By One Spirit — Holy Ghost Ministry

Lary and his beloved dog Champ welcomed by Jesus into a radiant garden of flowers, waterfalls, and golden light
Remembering the ministry and teachings of Lary R. Hale

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By One Spirit is a lasting home for Holy Ghost ministry, preserving the teachings of Lary R. Hale and the memories of the people whose lives he touched.

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The question today is, Are you of the letter, or of the spirit

A man stands in a home study with a hand over his heart, opening his other palm toward sunlit olive trees while a closed book and plain stone tablets remain on the desk.
© By One Spirit Ministries

The question today is, Are you of the letter, or of the spirit? You cannot be of both. It is quite an important question to be able to answer accurately and honestly, seeing that the scripture plainly states, "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter" (Rom. 7:6). And one more for good measure: "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (II Cor. 3:6). So let's look at what the scriptures show us about what these very serious verses are saying. First of all I would like to point out that being able to read these verses does not qualify us to be the "we" or the "us" in the verses. We can only be the "we" in Rom. 7:6 if we are "dead wherein we were held," as the first verse says. And as far as the "us" in II Cor. 3:6, that would only apply to the apostle Paul who wrote the epistle, and anyone else who is truly ministering the gospel that he preached. So let's look at the part about being "dead wherein we were held," because that is the key to understanding the "oldness of the letter," and the "newness of spirit" aspect. Actually the apostle is talking about the condition of a person under the law in this chapter, and he goes on to use the example of himself when he was under the law, and not born again by faith in Jesus. And I might note that it's a real shame than SO many believers think that Paul was actually saying that he was still under the power of sin even though he was born again. I assure you he was not saying that, and an honest and thorough examination of the chapter, along with the chapter before that shows that quite clearly. The "oldness of the letter" is simply referring to the old covenant, which was written in tables of stones and papers of scribes, and was full of symbolic carnal ordinances (II Cor. 3:3; Heb. 9:10). And as Paul explains in Romans 7, the law showed him that he was in sin, but it did not offer a means by which he could get out of sin (Rom. 7:7,24). In regard to this malady, the same apostle wrote the following in another place: "The strength of sin [was] the law" (I Cor. 15:56). The law was "the strength of sin," because it showed those who were under it that they were indeed sinners, but did not provide a remedy for that condition. As the apostle Paul said in yet another place: "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Heb. 10:4).

As for the "newness of spirit," it is obviously the new covenant, which unlike the old covenant, is not written in stones or papers, and is not contained in symbolic, carnal ordinances (Heb. 10:16; II Cor. 3:3; Jn. 4:24; Philip. 3:3). The laws of God are not just written on paper anymore, but in the hearts and minds of those who receive his Spirit, as the above references plainly declare. And the worship of God is not in symbolic carnal ceremonies now, but rather it is a worship and service that is purely in spirit, by means of true believers becoming "one spirit with the Lord" by receiving his Spirit (I Cor. 6:17; Gal. 3:27; II Cor. 3:17). And as for the sin issue, one very powerful passage clears that up: "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:13,14). So this is the issue here: If we have been baptized by one Spirit into one body, and are depending solely and absolutely on that same Spirit of God to be our entire righteousness and deliverance from sin, as well as our only means of worship, service, understanding and obedience to God, then we are serving him in "newness of spirit" (I Cor. 12:13; I Cor. 6:11; Gal. 3:3; Philip. 3:3; Rom. 8:14; Jn. 14:26; Acts 5:32). On the other hand, if we are calling the Bible the word of God, or if we are observing any carnal ordinances or days as being holy, then we are entrapped in the "oldness of the letter." It's that simple. Jesus said that the word of God is "what the SPIRIT says to [God's people]," and the apostle Paul referred to God's word the same way, calling it "the sword of the SPIRIT" (Rev. 2:7; Eph. 6:17). And the natural ordinances that are universally observed and held to by the body of Christ, are simply of the law. Jesus himself declared water baptism to be of the law, and said at the same time that he was fulfilling it (Mat. 3:15). He also was clearly taking of the passover at the last supper, and said at the same time that he would not take it again with his disciples until it was "fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Lk. 22:15,16). Water baptism was fulfilled by the baptism of the Spirit that Jesus died and rose again to provide (I Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:5; I Pet. 3:21). The passover was plainly of the law, and was fulfilled with "the unleavened bread [of life] of sincerity and truth [the word of God]" (Jn. 6:35; I Cor. 5:7,8). And the apostle Paul clearly stated to the Colossians that there are no actual days under the new covenant that can be observed in some supposed obedience to God; and that included the sabbath day that was of the law (Col. 2:16,17). The covenant that is in "newness of spirit" indeed provides a true deliverance from sin and all of its symptoms, as well as the infilling of the love of God, with "rejoicing evermore," as well as "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (Heb. 9:13,14; I Thess. 5:16; I Pet. 1:8). And anything that we could rely on for our right standing with God that is apart from the holy power of his Spirit, is death; because it can only constitute the "oldness of the letter." And as the apostle Paul said to the Galatians, who had already been coerced into observing the things that are of "the letter:" "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1). Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

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Jesus Is All

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In loving memory

Lary R. Hale

Lary smiling with his beloved dog Champ
Lary with Champ

A Hero Finally Rests.

Lary Redman Hale of Louisville, KY entered into his greatest joy, the presence of King Jesus himself, welcomed by the cheers of angels and the saints of God on Sunday night, April 21, 2024.

What the outside world would see as the untimely passing of a humble, local minister, heaven saw as the triumphant finale of a valiant warrior's life. He fought the good fight, having kept the faith, and received what Christ himself called "The Champion's Wreath of Victory".

Lary was born November 13, 1954 to Marvin and Norma Hale. Being the youngest of his siblings ensured he had lots of time with his loving mother, from whom he undoubtedly developed his profound sensitivity, heartfelt sentimentality and emotional comfortability - characteristics that were trademarks of his life. He grew up surrounded by cousins and classmates that became his best friends.

At his 50 year class reunion he was overjoyed and excited to catch up with so many of them, smiling and laughing more than he had in a long time. He would often tell stories of how he treasured those times as a young boy riding bikes, shooting B.B guns and playing with his childhood dog Peanuts; all while getting into assorted harmless mischief. He cherished the time he spent living on his parents houseboat and helping his dad, a united states marine veteran, take care of the boat and dock.

His relationship with his dad was only strengthened in their later years as they watched boxing matches almost every weekend for the remainder of his dad's life. He admired his brother Gary for his athleticism and industrious attitude, and thought his sisters Vicki and Mila had hearts of gold just like his mother. In his teen years Lary developed three of his lifelong loves: swimming, cool cars and lifting weights.

Some people said Lary was part fish because of how well he swam, but Lary would correct them, he was actually part dolphin. As a young man he managed a health club where he helped multiple people lose weight and counted that a huge joy. He loved nature and taking photos of it, honing his skills and knowledge in cameras. His vocabulary was second to none and he enjoyed learning new words and using them especially in his writings.

Before he passed he still exercised as much as his body would allow and he longed to return to the ocean and the white sands of Destin, Florida.

Like most disenfranchised teens in the early 70s, Lary indulged in countless vices that left him empty and searching for more. Although his long black curly hair, loud clothes, muscles and muscle cars made him the envy of the boys and the heartthrob of the girls, none of these things satisfied his heart. He pursued a college education briefly, desiring to be a marine biologist or philosopher but found that this was not what he was missing either - he longed for true fulfillment.

Depressed, empty, and feeling hopeless, Lary heard about a particular beautiful girl he had a crush on that was attending a small church where the "Spirit of God" was changing people's lives. After wondering why someone like her would attend a church like that, he began to attend also.

After a few months, he made a simple prayer on his hands and knees, saying "God I can't stop smoking, drinking, raging or any of the other countless vices I have - but if you can set me free from these things, I'll know you're real and that you want me to serve you". The next morning Lary woke up and described the next few hours as "walking on air" realizing he was, in his words "delivered" and never going back to those vices.

This began his life long commitment to glorifying Jesus, the king of glory, for how he transformed Lary's life from darkness to light. Lary would marry that same beautiful girl, the love of his life, Fay Kustes, and they would have two sons together, Benjamin Isaac and Elisha Daniel. Lary's greatest joy in life was being a husband and father.

He was happiest when he was sharing what he was learning in the bible with his family, and teaching them that knowing God was simplistic and yet powerful - that God was not merely a religious concept, but a powerful savior on a day to day basis. As Lary made it his life's goal to find "the lost sheep", he would tap into his multifaceted creativity that went largely underappreciated.

Lary produced well over a thousand episodes of gospel presentations: self-producing, mixing, editing and encoding both a radio and television show. Between the two, he broadcast for over 30 years. All of this in the analog age, where self produced radio and TV shows were nearly unheard of, especially without any budget whatsoever.

Lary was an evangelist in Louisville and southern Indiana, being asked to preach and teach in multicultural and multi-generational churches across the city. The churches he was most loved and welcomed by were the African-American Baptist and Pentecostal churches that loved and welcomed his passionate, excitable and action packed style of preaching.

Once the dawn of the internet came, he immediately worked to have a website published, making his literature and gospel teachings available. Eventually he'd use social media to teach, preach and encourage believers all across the world. He would spend every night praying with and encouraging christians from every nation until the end of his life. Many of which saw him like a second father and all of whom greatly mourn his passing.

Even though he produced over a thousand episodes of media, taught in multiple churches, mentored in multiple countries, and had multiple printed works of literature, he considered his greatest life's work to be his two sons. One of their earliest memories is Lary saying "the most important job in the world is not preaching the gospel, it's raising kids in the gospel". This threaded through his entire life.

In his final week on earth, he reminisced on his life saying "I see my life as the highest success, because my life's work are my two sons, who I am so incredibly proud of - not for their natural achievements but for their love, humility and personal faith in Jesus that is not only evident in their lives but also in their love. Because of them, I know my life is a true success - and I credit Jesus for all of it".

His sons today see him as the most successful man they will ever know. He succeeded in loving them and never hurting them. Leading them and never controlling them. Being there for them and never leaving them. He was a man that would apologize quickly, forgive quickly, and always encouraged his sons to "get up and go from here". He succeeded in teaching them faith, hope and love in a world starving so badly for all three. His ministry lives on in them.

The lives of everyone touched by their lives are forever indebted to this humble, prayerful man of faith.

He is preceded in death by his father Marvin, mother Norma, sister Mila, sister-in-law Marlene, nephew Adam, aunts, uncles, treasured cousins, and his beloved dog of 18 years, Champ.

Until they are reunited in the glory of heaven, he is survived and will be missed by his sons, Benjamin and Elisha (Katrine), his wife of 30 years, Fay, his brother Gary, His sister Vicki (Dan), his cousins, nieces, nephews, his friends, and those that called him their pastor and teacher.

"The righteous perish, and no man lays it to heart: merciful men are taken away and no one considers that the righteous person is being spared from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: he shall rest in his bed, having walked in uprightness." Isaiah 57:1&2

A life in pictures and film

Watch the tribute video shared with Lary’s obituary. It brings together moments from his life and footage of the man so many loved.

Video hosted by Tribute Slides through Newcomer Kentuckiana.

Original obituary at Newcomer Kentuckiana

Memories of Lary