Brent Kuhlman

Funeral:  Norman Willis Kupke
29 May 2009 (Friday of Easter 7)

St. John 11:21-45

On Tuesday morning I spoke the absolution.  “Norm by Jesus’ command I forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  His lips moved with a silent “Amen.”  I prayed the Lord’s Prayer.  His lips again gave the “Amen.”  And then again at the Benediction.  The “Amen” to what he always believed by the Holy Spirit.  The “Amen” he gave every Sunday in the divine service.  All his life.

Do you trust Jesus?  Norm did.     

After all, Norm, the man who loved to fish, had been fished.  Caught in God’s net.  God put His little fish Norm in the water of Holy Baptism to swim with the big fish:  Jesus Himself!  Safe and sound are the little fishes as they remain in the baptismal water with Big Fish Jesus.

Or to put it another way.  Norm, the man who loved to put his boat in the water, through Holy Baptism, was given to float the Lord’s boat or better said the Lord’s ark.  The holy Christian Church.  Talk about a boat ride!  And he never wanted to get off this ark.  For he was safe and secure in the boat with Jesus!  Even in the midst of all his latest rough rides.  After all Jesus promises:  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,” (Mark 16:16).  Norm loved that promise from Jesus.          

It’s easy to trust in Jesus when things are going well.  But now’s the time when the rubber hits the road.  In times of illness.  Diabetes.  Heart.  Trouble walking.  Trouble breathing.  Struggling to pay the all the bills and keeping insurance in retirement. The aneurism. Surgery.  And then Tuesday’s code blue. 

Ask Martha.  Ask Mary.  Lazarus was sick.  Death-bed sick.  And then their beloved brother died.  They asked Jesus to come.  Begged Him.  But Pastor Jesus shows up only after the funeral.  After the burial.  Talk about arriving too late.  Talk about questionable pastoral care!  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” is their complaint. 

But the fact is:  Lazarus is dead.  Four days dead.  And so too Norm.

Can Martha and Mary trust Jesus with their brother’s death?  How about you with Norm’s?  Or even with your own?

I ask you this because Jesus doesn’t mess around with trivial things.  He’s all about most important things.  Eternal life or death things.  The thing that matters the most. 

And that’s faith in Him!  That’s what Jesus is into!  That’s what Jesus is most interested in. 

Listen.  He says to you, me, Martha and Mary:  “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” 

“He who BELIEVES in me,” He promises great things.  Things that just blow the mind.  Things that give great joy in times of great heartache and sorrow.  “He who believes in me will live, yes live, even though he dies and is buried six feet under.  And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

And then, of course, the biggest question from Jesus:  “Do you believe this?” 

This is the eternal life or death question.  From the Lord Himself.  Martha’s answer:  “Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, was to come into the world.”  And so did Norm believe.

And so to prove that what He says is true Jesus marches to Lazarus’ tomb.  Barks out orders:  “Take away the stone.  I don’t care if his corpse has already begun to decompose and stick!  Didn’t I tell you that if you BELIEVED, you would see the glory of God?” “Lazarus come out!”   And His words do what they say.  Lazarus comes out:  alive.  Raised from the dead.

Lazarus:  an object lesson that reveals that Jesus is indeed the resurrection and the life just as He promises.

“Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.”

Believed in Jesus because of what they saw. 

But all you get is Jesus’ promise.  His Word.  “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”  And that’s enough.  For His words are Spirit and they are life.  He raised Lazarus through His word.   On the last day He’ll raise you too and Norm with a word:  “Time to get up.”

Until then there’s faith in Jesus. That’s the whole point of a funeral:  faith.  Norm wouldn’t want you glorying in him.  Norm would point you to Jesus His Savior who is the resurrection and the life.  Norm would say:  “I’m nothing.  Jesus is everything!  He died for you.  He rose for you.  Your sins are forgiven.  You can trust in Him.”

Indeed!  Believing in Jesus will see you through the long haul.  Even through death itself.  “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies,” Jesus promises, “and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” 

So Norm’s where he’s always been:  in Christ!  Christ has him.  Always has.  Always will. 

The day will come when we believers will have a happy reunion with Norm in heaven and rejoice to live in our resurrected bodies given to us on the last day. Then there will be no more diabetes.  No more heart or kidney troubles.  No more dying.  No more tears.  For “we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.”  Our bodies will be raised “imperishable” and clothed with “immortality.”

Fishing?  Boating?  In the new heaven and the new earth (2 Peter 3:13)?  We’ll have to wait and see.  Can you imagine the size of the bass and walleye?  He may even get the itch to grade a road and plant a huge garden to share and enjoy its bounty.  And maybe Norm will even be in the mood to try a few rounds of golf with me.  I’ll even buy.

But what about haircuts?  Do you think my resurrected head will still have the hair that can wear a flat top?  I sure hope so.  After all, Norm will have the strength to hold up his resurrected arms and use his resurrected barber skills to give me a flat top to end all flat tops.  And you’ll all be jealous! 

On second thought, no you won’t because there won’t be any envy after the resurrection either.  Just the unending joy and love of having eternal life.  

And all this because of Jesus’ promise:  “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

“Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”    

 In the Name of Jesus.    
 

Sixth Sunday of Easter
17 May 2009

St. John 15:9-17

We have received so much from the Lord Jesus. The enormity of His love for us is mind-boggling.  He came down from heaven.  Took on our flesh.  Took our place.  Shed His blood and died for us sinners – His enemies.  Yes, that’s right, for His ungodly enemies.  Laid down His life on the cross for us.  Took all our sins and answered for them in His body.  He chose us to be His own.  He calls us His friends.  Refuses to treat us as His enemies.  Gave us His Spirit so that we trust in Him and His gifts.  So immense is His love for us.  We deserve none of it.  Absolutely none of it! 

What does Jesus expect in response from us who believe in Him?  Or does He expect anything at all?  Does He?  He sure does.  But I’d better let Jesus Himself say it.  If I say it you may just blow me off.  And that’s all right.  Blow me off all you want.  But it’s quite another thing to blow off the Lord Jesus who chose you and appointed you to bear fruit.

Oops!  I leaked it out.  Did you catch it?  “Appointed you to bear fruit.”   Those are the Lord’s words, not mine.  His idea.  His will.  Not mine.  

Here’s what He says to you for whom He died:  “This is my commandment:  that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”     “This I command you: that you love one another.”  

Commandment.  That’s pretty serious when Jesus says:  “my commandment.”  I.E. it’s not optional.  It’s what He expects from us. Love for one another.  That’s the fruit of faith in Jesus. 

Love one another.  The person next to you in the pew.  The people all gathered here in this church.  The people in your family.  The people in your community.  The nation.  The world.   After all, Jesus died for them too.  Jesus loves them just as much as He loves you.   

And that’s where it’s really dicey isn’t it?  Because there are people in your life that for whom you don’t care.  And there are people who don’t care for you.  And then the love grows cold.  And as love cools – hate heats up.  Then the devil steps in to stoke the hate flames so that relationships are destroyed. 

“He hit me so I had to hit him back!  She called me the “B” word so I gave it back to her in spades!  He doesn’t like me so I don’t like him either.  She said so many venomous things about me so I had to give it right back behind her back.  He dropped the “F” bomb right in my face so I bombed it right back at him numerous times.”  Tit for tat.  Quid pro quo.  Dog eat dog.  The way of the world.  No wonder it’s all such a mess. 

But not so among you who believe in Jesus.  Who bear His Name.  Who have been given to eat and drink His most holy body and blood that given into death for your salvation.  Who are forgiven everything for His sake.  To you (not rocks or the church pews) Jesus says:  “This is my commandment:  that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”     “This I command you: that you love one another.”  

Jesus doesn’t need your love.  You neighbor does.  Your neighbor needs your help.  Desperately!  Your children.  Your grandchildren.  Your fellow church members.  Your classmates.  Your fellow citizens. 

Jesus expects us to live not for ourselves, but for others. 

For example.  Why do most Americans work?  So they can play on the weekend.  Play in retirement.  That’s why Americans play at their work and work at their play.  That’s right:  they play at their work and work at their play.  That too is the way of the world.  It’s all about the self.  Fulfillment of self.  Pleasuring one’s self.   Self this.  Self that.  A life turned in on itself.

But that’s the life of a slave.  A prison.  Self becomes an idol that never gives you any rest.      

The opposite of the worship of the self is the freedom that faith in Jesus gives.   Instead of turned inward faith gives birth to the life of sacrificial love for people in your life.  A life lived outside yourself.  FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS.  The life of love for one another.

There is where true joy is found.  Joy that is complete.  Laying down your life in self-sacrificial service for your neighbor.  Meeting their needs not yours.  Providing for what they need. 

You are Christ’s friends.  His died for all sin forgiven friends.

He has good use for you in this world.  Listen again to what it is: “This is my commandment:  that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”     “This I command you: that you love one another.”  

In the Name of Jesus.                        

 

Easter 5         
10 May 2009                                   

                                                                                    + Jesu Juva +

2 Timothy 1:5  “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

The apostle to the Gentiles is rotting in a Roman prison cell.  Why?  Paul preached that Jesus rose bodily from the dead.  He proclaimed that this crucified but risen Jesus is the one true God who forgives sinners because of His sacrificial death on the cross.  Such preaching and such a preacher is a threat to all the false gods and false religions of the world.  And so prison is his earthly reward.  A rabble-rouser.  A disturber of the peace.  And there’s no hope of Paul being acquitted and set free.  Soon the apostle’s neck will be exposed to the Roman sword.  Executed for confessing that Jesus is the Savior! 

Paul longs to see his preaching companion and his emissary for twelve years, Pastor Timothy, one more time before the executioner’s sword makes him shorter by a head.  Paul begs faithful Pastor Timothy to visit him at Rome.  But that might not happen.  Once winter arrives travel by sea would make it impossible for Timothy to travel to the empire’s capital.  So prisoner Paul puts in writing all that he hopes to tell Timothy in person if and when he arrives. 

Paul fondly remembers Timothy’s sincere faith in Jesus.  The same faith that Timothy’s Hebrew Grandma Lois and Hebrew Mother Eunice had.  These two women raised Timothy from infancy (2 Timothy 3:15) in the Old Testament promises that the Savior was coming.  And in the preaching of crucified but risen Jesus, Timothy, Lois and Eunice believed the promise fulfilled.   

Paul doesn’t mention Timothy’s father.  We do know from Acts 16:1 that his father was Greek.  But that’s all we know.  The implication is that Timothy’s father did not believe in Jesus. 

So it was up to the women:  Grandma Lois and Mother Eunice.  Up to them to take Timothy to church, teach him the Bible stories, teach him how to pray, and model the faith in God’s promises by their lives.  And they did.  From the time Timothy was born.  Before he could ever walk or talk.  And they kept it up.  Through the tough teenage years and no doubt through the rebellious times in a young man’s life.   

Thanks be to God for the women!  For Grandma Lois and Mother Eunice!  They were God’s instruments to pass on the faith to little Timothy. 

He didn’t turn out like his father.  By God’s Holy Spirited Word and God’s mercy his faith in Jesus produces much fruit.  Timothy is a pastor in the Christian Church.  One who publicly proclaims and defends the Gospel of Jesus the Christ!  Who makes certain that the church is supplied with pastors for the preaching of the Gospel!  And it wouldn’t have been possible unless the Lord used his grandmother and mother. 

Thanks be to God for the mothers and grandmothers given to you!  Whom God used as His instruments.  Moms to give birth to you.  Grandmas to help raise you.  Put the band-aids on the skinned knees and elbows.  Take you to the doctor when you had the flu.    Attend all the teacher’s conferences, ball games, and band recitals.  Pay for school lunches, prom dresses, tuxedos, and senior pictures.  Putting you on their cell phone plan.  Helping with the car insurance.  Scrimping and saving to put you through college.  Perhaps a down payment on your first home.  Spoiling the grandchildren.       

Thanks be to God for Moms and Grandmas!  Who brought you to Holy Baptism – the washing of regeneration and new birth by the Holy Spirit.  Who taught you how to pray.  Drug you to Sunday School and the divine service week after week, month after month, year after year.  Drove you all those Wednesday nights to youth catechesis.  Helped you memorize the answers to the Small Catechism questions like:  “What is Baptism?”  “What is Confession?”  “What is the Sacrament of the Altar?”  “Where is this written?” 

Mothers and Grandmothers are God’s good gifts to us just as they were to Pastor Timothy.  Doesn’t mean they’re perfect.  They aren’t.  Family members know their sins, flaws, and imperfections better than anybody. 

And when those mistakes, warts, defects, and sins flare up we have the divine call to use Jesus as the Mediator that He is.  To let Jesus and His love and forgiveness get between us so that we don’t destroy each other and our relationships.  Especially with the ladies the Lord has given us in this life.

Jesus has forgiven you everything.  Died for you.  Answered for all your sin on the cross.  Loves you that much.  Salvation is yours for His sake.  That’s His promise.  Faith trusts His promise. 

And so faith gives birth to love.  Love for one another.  Love not for yourself.  But for others.  Especially your mother.  Especially your grandmother.  They need your love that flows from your faith in Jesus.  After all, love is patient.  It is kind.  Love bears all things.  It doesn’t keep score. 

No wonder that at the end of his life the apostle Paul rejoiced in Timothy’s sincere Christian faith. 

And although I don’t think I’m at the end of my life – only God knows that – I pray that God gives me many more years with you here at Trinity.  And as I am reminded of your sincere faith, your mother’s and your grandmother’s, I give thanks to Jesus who loved us so much that He gave Himself into death as the propitiation for all our sins.   

Have a happy Mother’s Day.

In the Name of Jesus. 
 

Trinity Murdock / Easter 4         
3 May 2009                                   

                                                                                    + Jesu Juva +

St. Matthew 28:19
Baptism of Dylan Rae Bornemeier

Gifts.  The Lord gifted Brad and Julie a beautiful baby daughter:  Dylan Rae.  “Children are a gift from the Lord.”  That’s Psalm 127. 

Dylan’s been given many gifts so far.  Baby Shower gifts.  Birthday gifts.  Just for fun gifts.  Even John Deere green gifts.  Imagine that at the Bornemeier home!  

The Lord’s always in a giving mood.  That’s just the way He is.  Big gifts too.  The gift of life.  Parents.  Brothers and sisters.  Grandpas and Grandmas.  A home.  Tricycles, tractors and wagons.  Barbies, play cell phones and pretend laptops.  Sketchers and Wranglers.  Flip flops and sweat pants.  Cheese burgers and French fries.  Eyes that see.  Ears that hear.  Hearts that beat.  Lungs that breathe.

And then there is the Christmas gift named Jesus.  The Father gave His only begotten Son into death.  The death of the cross.  Behold the Good Friday Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  Lamb of God Jesus sacrificed as the only sacrifice that atones for all sin and for every sinner.

Yes, that’s right, I said it!  And I never get tired of saying it.  For the Lord sent me to preach it.  Jesus died for all sin and every sinner.  What sin didn’t He die for?  What sinner did He leave out of His bloody death?  And the answer is:  . . . none!  Lamb of God Jesus is Good Shepherd Jesus.  He lays down His life into death for you His sheep.  For the forgiveness of your sins.  For life and salvation.     

And Lamb of God Good Shepherd Jesus isn’t done dishing out gifts.  He’s as generous as ever.  Even for a little girl named Dylan.   

That takes us to Matthew 28:19 which we heard earlier in Holy Baptism’s liturgy.  Freshly risen from the dead Jesus says:  “Make disciples of all nations.”  How are disciples made after His resurrection? Jesus explains: “By baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  

Holy Baptism.  What’s holy belongs to Jesus.  He institutes it.  And He gives it as pure gift.  For “all nations.” 

Who would you dare to exclude from the “all nations” of Jesus’ mandate for Holy Baptism?  Would you like to be the one to tell Jesus that little babies like Dylan Rae can’t be included?  I don’t think you want to do that. 

After all, we just heard in Holy Baptism’s liturgy that Moms and Dads brought their little children to Jesus to have Him put His hands on them and bless them (Mark 10).  That’s when the adult disciples played know it all church bouncers and rebuked the parents:  “Folks, let’s not bother Jesus with the kids and waste His time.  Keep the little ones away from Him.  He’s not for them!  He didn’t come to bless children!”

When Jesus heard such nonsense He was very irritated and extremely disappointed.  He said to these foolish adult disciples of His:  “Let these children come to me.  Do not exclude them.  My kingdom belongs to them too.  I came not just for the adults but for the kids too!”

Jesus died for all.  Now He wants “all nations” to receive the benefits of His dying through the gift of Holy Baptism.  No wonder Brad and Julie brought Dylan Rae to church today.  Thank God we didn’t have the foolish disciples guarding the church doors trying to keep the kids out.  For you, me and Dylan Rae are included in the “all nations” words of the Lord.  Jesus died for you.  And He died for Dylan Rae.  And now He wants “all nations” to be baptized.

“Make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

So what’s the big gift Dylan Rae received today at the font?  That you were given at your Baptism? 

It’s one of the biggest gifts you could ever receive from the Lord.  Figured it out yet?  It’s going to blow your minds.  And yet at the same time bring great joy and comfort to your hearts. 

The gift is the Triune Name!  God put His most holy Name on Dylan Rae in Holy Baptism.  And you too at your Baptism.  “Baptize in the Name,” Jesus says. 

God’s Name is never a nothing.  With His Name the Holy Trinity gives Himself to you and for you.  He is there with His Name to be God for you.  For little Dylan Rae. 

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The one true God.  Graciously gives His Name with the water of Holy Baptism.  And with His Name comes flooding in all the treasures and benefits of heaven itself.

And what are those benefits?  Salvation.  God’s Name alone has the power to deliver you from all your sin, death, and damnation.  Satan must flee from the Triune Name.  Death itself must die before the Triune Name.  Sin cannot accuse you and damn you before the Triune Name.  For God is with His Name.  God is for you and for your salvation with His Name.

To be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is to be baptized by the Holy Trinity Himself.  With His Name God’s doing and giving.     

So Dylan Rae now bears God’s most holy Name.  Given to her in Holy Baptism.  And You too who are baptized in that Name. 

No wonder the apostle Peter said today in the first reading from Acts 4:  ““There is no salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” 

No wonder Jesus Himself promises:  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,” (Mark 16:16).  Even the “little ones” believe in Jesus.  Jesus says so in Matthew 18:6. 

Holy Baptism:  “In the Name of the Triune God.”  What a magnificent gift from Him!  And it’s a gift to which God always remains faithful.  So much so that you can say against all your sin, the devil, and death:  “But I am baptized in God’s Name!  He is for me and with me with His Name.  You can’t take that away from me.” 

Happy Baptism Day Dylan Rae!  Happy bearing the Triune Name!   

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.     
 

Easter 4         
2 May 2009   
Lamb of God / La Vista, NE                               

                                                                                   + Jesu Juva +

Acts 4:1-12

“One nation under God.”  “In God we trust.”  But the big theological question is:  which God?  Yahweh of the Jews?  Allah of the Muslims?  Thor of the white pagans in prison?  Zeus of the ancient Greeks?  North Star of the Pawnees?  Buddha of the Buddhists?  Elohim of the Mormons?  Jehovah of the Jehovah Witnesses?  Vishnu and Shiva of the Hindus?  Or Jesus of Nazareth? 

Many say:  “It doesn’t matter Reverend!  All fit the bill of God.  Just as long as you believe in something or someone Reverend!  And believe it sincerely!”  Ah yes.  The pluralism of America.  Leave God generic.  Generic God talk.  Yeah, that’s the ticket.

And so the politicians boldly pronounce their generic benediction at the end of their speeches like generic god priests:  “And may God bless America!”   Which god?  Well, you fill in the blank.

And so the news networks, the talking heads, and pundits are all comfortable reporting on the merits and benefits of all the world religions.  After all, one has to be faithful to the ultimate religion of cultural diversity from which one may never apostasize.

So the talk goes like this:  “I believe in God.  Which one?  Don’t know.  But I do believe in God.”  Or if you really want applause, pats on the back, and advance in academia or the TV talk show scene it goes like this:  “I follow Vishnu.”  Or, “I follow Allah.”  Or, “I’m really into Thor.”  That’s perfectly fine in the discourse of the public square.  In fact, it’s honored. 

But don’t dare say:  “Jesus.  He’s God.  I trust only in Him.”  Don’t even attempt to say:  “Christian” or “Christianity.”  That’s anathema!  So unPC!  After all, the world’s problems (oppression, racism, sexism, war) are said to be the result of Christ’s name and patriarchal Christianity. 

Move from gereric, “I believe in God” to the very specific and narrow “I believe in Jesus Christ,” and the red lights and sirens start to go off!  All that “I believe in Jesus as the one true God and Savior” and you’re just asking for trouble.  Begging to be put on a government watch list of right wing fanatics that may just be domestic terrorists bubbling under the surface!      

Peter and John obviously didn’t get the memo on the generic God talk and the cult of religious diversity.  Peter commits the gravest of all sins.  He dares to preach the following:  “You ask by what power or in whose name we heal this lame man?  Well, listen up.  Let us say it as clear as we can.  It’s BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – BY THIS NAME – THE NAME OF JESUS – this man stands here before you in excellent health.”  

That’s very specific Jesus talk.  Very precise Jesus confession. 

Peter doesn’t tone down the sermon.  And you know how it is with a preacher.  Can’t get him to shut up.  He keeps on going preaching Jesus!  Even among His greatest enemies:  the Sadducees, the captain of the temple and former high priest Annas, his son-in-law Caiaphas, and his Levitical sons John and Alexander. 

Preacher Peter says:  “Jesus, yes, Jesus, He’s the stone rejected by you the builders.  But in your rejection of Him as the one true God and Savior of the world He is now the very cornerstone.  The cornerstone of the one true church on the earth.”      
  
The leaders had rejected this Jesus.  Like builders rejecting a defective stone.  But God raised Jesus to be the capstone, the cornerstone that holds the entire salvation job together! 

And so Peter goes on with the boldest and yet most comforting of all sermons:  “No other name but the name of Jesus saves you.”

Indeed!  Jesus is the name, the only name that saves you from sin, death and damnation!  The name of Jesus saves you the judgment of God’s Law that demands perfection.  Jesus.  Jesus is the name above all names.  The name “Jesus” means “God saves.” Jesus alone saves you from all your sin.  Jesus’ name will see you through the long haul and He will raise you from the dead for eternal life with Him.

The church marquee at Trinity, Murdock says:  "He is risen.  That makes all the difference."  Indeed.  Jesus did what He said He would do.  He promised He would come out of the grave.  Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Joseph Smith died.  Only Jesus rose victoriously over death for you.  Only His Name saves.  And so Jesus and His saving Name naturally sparks controversy in the world.  Peter and John were arrested, imprisoned and forbidden to preach in Jesus’ Name.  That may happen to you too eventually in this country.  If that does happen, don’t be surprised.  Jesus warned us ahead of time to “beware     . . . for they will deliver you up to the courts . . . bring you before governors and kings for My sake,” (Matthew 10:17-18).   

So if it pleases the Lord to allow us to suffer for the sake of Christ’s Name, do not despair.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for you.  He is the only gate to heaven. 

He has put His Name on you.  His saving Name.  You are baptized in His Name.  And with His name comes His promise:  that He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Not in this world nor the next. 

So by what power did Peter and John heal the lame man?  The precious Name of Jesus.  By what power do you claim salvation and eternal life?  The precious, saving Name of Jesus.  “There is no salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” 

In the Name of Jesus.