Only One Said 'Thank You'

Only One Said 'Thank You'
By Dr. John C. Whitcomb

The Command
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God commands us to give Him thanks for everything He has done, is doing and will do for us.
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"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Phil. 4:6).

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men" (1 Tim. 2:1).

"Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20).
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The Problem

But this is not the normal response of the sinful heart of man. Even in times of health and prosperity, do we genuinely thank God for what He has given us?
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One day, our Lord cleansed 10 lepers who cried out to Him, "'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' So when He saw them, He said to them, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?' And He said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well'" (Luke 17:13-19). As in the entire nation of Israel, many thousands were physically healed by the Lord Jesus, but relatively few really believed in Him as God and Savior.
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In fact, from the beginning of the world, even in the hearts of our first parents, Adam and Eve, "although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools" (Rom. 1:21, 22).
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Difficult Circumstances for Thankfulness

While inside the body of a gigantic fish deep in the Mediterranean Sea, with "weeds...wrapped around [his] head" (Jonah 2:5), the disobedient prophet Jonah cried out:
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"I will sacrifice to YouWith the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9).

In response to that amazing prayer, "the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land" (Jonah 2:10).

And what about the prophet Daniel? When threatened with death in a lions' den for offering a prayer to "any god or man" (Dan. 6:7) besides the king of Medo-Persia, Daniel "went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days" (Dan. 6: 10).
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Thus, in every conceivable circumstance, "by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Heb. 13:15).
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Why? Because "we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).

In ETERNITY

What will believers be doing in heaven? We will be saying:
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"Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever" (Rev. 7:12).
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So let us ask God to help us today to thank Him for His infinite grace and love in sending His Son to pay in full the penalty for our sins which we could never pay. What a gift!

Yes, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Cor. 9:15).

Do you want to learn more about this topic?
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Listen to "Only One Said 'Thank You'" by Dr. Whitcomb on SermonAudio.com.

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Thanksgiving Street

Thanksgiving Street

I knew a man whose name was Horner

Who used to live in grumble corner;

Grumble corner in crosspatch town

And he never was seen without a frown.
He grumbled at this, and he grumbled at that,

He growled at the dog. He growled at the cat.

He grumbled at morning. He grumbled at night,

And to grumble and growl was his chief delight.
He grumbled so much at his wife that she

Began to grumble as well as he.

And all the children, wherever they went,

Reflected their parents discontent.
If the sky was dark and betokened rain,

Then Mr. Horner was sure to complain.

And if there was not a cloud about,

He grumbled because of a threatened drought.
His meals were never to suit his taste,

He grumbled at having to eat in haste.

The bread was poor, or the meat was tough,

Or else he hadn't had half enough.
No matter how hard his wife would try

To please her husband, with scornful eye

He'd look around and then with a scowl

At something or other he'd begin to growl.
One day as I walked down the street,

My old acquaintance I chanced to meet;

Whose face was without the look of care

And the ugly frown that had drifted there.
"I may be mistaken" perhaps I said

As after saluting I turned my head!

"But it is, and it isn*t the Mr. Horner

Who used to live on grumble corner."
I met him next day and I met him again;

In melting weather and in pelting rain.

When stocks were up, and when stocks were down,

But a smile, somehow, had replaced the frown.
It puzzled me much, and so one day,

I seized his hand in a friendly way and said,

"Mr. Horner, I*d like to know

What can have happened to change you so?"
He laughed a laugh that was good to hear;

For it told of a conscience, calm and clear.

And he said with none of his old-time drawl,

"Why I've changed my residence, that is all.
"Yes," said Horner, "It wasn't healthy on grumble corner"

And so I've moved: twas a change complete,

"And you will find me now On

Thanksgiving Street."
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."Giving Thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:20).
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."In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18).

Governor Bradford's First Thanksgiving Proclamation!

Governor Bradford of Massachusetts made this first Thanksgiving Proclamation three years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth:

"Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.
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In everything give thanks; for this is the will of  God in Christ Jesus concerning you! 1 Thes. 5:18

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."

William Bradford
Ye Governor of Ye Colony

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"
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Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Go: Washington

Is Your Thanksgiving an ETERNAL Thanksgiving?

Dear friends, the absolute key to a thankful heart in whatever time period or season one lives in is ONLY found in Jesus Christ and in His RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Cor. 9:15)! In Jesus is found ALL forgiveness, ALL pardon, All hope, All promises, ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, and ALL ETERNAL LIFE for the child who has placed ALL their trusted in Him for ETERNAL SALVATION in RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Cor. 1:20)! For ALL of us who are, the question to be asked is, are we truly thankful for Almighty God our Heavenly Father for so loving us that He sent His only begotten Son on our behalf (John 3:16-17), that we may be redeemed, forgiven, received, adopted, and made RIGHTEOUS in the Person and work of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:4, 1 Cor. 1:30)?

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!

Dear friends, are we truly thankful in light of the day in which we live to still be able to worship Almighty God in Spirit and TRUTH here in America, and that we still have a measure of time left to get out His ETERNAL saving Gospel message to this lost, dying, and condemned world? Beloved, are we truly rejoicing that the Lord Jesus is coming again very soon and that this fallen world is NOT our ETERNAL home? Beloved, we have such an ETERNAL glorious hope, such ETERNAL precious promises and such an ETERNAL fulfilled future with our ETERNAL Savior and Lord in perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 22:5)! Beloved, that truly is the thankful fire that must burn in our hearts all year long! We need to possess that thanksgiving of heart that keeps us fresh and joyful as we walk this pilgrim journey (Phil. 4:4)! For indeed, this world is truly NOT our home, we are truly just a pass'n through! Beloved, see and possess your ETERNAL calling in Christ Jesus, be His thankful, faithful ambassador and light in such days, and ALWAYS give thanks to the ETERNAL LORD of life in ALL THINGS (Col. 3:1-4, 1 Thess. 5:16-18)! For this is indeed the Will of God!

Beloved, may this Thanksgiving season be a wonderful, thankful blessing to you all! We indeed have much to be ETERNALLY thankful for (Phil. 4:4)!

Beloved, The Kingdom of Heaven is truly at hand!

DJP I.F.

What is TRUE THANKSGIVING? Today Are You Truly Thankful in RIGHTEOUSNESS?

One of the most impossible acts for an unregenerate individual to do is to thank Almighty God in RIGHTEOUSNESS, and since the majority of humanity rejects Almighty God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, how many billions of individuals are truly thankful to their ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS CREATOR for His mercy and goodness to each one of us (Psalm 14, Rom.. 1:18-32; 10:2-4; 1 John 4:10)?

Are you truly thankful for the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Almighty God?

It's easy to "praise" Almighty God and thank Him when everything seems to be going "our" way (Prov. 14:.12). Apart from a saving relationship to Almighty God in RIGHTEOUSNESS (John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:10), we see this hypocrisy all the time expressed and redefined in the unthankful, unregenerate hearts of fallen humanity. Some examples of this expressed unrighteous thanksgiving to God are found in the sports world, Hollywood, politics or in general life (Isa. 5:20). I don't doubt that many are truly "thankful" in their hearts and minds but not in RIGHTEOUSNESS and that is where the great deception lies (Prov. 14:12;  John 3:19-20; Eph. 2:1-2; Rev. 11:7-12).

True thanksgiving begins when one enters into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ in RIGHTEOUSNESS!

This Thanksgiving, are you truly thankful to Almighty God in RIGHTEOUSNESS, or have you established your own altered world along with your own altered world of thanksgiving?

True thanksgiving begins when one enters into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ in RIGHTEOUSNESS (John 1:12; 1 Cor. 1:28-30; 1 John 4:10). From then on true thanksgiving in RIGHTEOUSNESS will truly become a way of life and harmony with our ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS CREATOR until we are with Him FOREVERMORE (Psalm 107:1-2; Rom. 7:24-25; 2 Cor. 2:14; 9:15; Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Thes. 5:18)! It will be then in ETERNITY that PERFECT RIGHTEOUS THANKSGIVING will be expressed with ALL ETERNAL UNSPEAKABLE JOY (Rev. 22:1-5)!!

Give THANKS to the Lord for His mercy endures FOREVER!

What a great, NEVER ENDING, blessed ETERNAL hope with THANKSGIVING for the redeemed child of Almighty God to possess in such lawless and godless days!

The Kingdom of God is truly at hand!

DJP I.F.

My New Song!

Why Jesus Used “70 × 7” in Matthew 18 - The Deeper Daniel 9:24-27 Prophetic Meaning!

Beloved, this is absolutely mindblowing to me! The Lord Jesus perfectly understood Daniel 9:24-27 and used this prophetic text in Matthew 18:21-22 as an example of what full and complete forgiveness is in RIGHTEOUSNESS! I wonder if the Peter truly understood what text Jesus was referring to and its complete meaning, as Jesus taught Peter this Divine lesson on true and full forgiveness and its restoration in RIGHTEOUSNESS! 

I wonder if the Peter truly understood what text Jesus was referring to as He taught Peter this Divine lesson on true and complete forgiveness and restoration in RIGHTEOUSNESS! 

The Lord Jesus also testified as He carried His cross to the children of Israel of that day, and stated in Luke 19:41-43 that, "Only if they knew the time of their visitation" and what would happen in the near future as a result of their being ignorant of the wonderful prophetic truths found in Daniel 9:24-26. O beloved, how many believers in the risen Savior of today miss all the signs and wonders of our hour!  No wonder the Rapture Trumpet for the Body of Christ will come as a thief to many in these ever-growing EXPONENTIAL Last Days (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 5:1-4)!

Beloved, below is a brief outline of Jesus' message to Peter on full and complete forgiveness in RIGHTEOUSNESS and its complete and full reconciliation of both parties! Also, it is a deeper look into the beautiful love and reconciliation of Yahweh God with His people Israel in the near future (Zech. 12-14)! The very One teaching Peter on forgiveness and reconciliation in RIGHTEOUSNESS, will be the very One who will be the propitiation for Israel, but also the whole world (Isa. 53, 1 John 4:7-10)! O beloved! How absolutely beautiful is that! 

Divine Restoration and Forgiveness in RIGHTEOUSNESS - Daniel 9:24-27

1. “Seventy Times Seven” Comes Directly From Daniel’s Prophecy

When Jesus said:

“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
— Matthew 18:22

He used the exact language of Daniel 9:24:

“Seventy weeks (seventy sevens) are determined upon thy people…”

Daniel’s phrase “70 weeks” literally means:

70 × 7 = 490 years

In Hebrew:

• shabuim = “sevens”
  

• So 70 sevens = 490
  
  

Jesus’ wording directly echoes Daniel’s timeline.

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2. Daniel’s 490-Year Prophetic Clock

Daniel 9:24–27 lays out six purposes God will accomplish within these “70 sevens”:

1. Finish the transgression
   

2. Make an end of sins
   

3. Make reconciliation for iniquity
   

4. Bring in everlasting righteousness
   

5. Seal up the vision and prophecy
   

6. Anoint the Most Holy
   

These are fulfilled in stages:

• First 69 weeks (483 years) → Messiah comes
  

• Gap (church age)
  

• Final 70th week (7 years) → tribulation, covenant, abomination of desolation, restoration
  

Thus, “70 × 7” is a complete, divine cycle of redemption.

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3. Why Jesus Used “70 × 7” in Matthew 18

When Peter asked Jesus how often to forgive, Jesus responded:

“70 × 7” — the Daniel number — the number of God’s complete forgiveness.

This is not accidental.

Jesus was teaching:

As God is completing His 490-year plan to forgive Israel, so you must forgive fully and completely.

It’s a prophetic hint pointing back to Daniel’s countdown of forgiveness and reconciliation:

• Daniel 9:24 → “to make an end of sins”
  

• Matthew 18 → forgive without limit
  
  

Jesus was saying:

Forgive as God forgives: completely, fully, perfectly — “70 sevens.”

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4. The Deeper Biblical Connection

A. 490 is the number of complete redemption cycles in Scripture

490 appears repeatedly:

• 70 × 7 = 490 years of Israel’s sabbath-rest violations → leading to Babylon (2 Chron. 36:21)
  

• 70 × 7 = Daniel’s prophetic timetable
  

• 70 × 7 = Jesus’ call for complete forgiveness
  
  

It always symbolizes:

Divine completion, forgiveness, restoration, Jubilee, and release.

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B. Daniel’s 490 years are about God forgiving Israel

Daniel 9:24 emphasizes forgiveness:

• end of sins
  

• reconciliation
  

• everlasting righteousness
  

Jesus uses the same number to teach:

Forgive the way God forgives.

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5. Summary: How “70 × 7” Connects to Daniel 9:24–27

1. Daniel’s prophecy = 70 sevens (70 × 7 = 490)
2. Jesus intentionally uses the same phrase in Matthew 18.
3. Both contexts deal with forgiveness, reconciliation, and completing God’s plan.
4. 490 becomes the biblical symbol for God’s full, complete, divine cycle of redemption.
5. The 70th week of Daniel (the last seven) is the final stage of God completing His promise to Israel.

Maranatha! The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

DJP I.F.