The second meaning embedded in the blessing of Christmas is 'waiting.'

Jesus didn't say, "I have forgiven you, so you have to bear proper fruits right away." He didn't say, "Peter, why are you still rough and boastful though I asked and warned you not to be?" He didn't say, "John and James, why have you not changed your hot-tempers? When will you get rid of it?" He didn't say, "Thomas, are you still speaking such absurd things because you have not yet cast off your fleshly thoughts?" He didn't say, "I've shown a good example of service to you, so why do you dispute and argue with each other over who is the greatest without considering your changes?" He didn't say, "My heart is almost burning to see you all doing like this." He never spoke a word of complaint.

Rather, He looked at Peter's fervor and the yearning hearts of John and James. He also looked at good points of the other disciples including Thomas, Philip, and Nathanael and He waited patiently for them. While He was earnestly praying about the crucifixion ahead of Him that His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground, His disciples fell asleep. Even at this time Jesus still believed in them and even to His last moments He believed in them and then left them to the Father. "After I depart from them the Holy Spirit will come and change them. Then, they will bring what I have told them into their remembrance and change and finally perform power." He waited for them with this hope.

WITH THE PASSAGE OF 2, 000 YEARS THE LORD IS STILL WAITING. DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, YOU HAVE ALSO CAUSED HIM TO WAIT THAT MUCH, HAVEN'T YOU? SOME OF YOU JUST BARELY EVEN CAME TO CHURCH ONCE WHEN SOMEONE ELSE HAD TESTIFIED TO YOU FOR YEARS AND SERVED YOU ELABORATELY WITH LOVE. OTHER PEOPLE BLINDED YOUR EARS TOWARD THE GOSPEL, AND IT WAS ONLY WHEN A BIG PROBLEM HAPPENED TO YOU THAT YOU COULD SAY TO GOD, "GOD, HELP ME!" THE LORD DID NOT DISLIKE SUCH PEOPLE. HE JOYFULLY WELCOMED THEM WITH HIS ARMS WIDE OPEN, SAYING, "MY SON! MY DAUGHTER! GOOD TO SEE YOU!"

How long have you let Him wait for you to have true faith despite the profession of your faith in the Lord? So many of you had not lived a proper believing life even with 10 or 20 long years of faith until the year of 2010. You said you believed before powerful works, but you did not circumcise your hearts. You said you have hope for heaven, but still looked at the world. You said you would do your best and surely change, but returned to the former life of your old self. But the Father and the Lord waited for you.

His waiting brought forth your chance and gave you the strength of change. Now, so thankfully, many of you have come to understand the heart of Father God and the Lord's love. You have come to bear the shepherd's tears and sacrifice in your mind. You are coming to understand what it is to truly believe in power and what is to look up to the things above.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

2 Peter 3:8-9 says, "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." Because His expectations for true children are so great, the Father God has endured a thousand years like one day. Furthermore, He also felt one day to be like a thousand years because of His earnest hope and mournful sorrow for those people who were dying.

I am so desperate with this Scripture. For the last 35 years and particularly for the last 7 years, I could not but wait patiently with faith. There was nothing I could do in helping the souls change into whole spirit and concerning the money of the (Comprehensive Blessing) and the Canaan Sanctuary. Father God just said, "Fill up the measure of justice," and accordingly I just had to endure patiently. When all most of my life energy went out and I could hardly move, I was so distressed that one day was like a thousand years. And I felt impatient with the passing of time, thinking "The saints should change quickly... There are so many things to do until the Lord comes..."

However, I have waited and I am waiting like Father God and the Lord waited. The only thing you have to remember is that the promise of the Lord is never too late at all. But the day of His return is destined no matter how long He waits in love. That's why you have to catch hold of the chance when it is given to you. In the name of the Lord I ask you once again to gird yourself with this faith, press on toward the goal and to change quickly.

Speaker Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jaerock Lee