139^th Anniversary

CERTAIN ABOUT CHRIST'S CHURCH!

~Philippians 1:6~

In-person service at

Second Baptist Church

2412 Griffith Ave.

Los Angeles

Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr., Guest Preacher

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Certain About Christ’s Church! 

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

Greetings and Salutations to the Historic Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles, CA, founded in 1885. You are the Mother Baptist Church of African-Americans and other minorities that could not join the majority-culture churches. You welcomed All, and Opened your doors to All and have continued for 139 years the Open Door Policy started by our Lord Jesus Christ: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

Thank you for your Faithful witness and Service to our Christ.

Pastor William Saxe Epps please allow me to thank you for this grand Invitation to share in the 139^th Church Anniversary of this Historic Second Baptist Church. Also, my gratitude, your love and friendship over the years have been invaluable. 

I also bring you greetings from the Trinity Baptist Church of Los Angeles where I serve as Pastor.

Consider what it means that the One who began a good work

in you will see it through to completion.

Monday, May 20, 2024

Introduction

As we celebrate the Historic Second Baptist Church’s 139^th Year of Honoring and Serving our Lord Jesus Christ, we will delve into your Theme: Fulfilling The Potential of Our Promise and the scripture text (Philippians 1:6) breaks down into three natural parts. 



1. God who Begins the Good work. (In Us and Through Us)

2. God who Continues the Good work. (In Us and Through Us) 

3. God who Finishes the Good work. (In Us and Through Us)

4. What is our primary Job? What Work are we to do?

Consider what it means that the Lord begins, continues and finishes

what the Lord starts in, with and through you.  

1.  God Who Began the Good Work.

“Began” represents our potential, it does not yet appear what all it can be, but the Potential is there because it has begun. My friends, get Started—your potential is all wrapped up in you getting started.  God takes God’s own Unlimited Potential and puts

it in You.

In You exist great Potential: Individually and Collectively, that is the Church. 

The Apostle Paul writes this letter to the Philippian Church to affirm their Potential and Remind them of the Promise: The Promise is the “Good Work” God will do through them---the Church.

The First and Last time the word “PROMISE” is used in the Old Testament, in the

NKJ version of the Bible

1 Kings 8:56, "Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.”  NKJV

Ps 105:42: “For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant.” NKJV

The very first time “Promise” is used in the NKJV is 1 Kings 8:56 where it refers to “Rest” and “Not one Word of God’s Promise has Failed”. God’s Promise will Not Fail Us. God has never Failed Us, and He Never Will!! The last time “Promise” is used in the Old Testament is Psalms 105:42 “God remembers His Holy Promise, And Abraham his servant”. The Promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 is that “…And in You all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 

Remember now God says to Him that the Promise/Blessing/Potential is “In You,”

All the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed. Paul says in our Text: “God who Began the Good Work within You.” In You Second Baptist, In You Believer’s in Jesus Christ --anywhere you are. In You!!! The Promise is IN YOU!!!

Consider what it means that God works in you to be a blessing to others. 

The Church has this great Potential and Promise and Command to Bless all the Families of the Earth. If someone tries to say that you are only three-fifths human, you know that sin will take you to some Crazy places! That’s why we need this Mental Health Awareness Month, even if that was True, God says all the families of the Earth. We still are of the Earth, and we still are BLESSED.

Soren Kierkegaard says that there is a “Public Faith” that the world can see.

Second Baptist Church has a Public Faith that is:

Providing Free Food for Families.

Providing Medicines and Vaccines to the needy.

Providing True Information for all the Fake News we hear.

Providing Inspiration to weary Saints.

Offering Transformation for the Aint’s.

Second is moving towards Fulfilling its Potential because you have “Begun.”

Consider what it means to fulfill the promise of your potential in Christ.  

2. God will Continue the Good Work.

In the New Testament the word “Promise” is first used in the NKJV by Jesus in Luke 24:49: Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." (NKJV)

God will Continue the Good Work God has begun. Jesus says, I send the Promise of my Father upon You. You will be endued with Power from on High, You will be able to Continue by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Believers have Power. The Church has Power!!

• The Church has Power to Fight Racism and Love the Racist.
• The Church has Power to Fight Poverty and Love the Poor.
• The Church has Power to Fight Imperialism & Love the Imperialist
• The Church has Power to Fight against War and Love the Soldier.
• The Church has Power to Fight against Sin and Love the Sinner.
• The Church has Power to Fight Materialism & Love the Materialist
• The Church has Power to Fight: And to Love.

Only the Church has the Power to Fight and Love at the Same Time. Only God can do that Miracle!

Consider what it means that the Lord works through the church

to address the concerns and issues of life.  

God will Keep Us and Enable us to Continue!

(Jude 24-25)

²⁴“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, ²⁵To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.” Amen. (KJV)

Our God will continue the good work God has started in us. God will continue the

Good Work He has started at Second Baptist Church Los Angeles.

3. God, will finish the work.

In the New Testament the word “Promise” is last used in the NKJV by John in

1 John 2:25, “And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life.”

The Good Work is Finished when every person on planet Earth has the opportunity to Hear the Good News and be Saved; each person is offered Eternal Life. Each person may not accept the offer to be saved, but each person is to receive the offer. The Church MUST continue to Open the Doors of the Church and ask Men, Women, Teenagers, Transgendered Persons, Seniors, Youth and Children to come to Jesus!! We must ask the Homeless, the Helpless, the Mentally Challenged, the Sexually Challenged, the Rich, the Poor, every person everywhere to accept Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Church Must Participate in the Finishing of the Good Work.



Jesus said “It is Finished”, Jesus has Faith we will continue the Good Work Until He Returns.

Consider what it means that the Lord will finish what the Lord began

and continues in the congregations of believers in Christ. 

4. Lastly, God will Began, God will Continue, and God will Finish the Good Work.

Our Job is to be Certain!!! And be a Witness of it to the World.                                                     

Paul states at the start of Philippian 1:6, “And I am Certain that God.”

Alexander MacLaren says that certainty is born of love and common service.

My brothers and sisters, we have to be Certain that God will provide for our every

need according to His riches in glory. 

So as we Close today, We must be Certain: 

Certain that God’s Grace is Sufficient.

Certain that “Truth crushed to the Ground will rise again.”

Certain that there is a Crown of Righteousness laid up for me.

Certain that Christ will never leave me Nor forsake me.

Certain He will wipe the tears from our eyes.

Certain that "I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!"

Certain that we are joint-heirs with Christ as in Rom 8:17.

Certain that Jesus Christ is Coming back again!!!

Our foremothers and forefathers would ask the question:

Have You Got Good Religion? Certainly Lord!!!

Have You been Baptized? Certainly Lord! 

Have You been Redeemed? Certainly Lord!

Consider what it means to be certain about the work

the Lord began, continues and finishes in you.  

Second Baptist Church Los Angeles

2412 Griffith Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90011 

Phone: (213) 748-0318