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

Water Baptism and the New Birth

Three adults pray together in a sunlit stone hall opening to an olive garden, with an unused stone font in a shadowed rear corner.
© By One Spirit Ministries

Today I would like to continue the thought from yesterday on how the observance and practice of water baptism has divided and crippled the body of Christ. It's really very simple. Jesus came here for one purpose; to do what it would take to make the same divine, eternal life available to mankind that dwells in himself and the Father (Jn. 5:26; Jn. 10:10). That life IS the "Spirit OF life that is IN Christ Jesus," and that life is received by being baptized therein, meaning with the holy Ghost (Rom. 8:2; Mk. 1:7,8; Acts 1:4,5). The baptism of the holy Ghost [with the sign of speaking in tongues] is the only thing that Jesus sent back from heaven after he went away, and complete faith in him always produces that experience (Jn. 16:7; Jn. 7:39; Acts 2:4). And the fact of the matter is, there is NO MEANS whereby anyone can be accepted by God, other than FAITH in his Son Jesus (Rom. 3:21,22; Rom. 5:1; Philip. 3:9). And the only OBEDIENCE to God that exists is the same thing, true faith in Jesus (Rom. 16:25-27). So faith in Jesus is what this gospel is all about, and faith in Jesus produces the baptism of the Spirit with power to live free from sin (Acts 1:8; Rom. 6:1,2,6; Tit. 2:11,12; I Jn. 3:2,3). Being baptized into Christ by the Spirit removes sin and thereby joins us together with the Father and the Son, giving us literal reconciliation (I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; I Cor. 6:11; Tit. 3:5; I Cor. 6:17; Jn. 17:21-24; Col. 1:21). So again, it is all about faith in Jesus, and there is no such thing as true, complete faith in Jesus NOT producing the experience of being baptized with the holy Ghost. Now let me show you something here about how the minds of people have been tainted by the modern Christian traditions and doctrines, and this point will help me further clarify what I am trying to say here. I have used the word "baptized" several times now, and I guarantee you that there is someone reading this post who is thinking at this moment that I have been talking about WATER baptism. Reason being almost NOBODY thinks "holy Ghost baptism, speaking in tongues" when they hear the word "baptism" or "baptized." And as I said, that goes straight to the point that I'm making. Jesus DID NOT suffer, die, and raise from the dead so that people could continue with ANY practice of the old covenant, because NO practice or ordinance of the old covenant EVER made ANYBODY right with God by truly taking their sins away! (Gal. 3:21; Heb. 7:19; Heb. 10:2,4) The apostle Paul said it perfectly: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Gal. 2:21). The same apostle who alone taught the truth of the fulfillment of the law to the Gentiles, which Gentiles had never been under the law; also stated the following on the topic: "But IF ye be led of the Spirit, ye are NOT under the law" (Gal. 5:18). And that is certainly an integral point, seeing the same apostle said the following in regard to being led by God's Spirit: "For as many as ARE led by the Spirit of God, THEY are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14). And two scriptures alone show clearly that water baptism was OF THE LAW! (Mat. 3:15; Mat. 5:17). Go ahead, read them for yourself.

So in keeping this practice of water baptism, God's people have not been acting like the sons and daughters of God, or at least that's the way it is according to the Bible. I said this yesterday, and I will say it again; EVERYWHERE that this misguided zeal for ACTS 2:38! exists, the MUCH larger zeal and regard is for the part about being "baptized in the name of Jesus Christ," and NOT for the part about "receiving the gift of the holy Ghost!" And as I said, and clearly showed yesterday, Peter was mistaken about needing to be baptized in water, and about that baptism being for the remission of sins. It was an honest, and even righteous mistake that absolutely anyone would also have made in the same situation. But the fact of the matter is, Jesus DID "fulfill all righteousness," even as he told John he was doing when he came to be baptized of him (Mat. 3:15). And what is fulfilled, meaning the carnal ordinances of the law, has ENDED (Rom. 10:4; Heb. 8:13). The scripture tells us, "Now the Lord IS that Spirit," and Jesus also said the same when he said that the holy Ghost would be sent back from heaven in his name, which is to say in his stead (Jn. 14:26). The scripture also tells us that "[we] are COMPLETE IN HIM," and we have clearly seen that we GET into him by being baptized with the Spirit (Col. 2:10; I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3,4). Okay, so here it is: First of all if we tell someone they have to be baptized in water to be "in obedience" to Jesus, we are lying to them; because obedience to Jesus is FAITH in Jesus, "And [ordinances of] the law is not of faith" (Gal. 3:12). And when someone is taught that they need to be baptized in water, they are being taught to go backward from the leading of God's Spirit, which is to say that they should act like they are NOT a child of God (Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14). Now where do you suppose one goes when they go backward from the leading of God's HOLY Spirit? Well it sure isn't into holiness, and that only leaves one other place; and that would be sin, which is NOT a safe place for anyone to be (Rom. 6:23). And there is no unity, love, power, or peace in sin; which creates a serious predicament. And that serious predicament my friend is exactly where the body of Christ is at today. The once divinely ordained ordinance of water baptism has been turned into a graven image by God's people, and exalted above the very baptism of the Spirit that Jesus paid for with his life, to be able to administer it personally to those who are thirsting for the life he died and rose to give (Jn. 4:13,14). What do you think happens when a dead carnal ordinance that never gave life to begin with, is esteemed above the very Son of God who died to give us life, that being eternal life, which is his Spirit? Jesus has been dishonored, disgraced, and disesteemed by his people continuing to honor the dead water baptism; and the result has been chaos, division, weakness, sickness, affliction, and a destitution of the knowledge of God's holy love, power, and truth that delivers and preserves from sin (Jn. 8:31,32; Rom. 5:5; I Pet. 1:4,5,22). This "high place," along with every other carnal ordinance like "communion" so called, foot washings and the like; will have to be taken away in order for Jesus to truly be THE "ONE Lord" among his people, and for the body of Christ to be prepared in holiness for his soon return (Eph. 4:5). I for one will do all that I can to see to it that this DOES happen, and that God's people are brought together in the unity, the power, the love, and the holiness that his Spirit alone imparts. Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

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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