By Michael D. Daniels

Many see a revival starting to brew. But how do we ensure this is a lasting revival, and not just a mirror of King Josiah’s reign?

King Josiah enforced the rule of law and restored the teaching of God’s word, and the people seemed to return to God —but Jeremiah reveals in chapter 3, verse 10: “Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly (in appearance only), saith the LORD.” We have a chance to prevent this outcome.

We have an opportunity to drive the word of God and revival deep into our nation. How? We must raise leaders from our youth to know the word of God, and equip them to raise the next generation, and the next after that.

It is not enough to raise responsible adults. We must raise godly parents, pastors, politicians, and leaders. We must model the value of teaching —to reprove, rebuke, and exhort— the next generation with the literal word of God “with all longsuffering (enduring wrong without retaliation) and doctrine.” “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (fully equipped), throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We must reach wandering young men and train genuine men of God. “True Masculinity” and “Real Men” are current buzzwords that are impossible without God.

We must teach what a real man of God looks like from scripture, bearing the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

I would further encourage aligning with the Apostle Paul’s qualifications of a bishop: “the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre (money or gain); but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity” (1 Timothy 3:2-4).

We must teach these young men to prepare for whatever calling the Lord may place on their lives. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

We must inspire young fathers to invest God’s word in their children by any means necessary, raising them from infancy to be the leaders of tomorrow.

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Repetition is key.

“Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently… teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons” (Deuteronomy 4:9).

The revival we seek needs roots that sink deep by the river of God’s word. If we fail in this mission, this revival will mirror Josiah’s —where God ultimately judged Judah because their hearts weren’t truly committed to God.

I want a revival my children and grandchildren can live under, where the depth of Biblical foundation prevents the next apostasy from bringing worse persecution than we have already seen. It starts with our young men. It starts with the youth. We must all train our children to train their children, to carry the torch until Christ’s return.