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.

Explore messages from the archive, or help tell this ministry’s story by sharing a memory for the family to review and publish.

From the ministry archive

Carnally or Spiritually Minded?

A peaceful man sows seed in fertile earth, with new shoots and golden grain symbolizing life in the Spirit.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:5-7). Friends, these are some very serious sayings here from one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible, and I firmly believe that we should heed them. In saying that carnal mindedness is death, the apostle was saying that if we are carnally minded, and bent in that direction, it procures separation from God. Everyone is going to die, including those who are spiritually minded. And as far as that goes, everyone is going to live UNTIL they die, including those who are carnally minded. So we are reading about things that have spiritual meaning here. Let’s look at another passage that says the exact same thing with just a bit more clarity about the fact that it is talking about things that pertain to SPIRITUAL life and death: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7,8). Same saying, more definitive words. But the point I want to make here is in giving an example of how the modern Christian religion promotes carnal mindedness rather than spiritual mindedness. I experience this on a very regular basis, whether in person or on the internet. I will ask someone if they have received the baptism of the holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. That’s really a very clear question, but the answer is almost always invariably one of confusion. Someone will say "yes," but when I ask them when they received the experience they will tell me about being water baptized. It’s really amazing. And I am talking about people often times who HAVE the Spirit baptism. People cannot even hear the plain English words that I am saying because the traditions of today’s Christianity have dictated to them that the word baptism simply means water baptism. Yet water baptism was FULFILLED by the Spirit baptism that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to impart to us.

Water baptism was actually of the old covenant law, even though it was given at the end of that dispensation (Mat. 3:15; Mat. 5:17). It’s true that water baptism was first given as a tool of repentance for the remission of sins, but it did not actually take away sin any more than the blood of bulls and of goats took away sin (Heb. 10:4). It was a carnal ordinance and it did not go to the heart and soul and purify from sin. The baptism that comes by faith in Jesus however does (Jn. 7:38,39; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 15:8). Yet God’s people who DO have the holy Ghost baptism think water when they hear the word baptism. Forget the fact that the apostle Paul came to the understanding that “Christ sent me NOT to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (I Cor. 1:17). And forget that this same apostle, to whom God revealed the fulfillment of the law, eventually understood that there is now only “one baptism” (Eph. 4:5). Still God’s people are conditioned to perceive the word baptism as being water. Water baptism was given to John the Baptist, the man who introduced Jesus onto the scene in Israel, and it was an ordinance that was given for the mere purpose of introducing the people to the idea of Jesus’ baptism. John said so himself: “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mk. 1:8). And John also said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). The baptism that was merely symbolic of the baptism that Jesus came to make a way to baptize with himself, also had to decrease, that Jesus and his baptism could increase. But that has not happened, at least not in the minds of God’s people today. And why is that? Because the doctrines of Christianity has continued with the practice of a long defunct, symbolic, carnal baptism. And the result? Well, I think that the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle said it best: “The worst form of inequality is when two things that are unequal are said to be equal.” That saying is proven true by the religious mindset of this age that actually puts water baptism ABOVE the baptism of the holy Ghost. Nothing could be more perverse from the truth my friend, because the truth is that the baptism that Jesus died and rose to give is the ONLY holiness in this world; and it is the ONLY vehicle that can take one to eternal life and immortality (I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:9-11). Water baptism can do neither.

The continued practice of an ordinance that has been fulfilled by the death and resurrection, and priesthood of the Son of God is a confusion and disesteem to all that Jesus died for. And to esteem this CARNAL ordinance equal to and even above the holy experience of being baptized personally by the resurrected Christ, is as much a promotion of the carnal mind in God’s people as exists today. When we hear the word baptism we should immediately think of the death and resurrection of our Savior, and of the baptism that he administers from heaven. If water is what comes to mind, then something is inherently wrong. Not to mention that this malady cultivates the honor of men and not “the honor that comes from God only” (Jn. 5:44). How so? Because any way you try to slice it, water baptism is administered by man, and not by Jesus. Jesus did not die for water baptism, but he DID die AND raise to be able to baptize with the holy Ghost (Acts 1:4,5). To continue with water baptism is to straightly devalue everything that Jesus suffered and died for, plain and simple. Not only so, but water baptism is NOT of faith, but rather it is a ‘work’ of the law, which works of the law are fulfilled in the Spirit; and they could not and cannot justify anyone from sin (Gal. 3:10-12; Mat. 3:15). So again I say, it is a trick of the devil for this ordinance to still be practiced, and it is a promotion of the carnal mind and death. Forsake everything that pertains to death my friend, and pursue only those things that are of eternal life (Rom. 8:2,10). To honor only the things that JESUS died and rose to be able to administer to us, is to give all honor and glory to him. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isa. 42:8). That saying has not changed because God has not changed (Mal. 3:6). And his Son is just like him: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Heb. 13:8). Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

By One Spirit · Media library

Videos & songs

Broadcast 50Open on YouTube

Loading viewer…

Broadcast 50

Jesus Is All

More broadcasts

From the ministry’s YouTube archive. Visit the channel for new uploads.

Selected Broadcast 50: Jesus Is All

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