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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Following Christ Beyond Denominations

By Lary R. HaleAugust 12, 2012

Four neighbors pause together in a sunlit sewing workshop, gazing upward peacefully and supporting one another beside rich folded fabrics. — © By One Spirit Ministries

So which denomination should you be in, or stay in, in order to prosper in Christ; and in order to "make your calling and election sure?" (II Pet. 1:10). None, you may say? It's not about being in a particular denomination then? I see, then which non-denominational affiliation should you be in, in order to be the most blessed? It's still not about all of that, you say? Then which Pentecostal sect will afford you the most blessing from the Lord, if you are loyal to it? Let me guess, you're still saying none, because "it's about serving the Lord with loyalty, not a religious affiliation." Excuse me if I am putting words in your mouth, and those are not the words you would answer with. I'm just going with the most noble of answers in order to make a point. I think you SHOULD be a part of SOMETHING that will put you in the very best position to be abundantly blessed, and saved in the end (Mat. 24:13). I know some folks are already scratching their head over this "saved in the end" thing, and even that mention of "making your calling and election sure." But hey, they are both in the Bible, and I did reference scripture for both sayings. But back to this thing that I say you SHOULD be a part of. I'll give you a hint: It is the only such congregation that is NOT about following the teachings of SOMEBODY! Here's what I'm talking about friend, and trust me when I tell you that I will give you very solid and reliable references on this claim. It is wherever you are being taught exclusively that you MUST be taught by the revealing power of the holy Ghost in order to know ANYTHING about the real gospel of Christ, and the kingdom of God. Let me see if I can get some agreement with that statement: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah... I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord" (Jer. 31:31,33,34). And how are those laws written into the hearts of new covenant believers? "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" (II Cor. 3:3). Next up: "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isa. 54:13). Now let's go to the new testament: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things" (Jn. 14:26). Once more Jesus, please? "Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come, [it] will guide you into all truth" (Jn. 16:13). John, you were closer to Jesus than anyone. Did he really say that? "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (I Jn. 2:27). I think also that Paul had a little bit of understanding. Let's try him too: "... even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (I Cor. 2:11,12). I believe those references are sufficient to the point there.

So we see that we must be taught personally by the Spirit of God, and that brings us to two more integral points that we will finish with. Those points are, What DOES the Spirit teach about the new birth, and about salvation? Someone is already saying, "But those are both the same thing." Yeah, I'm painfully aware that Christianity wraps the new birth and salvation up real nice and cozy in one neat little bag; "Confessing Jesus as Lord," and thereby "getting saved." Check our post from yesterday on that, and that will be that on that (THAT'S a lot of thats, isn't it?). Okay, let's see what the Spirit of truth has said on the new birth and salvation, and that can ONLY be confirmed by consistency of scripture: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16). So then, it's about believing on Jesus, right? Of course, but let's allow Jesus and the apostles to define that "believing" just a little clearer for us: "He that BELIEVETH on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive...)" (Jn. 7:38,39). And how about some confirmation on that? (not that we can't trust what Jesus said) "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us... that we might receive the promise of the SPIRITt through FAITH" (Gal. 3:13,14). Sounds like Paul was taught by the Spirit, because he said the same thing Jesus said. But is receiving the holy Ghost really the new birth? "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, [by] the SPIRIT of our God" (I Cor. 6:11). We surely are not born again without being washed from our sins, which is to say sanctified and justified. But here's another one for good measure: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tit. 3:5). There's that "washing" again, and also the new birth references of "regeneration" and "renewing." But to be sure, look at this: "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles..." (I Cor. 12:13). So we are not "in Christ" until we are baptized with the Spirit, and being "in Christ" is the ONLY place where ANYONE is a "new creature," according to the scripture (II Cor. 5:17). And beside that, nobody has Jesus without receiving the Spirit, for "the Lord IS that Spirit" (II Cor. 3:17). No wonder the Bible tells us, "Now if ANY man have NOT the Spirit of Christ, he is NONE of his" (Rom. 8:9). And what about salvation? "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, WHO are KEPT by the power of God through faith UNTO salvation ready to be revealed in the LAST time... Receiving the END of your faith, even the salvation of your souls" (I Pet. 1:4,5,9). So the Bible says that salvation is at the END of one's earthly pilgrimage, IF they have remained faithful to God in holiness [without sin] (Heb. 12:14; Mt. 5:8; I Jn. 3:2,3). Is that correct Jesus? "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall ENDURE unto the END, the same shall be saved" (Mat. 24:13). And what about Paul? "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philip. 2:12). And again: "For WE are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence STEADFAST unto the END" (Heb. 3:14). So I say that the affiliation that teaches these foundational truths for starters is the place where the blessing and hope is present that affords the greatest opportunity to attain unto eternal life at the second coming of Jesus to this world (I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:15-17). That is where we belong my friend, and EVERYWHERE else is where we do NOT belong. Amen.

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In loving memory

Lary R. Hale

November 13, 1954April 21, 2024

Lary smiling with his beloved dog Champ — Lary with Champ

Obituary

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

Remember him