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

Faith carried forward

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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From the ministry archive

Simplicity and Contentment

A contented elderly couple shares a simple meal of bread and olives in a quiet cottage overlooking an orchard.
© By One Spirit Ministries

One of the most overlooked and significant scriptures in the Bible is found in the powerful sixth chapter of first Timothy. In describing many who were of the school of thought that worldly prosperity correlates to faith and righteousness, the apostle Paul referred to the arguments of such as “perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” And then, in contradiction to such thinking, the great apostle immediately gives us the true Biblical definition of divine prosperity: “But godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Tim. 6:5,6). This is the same apostle who told the believers in Philippi, “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philip. 4:11). Yes my friend, contentment is one of the greatest elements that can carry us from here to glory, with peace and comfort keeping our hearts by the holy Ghost that Jesus has provided for us (Philip. 4:7; I Pet. 1:4,5; Rom. 8:24,25; Lk. 21:19). There is much to be said on the matter of faith in regard to monetary and worldly need matters, but this short post is about another way in which contentment is a vital weapon against the spirits of this world that would weaken our faith and our hope. I’m talking about doctrine, which is probably the most lightly esteemed and important element of our faith. I would like to demonstrate from the scriptures the utter simplicity of the true doctrine of Christ, and then show how most believers have had their faith and love subtracted from, while appearing to have it added to. First of all, Jesus told us, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Mat. 7:12). This saying is of course also known as “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Sounds pretty simple to me. How about you? Let’s keep in mind that the new covenant is simply the fulfillment of the law and the prophets (Jer. 31:33). So by what means does one possess the fulfillment of the law and the prophets? According to the scriptures, it is by having God’s Spirit in our lives (Heb. 10: 14-16).

And what about the love, whereby we are to love our neighbors as ourselves? The scripture says we obtain that love by having “the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost” (Rom. 5:5). So hopefully you are seeing by now that receiving God’s Spirit and following after it, is the totality of what we need as believers, to be blessed and to be saved in the end (Mat. 24:12,13; Rom. 8:14). So let’s look at the simplicity of doctrine that is taught in the scriptures: “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end [bottom line] of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (I Tim. 1:4,5). Sounds like what Jesus said, doesn’t it? Since this is a short article let me cut to the chase here: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God" (Gal. 6:15,16). So it comes down to this simplicity: You just can’t add anything to being a new creature in Christ, except more of that same new creature. This is what the apostle meant when he told the Colossians: "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Col. 2:10). The one way into Christ remains the same: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body [of Christ] ( I Cor. 12:13). We are indeed complete, meaning we have all we need, by being in him; because "if any man be IN CHRIST, he is a new creature" (II Cor. 5:17). That ‘new creature,’ also referred to as the ‘new man,’ is actually our spirit joined to God’s Spirit, because, "he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit" (I Cor. 6:17). It’s certain that we are "joined to the Lord” by receiving his Spirit, because “the Lord IS that Spirit" (II Cor. 3:17). So it is evident by these few scriptural truths that having God’s Spirit is how we have the capacity to love with the same love that Jesus loved with (Jn. 15:12).

Having the holy love of God dwelling in us, and his unfathomable peace, we should surely be content therewith. But as Jesus said that "the love of many [would] wax cold,” and that those would not “endure till the end;” so the apostle Paul warned as follows: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (II Tim. 4:3,4). Many of the doctrines and traditions of modern Christianity are the equivalent of the ‘fables’ that Paul said would be accepted in place of the truth. In fact, today’s faulty traditions are part of the fulfillment of the following prophecy from the same apostle: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (I Tim. 4:1). All of the misguided traditions of our time, along with all of the sectarian, elitist doctrines that are unique and exclusive to particular Christian affiliations; while "having a form of godliness,” serve only to diminish the power and love of God’s Spirit in those who have it; and keep those who do not from obtaining the only reality of God in this world, namely the holy Ghost baptism (II Tim. 3:5; Acts 1:8). So while the vast network of traditional and unique doctrines offered today appear as an enhancement to the faith of the partakers thereof, in reality it all just serves to distract from the one simplistic, but all-encompassing purpose of the Gospel; which is to become a new creature in Christ, and love with his love by means of his holy Spirit of love. Friend, if you do not possess this love, then by all means get it. If you have been baptized with the holy Ghost, then be content with holding onto the love and peace that comes with the experience, because everything that matters is found in that. And one more thing: Forsake all of the religious fluff, because it is a deadly poison that will quench the love and peace of the blessed holy Ghost. 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