Rise and Shine

January 11, 2026

God promises to make you the head and not the tail, lifting you up from every low place

Today, let's embrace the truth that God has positioned you to be the head and not the tail. This isn't about worldly success or pride; it's about recognizing your divine identity and the authority God has given you in Christ. Prepare to be lifted up as we explore how God transforms our lowest moments into our greatest victories.

God's Promise of Elevation

The enemy's strategy is clear and relentless. He wants to keep you down, make you feel inferior, and prevent you from rising to your full stature in Christ. He desires to see you as the tail, not the head, always struggling and never leading. His ultimate goal is to push you down through doubt, fear, sickness, or any form of oppression.

But God has a different plan. In Deuteronomy, we find this powerful promise:

"And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go upward and not downward, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them." - Deuteronomy 28:13

This is not just wishful thinking; this is God's declared intention for your life. The same place where you fell down, where you bowed your head in guilt and shame, is the very place God will lift your head up.

Joseph's Journey from Pit to Palace

Joseph's story perfectly illustrates this divine principle. Genesis 45:26 tells us that Joseph was not only alive but ruling over all the land of Egypt. The very nation that once enslaved him now bowed to his authority.

"And they told him, 'Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.'" - Genesis 45:26

Joseph faced betrayal, slavery, false accusations, and imprisonment. Yet every attempt to push him down only built pressure for his eventual rise. Like a ball pushed underwater, the deeper it goes, the more forcefully it springs back to the surface.

"The same place where we fell down is the same place God will lift our head up."

Jesus and the Power of Resurrection

In Luke 8, we witness Jesus demonstrating this same principle of divine reversal. When Jairus received the devastating news that his daughter had died, Jesus responded with words that defied natural circumstances:

"But Jesus on hearing this answered him, 'Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.'" - Luke 8:50

When Jesus arrived at the house filled with weeping and mourning, He declared:

"Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." - Luke 8:52

The crowd laughed at Him, knowing she was dead. But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, "Child, arise!" Immediately, her spirit returned, and she got up.

Here we see the way Jesus perceives things differently than we do. The fact was that she was dead, but the truth in Jesus was that she was not dead. The same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us and is among us. When we encounter dead situations, we can call forth life in the name of Jesus.

You can call out the things that have been buried. You can speak to the things that appear dead and say, "Arise in the name of Jesus! Arise and shine in the name of Jesus!" You cannot remain in a state of deception, failure, brokenness, anxiety, or depression. You must arise and shine in the name of Jesus.

"You cannot be in the deception state, the failure state, the brokenness state, the anxiety state, or the depression state. You have to arise and shine."

When Jesus said "awake and rise up," instantly the spirit returned to her body and she stood up. Your dreams will rise up. Nothing is broken, nothing is missing, nothing is lacking. Every spirit of death must leave in the name of Jesus. No more sleep mode - it's time to wake up and rise up for His glory.

From Sadness to Joy

Hannah's story in 1 Samuel reveals another crucial element in receiving God's miracles. After pouring her heart out to God in prayer, we read:

"Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad." - 1 Samuel 1:18

Your miracle happens when you are no longer sad. Joy unlocks the supernatural. When Hannah shifted from sorrow to faith, she positioned herself to receive Samuel, one of the greatest prophets in Israel's history.

"Your miracle happens when you are no longer sad."

Time to Wake Up and Rise

The days of weeping and mourning are over in the presence of Jesus. It's time to wake up from the sleep of defeat and discouragement. Every spirit of death, every spirit of sleepiness must go in the name of Jesus.

You are not dead; you are alive in Christ. Your dreams are not dead; they are sleeping, waiting for the voice of the Master to call them forth. Rise up and shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Conclusion

Today, embrace your identity as one whom God has chosen to be the head and not the tail. The same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. No matter what people say, no matter what circumstances look like, God's report is the final report. You will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Your health, finances, opportunities, and blessings will be lifted up because the arms of the righteous shall be lifted up.

Reflect on This

1. In what areas of your life do you need to shift from seeing death to seeing sleep, waiting for God's awakening call?

2. How can you cultivate the joy of the Lord that unlocks miracles, even in challenging circumstances?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You that Joseph is still alive in my life. Every dream, every promise, every blessing that seemed dead is merely sleeping, waiting for Your voice to call it forth. I declare that I am the head and not the tail, that I go up and not down. The joy of the Lord is my strength, and I am no longer sad. I rise up and shine for Your glory. Every spirit of death and defeat must flee from my life. I am alive, blessed, and victorious in Jesus' name. Amen.

Key Takeaways

• God promises to make you the head and not the tail, lifting you up from every low place.

• Like Joseph, your greatest setbacks can become setups for your greatest comebacks.

• Jesus has power over death and can resurrect what seems impossible in your life.

• Joy and faith, not sadness and fear, unlock the miraculous in your circumstances.

• The same resurrection power that raised Jesus lives in you and can awaken every sleeping dream.

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To dive deeper into this powerful message, watch the full sermon on our YouTube video below.