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

The Saving Baptism

An ark model, blank open book, oil lamp and dove evoke salvation, clear conscience and baptism of the Spirit.
© By One Spirit Ministries

Today I would like to examine a very integral but overlooked scripture from the new testament writings that bears much weight on the hope of our salvation: “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime weredisobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Pet. 3:19-21). In the old world, the ark built by Noah saved himself and his family from the wrath of God by the flood that destroyed everyone else in the world. Peter tells us here that in the same manner “baptism [does] also now save us.” So baptism is the ark which we must enter if we hope to escape God’s soon coming wrath on this world of sin. And Peter does not waver on WHICH baptism it is that will save us. He gives us three details in verse 21 to make it clear what baptism he is writing about. First he says that it is NOT the one that washes over the flesh, which is obviously to say it is not of water. Next he tells us that it is the baptism that results from “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” Now let’s examine that statement momentarily with help from the scriptures, to see exactly what it means: “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God” (I Jn. 3:20,21). John in this context refers to faith as “confidence toward God.” That is what faith is, knowing that God hears us because our conscience tells us that we are not holding anything wrong back from God. Another scripture that sheds light on this ‘good conscience’ issue is from the apostle Paul: “Now the end of the commandment is [love] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (I Tim. 1:5).

So the bottom line on the whole faith of Christ is to keep the love of God flowing in and through our hearts toward God and men, and this results from that ‘good conscience’ that Paul mentioned. So how is the love of God initially received? “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5). It is the holy Ghost that imparts the love of God into our hearts, so then how do we receive the holy Ghost? “… that we might receive the promise of the Spirit THROUGH FAITH” (Gal. 3:14). So receiving the holy Ghost is by faith in Jesus, and that brings us full circle to faith being a clear conscience; which Peter said results in the baptism that will save us. That means it is the baptism of the holy Ghost which first came at Pentecost after Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended back to heaven (Acts 1:4,5; Acts 2:1-4). Anyone can be baptized in water, whether they really have a clear conscience or not. But NOBODY can be baptized by Jesus, who knows the hearts of men, UNLESS they are coming to him without reservation or compromise. The sign and witness of speaking in tongues was given by God to accompany the Spirit baptism because it is God alone who knows the hearts of men (Acts 15:8,9; Acts 10:44-46). That sign is HIS declaration that HE has accepted the faith and repentance of those who come unto him by Jesus. Otherwise it would be left to the decision and opinion of men, who do NOT know the hearts of men, to declare someone forgiven and born again. Sorry my friend, that is too big a call for ANY man, except “the man Christ Jesus” who ALONE mediates between men and God for the remission of sins (II Tim. 2:5). Anyone who tries to declare that someone is born again, WITHOUT the heavenly sign and witness of God’s Spirit being in the mix, is in effect saying that THEY are a “mediator between God and men."

Covering that ground, let’s move on to the third detail that Peter gave us about the baptism that saves us. He very clearly said that the baptism that he was talking about is the baptism that came as a result of "the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Plain and simple. Water baptism was in effect BEFORE Jesus died and rose from the dead, so that puts that one out of the equation right quick, again. And as I have already shown from the scriptures, the baptism of the holy Ghost which both John the Baptist AND Jesus promised that Jesus would bring; was NOT able to be received UNTIL AFTER Jesus had both died, risen, and ascended back to heaven (Jn. 7:37,38; Jn. 16:7). So it is confirmed repeatedly by the Bible that the baptism that saves us or purifies us from our sins initially, and is able to KEEP us purified from sin unto eternal life; is assuredly the baptism that ONLY Jesus can baptize with. And that makes good sense, seeing that Jesus earned the right to baptize us by dying for our sins, and raising from the dead to become the high priest of the new covenant, who makes intercession to God for the remission of our sins (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:24-27). AJust one final scriptural note of confirmation about the baptism that saves us, is what Jesus said before he ascended back to heaven: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). Seeing that he correlated believing with being baptized, he obviously was speaking of the baptism that comes by faith in him, which we have already seen is the same thing as “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” Jesus also confirmed that to us in another place, regarding believing and being baptized: “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: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.]” (Jn. 7:38,39). So it’s an open and shut case according to the scriptures, that the baptism of the Spirit is the baptism that is able to save us, and that it is the ONLY MEANS by which we have remission of sins and the hope of salvation. Amen.

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