few minutes and then he would look at me
#76 | 55:07 to 56:05 | cleaned
and he would say this, "Now John." And when he said, "Now John," I knew I'd done something wrong. I didn't know what, but I knew I'd done something wrong. And then he would tell me what I should have said or what I shouldn't have said or what I should have done or what I shouldn't have done. I have no idea how many times I was on my knees with my face in that old ugly gold couch with tears streaming down my face, repenting because I had so much zeal and not enough knowledge.
#77 | 56:05 to 56:52 | cleaned
And God was using him to rebuke me, to help me, to minister to me, to correct me. And had I not been willing to receive it, God would never use me to give it out. Submission would solve most of our problems. In our homes, in our lives, in our churches. The path to life, the path to love, the path to freedom lies in submission to God and His Word. Joseph never complained. He submitted.
#78 | 56:55 to 57:51 | cleaned
He said to his brothers, "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." He knew that God was sovereign and God's providence is working everything out for his good and God's glory. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for your grace and your mercy and your goodness and your kindness. And Lord, we ask that you would teach us the importance of submission. Lord, help us to see that how indeed it would indeed resolve most of the problems in our lives if we just submitted to thee and to thy word. Oh, God, help us. Give us, Lord, the attitude of Daniel. Give us the attitude of Joseph. And may, Father, we just submit and learn from everything you send our way and grow from everything you send our way.
#79 | 57:53 to 58:50 | cleaned
Whether we like it or not, we know it's bound to be for our good because you ordained it. And whatever our God ordains is right. Give us your grace and your mercy in the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.
#80 | 58:52 to 59:12 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:15:48Z

This Will Solve Most Problems

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver argues that a lack of submission is the root of most problems in life. Using the examples of Joseph and Daniel, he shows that their submissive attitudes toward God and His providence, even in unjust suffering, led to their exaltation. The sermon calls believers to submit to God, to one another, and to God-ordained authorities, promising that such submission would resolve conflicts in homes, churches, and nations.

Introduction: The Problem of Rebellion

Biblical Commands to Submit

Submission to Authorities

Congregations must submit to pastors (Hebrews 13:17), and all must submit to God (James 4:7). Even magistrates are to be in subjection to God, who is the highest authority (Romans 13:1-2).

So, notice this if you would please. The Bible also says in James 4 and verse 7,

Scripture Reading — James 4:7

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he'll flee from you."

That's why the Bible says in Romans 13, verses 1 and 2,

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-2

"...let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and shall receive to themselves damnation or condemnation."

Daniel's Example of Submission

Daniel, wrongly thrown into the lions' den, responded to the king with respect: 'O king, live forever.' His submission contrasts with the natural human desire for revenge.

Scripture Reading — Daniel 6:16-23

"Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords, that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the mouth of the lions?

Joseph's Submission in Suffering

Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Throughout, he did not fight back or complain, trusting in God's sovereignty.

Now look at this,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 37:18-28

"...and it came to pass when Joseph was coming to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him, and they took him and cast him into the pit, and the pit was empty."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 37:18-28

"And Judah said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt."

Scripture Reading — Psalm 105:17-18

"He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant. Whose feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron."

Scripture Reading — Genesis 39:1-20

"And Joseph was brought to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him at the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hands. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him, And he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer of the house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptians' house for Joseph's sake. And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house and in the field."

Joseph Forgotten and Exalted

Joseph helped the chief butler, who forgot him for two years. When elevated to power, Joseph held no grudges and forgave his brothers, recognizing God's providential purpose.

Scripture Reading — Genesis 41:1, 9-14

"And it came to pass at the end of two full years that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river."

The Key to Joseph's Attitude

Joseph understood that God sovereignly ordained his trials for good. He told his brothers, 'You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good' (Genesis 50:20).

Let me say this another way. He was abased, then he might be exalted. And he was humbled, then he might be lifted up. And he suffered, then he might reign.

Application: Submission Solves Problems

If husbands, wives, children, and authorities all submitted as God commands, peace would reign. Submission is the path to life, love, and freedom.

This Will Solve Most Problems

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	731251752467703
Subject	Civil Government
Course	Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority
Genre	Sermon
Date	2025-07-20
Dictation Name
Book	Book 008: Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13 — Chapter 20
Source Timed Segments	80

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Problem of Rebellion: Weaver introduces 1 Peter 5:5 and states that a lack of submission causes most problems. He notes that Joseph and Daniel are unique in Scripture for having no negative recorded about them because they were submissive to God.
Biblical Commands to Submit: Jesus commands quick agreement with an adversary when in the wrong (Matthew 5:25; Luke 12:58). Submission is required in marriage (Ephesians 5:22-24), and husbands must submit to Christ. All believers are to submit to one another.
Submission to Authorities: Congregations must submit to pastors (Hebrews 13:17), and all must submit to God (James 4:7). Even magistrates are to be in subjection to God, who is the highest authority (Romans 13:1-2).
Daniel's Example of Submission: Daniel, wrongly thrown into the lions' den, responded to the king with respect: 'O king, live forever.' His submission contrasts with the natural human desire for revenge.
Joseph's Submission in Suffering: Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Throughout, he did not fight back or complain, trusting in God's sovereignty.
Joseph Forgotten and Exalted: Joseph helped the chief butler, who forgot him for two years. When elevated to power, Joseph held no grudges and forgave his brothers, recognizing God's providential purpose.
The Key to Joseph's Attitude: Joseph understood that God sovereignly ordained his trials for good. He told his brothers, 'You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good' (Genesis 50:20).
Application: Submission Solves Problems: If husbands, wives, children, and authorities all submitted as God commands, peace would reign. Submission is the path to life, love, and freedom.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Lack of Submission Causes Most Problems

Weaver argues that rebellion and defiance lead to destruction, while submission prevents conflict and heartache.

He says, 'it is a lack of submission that causes most problems' and gives examples of marriage and family strife.

Joseph's Submission Was Rooted in Trust in God's Sovereignty

Joseph did not complain or seek revenge because he believed God ordained his suffering for a greater purpose.

Weaver states Joseph 'realized that everything that happened to him had been ordained by God for his good and for God's glory.'

Submission Is Required of Everyone

No one is exempt from submission—wives to husbands, husbands to Christ, children to parents, congregations to pastors, and all to God.

Weaver says, 'no one escapes submission' and lists multiple biblical commands.

God Uses Submission to Prepare Us for Greater Use

God will not use someone to rebuke, help, or rule others unless they themselves have learned to submit and be corrected.

Weaver shares his personal experience of being rebuked by his pastor and says, 'God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself.'

Scripture References

1 Peter 5:5: Opening verse: 'God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.'
Matthew 5:25: Jesus commands agreeing with an adversary quickly to avoid prison.
Luke 12:58: Similar command to give diligence to be delivered from an adversary.
Ephesians 5:22-24: Wives submit to husbands as the church submits to Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-29: Husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church.
Ephesians 5:21: Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Hebrews 13:17: Obey and submit to those who rule over you, for they watch for your souls.
James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee.
Titus 3:5: Mentioned in passing regarding subjection to magistrates (likely a misreference; Weaver may have meant Titus 3:1).
Romans 13:1-2: Let every soul be subject to higher powers; resisting them resists God's ordinance.
Daniel 6:16-23: Daniel in the lions' den; his respectful reply to the king.
Isaiah 53:7: Christ as a lamb to the slaughter, not opening His mouth.
Genesis 37:1-11: Joseph's dreams and his brothers' hatred.
Genesis 37:18-28: Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers.
Genesis 42:21-22: Brothers recall Joseph's anguish when he besought them.
Psalm 105:17-18: Joseph sold as a servant, feet hurt with fetters.
Genesis 39:1-20: Joseph in Potiphar's house, falsely accused, and imprisoned.
Genesis 40:1-23: Joseph interprets dreams of the butler and baker; the butler forgets him.
Genesis 41:1, 9-14: Two years later, the butler remembers Joseph; Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams.
Genesis 45:1-8: Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, says God sent him to preserve life.

Historical References

Joseph (Old Testament patriarch): Weaver uses Joseph's life as the primary example of submission through suffering.
Daniel (Old Testament prophet): Daniel is cited as another example of submission, specifically in the lions' den.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Weaver mentions Bonhoeffer in passing: 'Joseph was in a position to teach Bonhoeffer a lesson.'

Important Quotes

it is a lack of submission that causes most problems.

This is the central thesis of the sermon.

O king, live forever.

Daniel's submissive response to the king who threw him in the lions' den, illustrating the attitude Weaver commends.

he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, and yet he opened not his mouth. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as sheep before shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:7 quoted to show Christ's submission, which Joseph typified.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Joseph's recognition of God's sovereignty in his suffering, the key to his submissive attitude.

God will never use you to rebuke others if you're unwilling to be rebuked yourself.

A principle of spiritual growth through submission to correction.

The path to life, the path to love, the path to freedom lies in submission to God and His Word.

Summary application of the sermon's message.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why does our sinful nature hate submission, and how can we overcome that tendency?

[Context]

Weaver states, 'Because of our sinful nature, we hate submission.'

[Question]

In what areas of your life do you find it most difficult to submit to God-ordained authority?

[Context]

Weaver lists multiple areas of required submission: marriage, church, government.

[Question]

How did Joseph's belief in God's sovereignty enable him to forgive his brothers without bitterness?

[Context]

Joseph said, 'You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.'

[Question]

What can we learn from Daniel's response to the king after being thrown into the lions' den?

[Context]

Daniel said, 'O king, live forever,' despite the injustice.

[Question]

How does the principle 'before honor is humility' apply to our daily lives and ambitions?

[Context]

Weaver quotes Proverbs 15:33 and 18:12.

[Question]

Why is it important for those in authority (husbands, pastors, magistrates) to also be in submission to God?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that no one escapes submission, including those in authority.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:20:49Z