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.

Legacy · Writings

The Value of Sound Doctrine

Raphael-inspired painting of a serene elder teaching attentive younger adults in a pale-stone courtyard.
© By One Spirit Ministries

"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Tim. 4:16).

I have found in my experience and time in Christ that so many of God's people have been somehow influenced to believe that the very word "doctrine" is something to be avoided. In light of our text scripture I believe we should all ask the question, "Why is that?" I believe that the only true answer we can have for that question is that there is a lack of knowledge of the true doctrine of Christ, and an inevitable lack of regard for that knowledge. Jesus said that if we would continue in His word that we would be His disciples, and that we would know the truth, and be made free thereby (Jn. 8:31,32). To be certain, the real knowledge of God's truth (s), if we possess it, is going to make us free from the confusion and fear that dictates that we should avoid speaking of doctrine among one another. And it will also make us free from speaking with strife and contention if and when we do speak of doctrine. Because in reality, really knowing the truth will eventually make us free from EVERYTHING that is unlike the mind and nature of God! But the key word in this equation is "continue." To truly continue in learning of God's word, means to continue pressing into His Spirit through overcoming the flesh and the spirits of this world, and seeking Him diligently in every way. If we do these things with an honest heart, then we will surely know "what the Spirit is saying unto the (congregations)."

But going back to our text scripture: I would really like for you to consider the magnitude of this statement made by the Apostle Paul to Timothy, whom he ordained a Pastor in the body of Christ. And as zealous as God's people are of spiritual gifts, like healing, miracles, etc; there is no scripture like our text, that emphasizes these gifts in relation to the hope of salvation, as is the case with sound doctrine. And please don't misunderstand me here: We absolutely and desperately need all of the gifts of the Spirit to be operating among us; and certainly we should desire these things, as the scripture also states (I Cor. 14:1). But our calling is to love one another with God's love, and to be one, even as the Father and the Son are one (Jn. 15:12; Jn. 17:11, 21-23; I Cor. 1:10; Rom. 15:6: Philip. 2:2). And the simple truth is that we can do neither of these if we do not collectively know the true doctrine of Christ. Understanding doctrine is the chief thing that enables us to continue to circumcise our hearts from our fleshly nature, as well as our fleshly minds. This is evident by the apostle's statement in Eph. 5:26: "That he (Christ) might sanctify and cleanse it (the body of Christ) with the washing of water by the word." Hebrews 4:12 tells us, "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The preaching of the real truth (doctrine) to God's people is the only way that the conviction of the holy Spirit can continue to lead us further into His holiness, and cause us to take on more of His nature, which is holy love (Jn. 16:13; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 12:2; I Pet. 1:22; etc.).

In Eph. 4:14,15, the Apostle Paul makes a very strong statement that we should all take a closer look at: "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" The thing that we need to look at here is that just before writing the above statement, the apostle set forth seven powerful, irrefutable points of the doctrine of Christ which our faith should be grounded in (Eph. 4:4-6). A close and honest study of those seven "ones" can show us that the doctrines that are upheld and highly esteemed in the body of Christ today simply are not of the true doctrine of Christ. Let's consider another admonishment of this great apostle of the Gentiles: "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Col. 2:6,7). Now the scriptures surely inform us that we are all to be taught by the Spirit of God (Jn. 14:26; I Jn. 2:27; Isa. 54:13; etc.). And the only teachers in the body of Christ that are teachers indeed, are those who are teaching God's people what the Spirit of God is also teaching them! Praise God, how I feel the stirring of God's Spirit within me with that powerful statement of truth! And if what we are being taught is NOT what the Spirit is also saying to us, then we are not being "rooted and built up in Him," and consequently cannot "grow up into him in all things."

So it becomes evident that the true doctrine of Christ is what gives us the capacity to be developed in God's love, because erroneous doctrine about Jesus and His gospel can only come from one source, and it's not the Spirit of God. If we embrace erroneous teaching about Christ, then we are receiving and being hindered by the spirit of error that brings it, which spirit is the Devil himself. Satan is in fact that "other Jesus" that Paul warned the Corinthians about, and his spirit is the one that is behind this "other gospel" that has confused God's people from the voice of the holy Spirit of God (II Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6). The body of Christ today is in more confusion, division, and disarray than at any other time in history; and God is not the author of that confusion (I Cor. 14:33). We simply cannot love one another with God's love, or be one with one another in the same manner that Jesus and His Father are one, as long as we accept this condition of confusion and division of minds. And we can't cure the condition unless we become willing to launch out of our comfort zone and "Examine (ourselves), whether (we) be in the faith; (and) prove (our) own selves" (II Cor. 13:5). If we are truly in the faith then we are going to be in one mind; and rather than shy away from the topic of doctrine, we will be drawn to it with an abundance of joy and true fellowship! Friend, let me invite you to make a thorough, honest, and prayerful study of this website, and to "Prove all things; (and) hold fast that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21). May God bless you in all things.

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