RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 21 June 2026 – God’s Timing

Biblical Context

The book of Acts picks up where Luke’s Gospel leaves off, chronicling the early church’s birth and expansion. Written by Luke, a physician and companion of Paul, it gives us an account of Jesus’s post-resurrection appearances and the Holy Spirit’s arrival. In Acts 1:6-8, we see the disciples, still grappling with earthly hopes, asking Jesus about the restoration of Israel’s kingdom. They’re looking for a political takeover, a clear date for God’s kingdom to show up. Jesus doesn’t give them a calendar date. Instead, He redirects their focus from timing to purpose and the incoming power of the Holy Spirit. He’s telling them, ‘Your job isn’t to know the ‘when’; it’s to be my witnesses by the Spirit’s help.’

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word ‘power’ from Acts 1:8. In the original Greek, this is dynamis (δύναμις). It means inherent ability, strength, or capability to perform something. It’s the root for our English word ‘dynamite.’ It doesn’t just mean physical strength; it’s about spiritual effectiveness, moral capability, and supernatural energy. When Jesus says you’ll receive dynamis, He’s promising you’ll get the Holy Spirit’s own strength, enabling you to do things you couldn’t do on your own, especially when it comes to being His witnesses.

The Nature of God’s Timing

God’s timing is incredibly important in life. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that there’s a season for everything. It’s the perfect moment He has set for things to happen exactly as He wants them. It can be hard for us to grasp because it doesn’t line up with our watch. God’s plan for you begins even before you’re born and stretches until your last breath. Sometimes, an idea can be really good, even from God Himself, but it won’t work out unless it’s in God’s specific time.

God’s Timing is Perfect

You know, God’s timing is never off. It’s never too early, and it’s never too late. Think about Mary and Martha in John 11:21-23. Martha told Jesus, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” They felt Jesus was late, but He arrived at the perfect time to show His greater glory. His timing is always on point, always for a reason, as Ecclesiastes 8:6a says, “Because to every purpose there is time and judgment.” He’s working everything out for your good if you love Him, just like Romans 8:28 promises: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” God is completely in charge of everything and everyone, as Psalm 31:15a reminds us, “My times are in thy hand.” That’s why Jesus told His disciples to keep their minds on their main task instead of worrying about when His kingdom would show up, as we read in Acts 1:6-8. He wants you to trust His schedule, not try to figure it out yourself.

God’s Timing is Beautiful

When you let God lead with His timing, things turn out beautifully. It opens the door for His direction in your life, as Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” It also fills you with hope for a bright future. Remember Jeremiah 29:11, where God declares, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” His timing secures that good future for you.

Questioning God’s Timing

It’s not uncommon for us to ask God ‘Why now?’ or ‘Why not yet?’ especially when we’re facing tough situations. We see this in Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” God knows exactly where you are every single moment. Psalm 103:14-15 tells us, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.” And Psalm 139:7-8 asks, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” He’s always with you. Sometimes, God uses those hard times to make you stronger, letting your Christian faith grow and become truly complete, just like James 1:3-4 explains: “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Know God’s Timing

Trust is Key

The main thing to understanding God’s timing is trust. Since our human minds and understanding are limited, the Bible wisely advises us in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” You shouldn’t stubbornly insist on your own schedule and plans. Proverbs 16:25 warns, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” And again, Psalm 37:23 reminds us that God directs our steps. You need to know God well to truly trust Him. Philippians 3:10 expresses this desire to know Him: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” The best way to get to know Him is by studying, thinking about, and obeying His word. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” And Joshua 1:8 urges, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Doing this will help you see God’s timing and make smart choices, like the men of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32, who “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”

Learn to Wait

You’ve got to learn to wait quietly for God. Psalm 37:7 tells us, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” God is good to those who wait for Him, as Lamentations 3:25 states, “The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.” How patient you are often shows how much you truly trust God’s timing. When you wait on the LORD, you get a fresh burst of energy and strength. Isaiah 40:31 promises, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” And Psalm 27:14 encourages us, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Stay Connected Through Prayer

While you’re waiting, it’s really important to stay close to God through prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 gives a simple but powerful command: “Pray without ceasing.” Keep talking to Him, always.

The Holy Spirit’s Help

Lastly, you need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand God’s timing and make the correct choice at the right moment. Isaiah 30:21 says, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” He’s your guide, always ready to show you the way. God’s timing is always the best; don’t run ahead of Him.