The Head Comes First

Derek Prince

Published: 1990

Last Updated: September 2026

Read Time: 2

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Spiritual growth depends on remaining directly connected to Jesus, the head of His body. In this devotional, Derek Prince shows how Christ’s resurrection guarantees His people will follow, and warns against human influences that weaken personal fellowship with Him.

According to Ephesians 1:22, God gave Jesus to be head over all things to the church, which is his body. That’s exactly parallel with what he says in Colossians 1:18.

“... who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he may have the preeminence [first place].”

There’s a very beautiful analogy there which some of you may not have noticed. Jesus is the head of the body and He’s the first-born from the dead. So, the resurrection is viewed as a birth out of death. Now, in a natural human birth what’s the first part of the body that normally emerges? The head. And so, in this birth out of death, which is the resurrection, the first part of the body to emerge was the head. And when the head emerges, that’s the guarantee that the body’s going to follow. Jesus is the head, the first-born from the dead.

And then in Colossians 2:18–19, Paul says:

“Let no one defraud you of your reward...”

This is the problem with cults. They defraud people.

“Let no one defraud you of your reward taking delight in false humility...”

For example, only eating vegetables and things like that. If you want to be a vegetarian, that’s fine but don’t make a religious issue of it.

“... taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly [but religious] mind, and not holding fast to the head...”

Please note the last part: “Having lost connection with the head.”

“... from which the whole body fitly joined together, grows.”

So, one of the things we have to bear in mind is every member of the body has to have a direct personal connection with the head. Never let any human minister come in between you and the head. Human ministers can help you, they can guide you, they can inspire you, they can warn you but you have to have your personal connection with the head. Let no one ever cheat you out of that.

Prayer Response

Thank You, Lord Jesus, You are the Head of the Body, and You are my head as well and I want to be, first and foremost, connected to You. I worship and adore You, Lord! Please help me to hold fast to You and let no one come between You and me, in true humility. In Jesus’ Name, amen.