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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Legacy · Q&A

Is financial and earthly abundance, in the lives of those who profess faith in Christ, an indication of faith and righteousness?

Raphael-inspired painting of a pilgrim walking a narrow stone path over blue water toward radiant light.
© By One Spirit Ministries

Question:

Is financial and earthly abundance, in the lives of those who profess faith in Christ, an indication of faith and righteousness?

Answer:

Because of widespread teaching and belief among God's people that the answer to this question is yes, I deem it necessary to address the issue in short order. First of all, in very short order, the answer is absolutely and unequivocally, NO! To attempt to assess the spiritual state of anyone by any earthly means is totally unwise and nonsensical in the sight of God. The only way the spiritual condition of anyone is truly evaluated (by God) is by the spiritual and moral quality of their life, according to their degree of subjection to the Spirit of God.

Actually there is more evidence in the Scriptures to suggest that the presence of worldly abundance in one's life is evidence of unrighteousness, and not righteousness (Psm. 73:3,11,12; Job 21:7-15; Jer. 5:28; Jer. 12:1,2; Psm. 49:16-20; Jas. 5:1-5; Ezek. 16:49, just to name a few). In reality, riches do not denote faith and righteousness, any more than poverty signifies unrighteousness. And for that matter, poverty does not indicate righteousness, nor does plentifulness of means necessarily reveal unrighteousness in someone's life. Again, it is all about where someone is in their heart with God. It would be wise to note however, the words of Jesus, Who said "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Lk. 12:34).

The popular "prosperity" doctrine that we see today is no new trick of the Devil. The book of Job is thought to be the oldest book in the Bible, and it shows very clearly that Job's erroneous persecutors were heavily steeped in this school of thought (Job 8:6,7; ch. 15:29; ch. 22:23-25; etc.). They believed wrongly, like so many are being told to believe today, that good things happen to the righteous, and bad things happen to the unrighteous. These would be wise to heed the wisdom of Solomon, who said that sometimes things go exactly opposite of that (Eccl. 8:14). Two outstanding examples of this reality are Lazarus, from the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, told by Jesus in Luke 16; where the man with nothing on earth was saved after death, and the man of means on the earth was lost after death; both being of the household of God. And the other being the leader of the assembly in Smyrna to whom Jesus sent His message by the hand of John, saying to this man "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich...)" (Rev. 2:9). And shortly thereafter Jesus sent to the Pastor at Laodicea, informing him that he was "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" though his earthly state was "rich, and increased with goods, and [in] need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17).

But even more specifically to the point, the Apostle Paul addressed this very issue, and erroneous school of thought, in one of the most powerful (but vastly overlooked) passages of scripture in the Bible; in I Tim. 6, where he informed us that those who teach that "gain is godliness" are perverse, corrupt, and destitute of the truth. And again it would be very wise to note that he admonished us to withdraw from such. He also went on to give us the true definition of divine prosperity, saying that "godliness with contentment is great gain." Contentment with what? you might ask. "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (I Tim. 6:5-8). And to these words agreed Jesus in Mat. 6:25-33 where He commanded us to put priority on the things which pertain to the kingdom of God (Rom. 14:17), and all that we need on earth will be added unto us. And it is very interesting how that He mentioned only food and raiment as being "all these things."

The so called ministers of the Gospel who teach this indulgent prosperity doctrine have perverted the words of the living God, howbeit in the guise of promoting the work of the Lord, which also is no new thing (Hos. 4:18; Mat. 15:5). Philippians 4:19 tells us that "my God shall supply all your NEED according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Through subtlety and cunning craftiness they have caused God's people to believe that the scripture actually states that "my God shall supply all your WANTONNESS according to YOUR riches and glory in Christ Jesus." What they should be teaching is the admonition of Hebrews 13:5, which states thusly: "Let your conversation (lifestyle) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have." Beloved, it's high time for us to "Prove all things; [and] hold fast that which is good" (I Thess. 5:21).

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

By One Spirit · Media library

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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