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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The Holy Spirit and Faith

A South Asian listener offers calm attention to a woman beneath a fruit tree in soft morning light.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (I Pet. 4:11). One of the main things that we as the children of God need to get away from is 'trying.' The kind of trying that I'm talking about is trying to say or do the things that we believe to be what is needed in a situation of need. Instead of trying we need to be in the position where 'being' is what we do. In other words we need to "be led by the Spirit of God" instead of basically trying to lead the Spirit of God into something (Rom. 8:14). I'm not saying that we have to be 'moved' by God's Spirit before we can address a need or pray for someone's need. That is always a real benefit but that is not always available at the moment. What we do need is to simply know what we are doing and have the confidence toward God to do it with relative ease of effort. Sometimes ease of effort can be really robust, so I'm not saying that we don't get caught up in a whirlwind of the holy Ghost sometimes when we're operating in faith. But I've seen more times than I could ever count, someone 'trying' to say the right thing or the wise thing in a circumstance, when in fact it was just what they thought, and not what God was leading in. I'm sure I've done these kinds of things along the way as well, as we all learn by our mistakes often times. I've also countless times seen someone tell about something that was going on with them physically or otherwise, and someone else just had to rush in and more or less forcibly pray for them before it was time to do so. As much as we want to help, when our 'help' is not led by God's Spirit, or is not according to right knowledge, it cannot and will not edify anything or anyone. The scripture says, "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" (Prov. 15:23)

There are things that can be said which can seem to fit a particular situation or need, that may just be our own mind getting in the way of God doing something for the person. A true "word spoken in due season" is not just something that seems right, it is something that IS right because it is given by God. A good rule to employ is what Jesus said about speaking before rulers and such: "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost" (Mk. 13:11). Also it is not always time to pray for someone the moment that we learn they have a physical ailment. It might be, but it might not be as well. There simply is no substitute for knowing God's Spirit and knowing what time it is in the Spirit for any given circumstance. The heart that seeks only to edify knows how to filter all the other stuff out and wait on what the Spirit is willing to do, or act according to the established will of God in a situation. But even in acting according to the established will of God, there is a 'feeling out' of the time and way to go about it that will edify the most. Healing is always God's will for instance, but rushing to personally pray for someone's infirmity when they haven't asked for it or shown that they want it, can be an unedifying mistake sometimes. God just is, and what his will is in a given circumstance is just what is. His will is not effected by any amount of our 'trying' or effort, any more than a fruit tree has to 'try' to bear fruit. If a fruit tree even could try to bear fruit it would only be getting in the way of what comes naturally from God through nature. We are the trees of the Lord if we have received his Spirit, and the scripture says simply, "The trees of the Lord are full of sap" (Psm. 104:16). That sap is the holy Ghost and it is our duty to remain filled with the Spirit, and thereby led by the same Spirit. If we do this then we will do things the way God would be doing them if he were here, or the way Jesus would be doing if he were here.

The holy Ghost is both the divine life and nature that indwells God and his Son, which Jesus died and rose so that it could indwell us too (Jn. 5:26; Jn. 10:10; Rom. 8:2). The reason Jesus did things the way his Father would have done them if he had been on earth is because he was filled and led by his Father's Spirit. The Spirit is what makes the Father and the Son 'one,' and it is the Spirit that makes us as believers 'one' with the Father and the Son, as well as with each other (Jn. 17:21-23). If we are keeping sin out of our lives then we are one with God, and if we are we can act and speak as his children, doing things the way he does them (Eph. 5:1,2). That is the Gospel way, and that is the only way that we can do the works of Christ; meaning if it is literally him in us doing the works through us: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philip. 2:13). And again, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20). Let me say that God is not so displeased with the efforts of his children to do his works, even when they are not right on target with what they are doing. No more so than a parent is sorely displeased with their child for trying to do things that they are not altogether able to do just right yet. It can become a problem however if trying and effort replaces the actual learning of how to submit fully to the Spirit of God in order to get things done right. I've seen many cases in fact where people have gone way beyond their capacities in God trying to do his works, and have done so to the hurt of others. That we want to avoid. We also need to be able to admit if we've done that and even maybe let an injured party know that we've done it. There's nothing quite like redemption and righting a wrong. Also this understanding is not to discourage anyone from acting in faith, and certainly not to give anyone the excuse to be squeamish about stepping out in faith to implement the Lord's will. We learn by our mistakes, and we don't make mistakes without doing something. At the same time we don't want mistakes to become a way of life for us, especially at the expense of others. God bless.

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