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

Bible Idolatry II

A thoughtful reader pauses beside an open Bible, listening inwardly as soft light fills his room from an olive garden.
© By One Spirit Ministries

I write rather often about certain topics that are of great significance to the faith of God’s people. I put up a post on “Bible Idolatry” sometime around a couple of weeks ago, and I have some more on that topic today. Calling the Bible the word of God, and thinking that the Bible is the word of God, is at least ONE OF the biggest idols in the body of Christ today, and I would like to give more confirmation of that reality here. I often preach and write about the biblical fact that the word of God is NOT something that can be written, and it is NOT something that can be read. It is something that must be HEARD and RECEIVED, and that from God. There is absolutely nowhere in the Bible where the Bible claims that the scriptures are the word of God. It just isn’t there. What IS in the Bible is that the word of God is “alive and powerful,” and that it is something that must COME TO a person, or be REVEALED to someone by the holy Ghost (Heb. 4:12; Jer. 42:7; Rev. 2:7; I Jn. 2:27). To call the Bible the word of God is idolatry because it confuses the truth about the true word of God, and causes God’s people to be inclined to call their own interpretation, or someone else’s interpretation of the scriptures, the word of God; when in fact the BIBLE shows that “that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (II Pet. 1:20). So in other words this mindset occasions God’s people to “walk after the imagination of their own heart,” and not after the real word of God (Jer. 9:14). Thinking that the Bible is the word of God is the exact reason that God’s people are trapped in bondage to the erroneous religious creeds of the varying Christian sects and affiliations that they are part of. Someone who is supposedly someone decides that the scriptures mean this or that, and lo and behold, folks come along who believe it, and we have a comfy, cozy sect or denomination. And just on that note momentarily, it really amazes me how so many fine folks in the body of Christ claim that their affiliation is not a denomination, when in fact EVERYTHING in Christianity is a sect or denomination, whether great or small. And how do I know that? Well, I love a good question, because a good question deserves not only a GOOD answer, but also THE RIGHT ANSWER! And the right answer to that question is that I have been undeservedly blessed to have God’s word revealed to me from heaven for over thirty years now. That is how I know that most of the doctrines and traditions of modern Christianity are completely apart from the foundation of the doctrine of Christ, and the whole thing has been built up by erroneous teaching.

The truth of the matter is that Jesus has made a way for ALL of God’s people to “know the truth” and be “made free” from everything that is NOT the truth; and that way is to continue in HIS WORD (Jn. 8:31,32). And that doesn’t mean to just continue reading the scriptures, but rather to continue hearing and following the voice of the “Spirit of truth” that he has sent back for us (Jn. 16:13; Rev. 3:6). This way to know God was not available to everyone in the old testament, but rather it was only available to specially anointed people who taught it to the remainder of Israel. But yet this new testament spiritual reality was foretold by the prophets in the old testament (Jer. 31:33,34; Isa. 54:13). These things bring me to the point that I want to confirm about the scriptures not being the word of God, but rather God’s word is something that has to COME TO a person. Every time that the phrase “the word of God” or “the word of the Lord” is used in the old testament, the word ‘word’ always comes from one of two Hebrew words. The first and most often used Hebrew word is ‘dabar,’ which is defined as “speech, a saying, or an utterance.” The second word, and less used, is the word ‘peh,’ which is defined as “a mouth, an organ of speech.” On the other hand, whenever the old testament scriptures refer to something that is WRITTEN in the old testament writings, the two Hebrew words used for ‘written’ are ‘kathab’ and ‘miktab.’ Kathab is used more often, but both words are defined as “something that is written on something by handwriting.” When the book of the law is referenced, the Hebrew word used for ‘book’ is ‘cepher,’ which simply means “a writing written in a book or document.” In the new testament scriptures, whenever the word of God is mentioned, the two Greek words used for ‘word’ are ‘logos,’ and the lesser used ‘rhema.’ Now both of these words are defined as “an utterance by a living voice.” But whenever the new testament scriptures say, “It is WRITTEN,” which is a reference to the scriptures, the Greek word used for ‘written’ is ‘grapho,’ which is defined as, “to write in the form of letters on a tablet, parchment, paper, or other material.”

So there it is my friend. The original languages that both the old testament and new testament scriptures were written in, both declare very soundly that the Bible, or the scriptures, are NOT the word of God. Not only so, but both languages also boldly set forth that the word of God is something that is uttered by the mouth of God, which fact the scriptures confirm to us: “HEAR; for I will SPEAK of excellent things; and the opening of my LIPS shall be right things. For my MOUTH shall SPEAK truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my MOUTH are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge” (Prov. 8:6-9). If God’s people would turn away from the erroneous traditions and doctrines of Christianity, and seek his face diligently, it would be found that God is speaking the same things to everyone; and his people would come together in one mind and one accord and “turn the world upside down” (Acts 2:1; Acts 17:6; I Cor. 1:10; Rom. 5:6). But as long as we are content to be discontent under the falsehoods that prevail, we will remain ignorant, divided, sick, oppressed, and without the power to fully cure any of these ills. We CANNOT and DO NOT open the Bible and read the word of God. If we could do so, the glorious works of the true faith of Christ would be the dominant force in the earth, and the body of Christ would be fully unified. Surely you realize that these things are not the case. So then, what IS the way to attain unto the word of God? The same as it has always been: “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: OUT OF HIS MOUTH cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:3-6). Amen is all I have left to say.

*Many thanks to my son Elisha for his study and research on this topic, and for calling it to my attention.

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