"The life of the NT church is intended to be blessed by the presence of the gift of prophecy. As Paul states here in noting love as our primary pursuit, prophecy is to be welcomed for the ‘edification and exhortation and comfort’ of the congregation--corporately and individually (v. 3). Such encouragement of each other is ‘prophecy,’ not ‘words’ in the sense of the Bible, which uses the very words of God, but in the sense of human words the Holy Spirit uniquely brings to mind.

"The practice of the gift of prophecy is one purpose of Holy Spirit fullness (Acts 2:17). It also fulfills Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28) and Moses’ earlier expressed hope (Numbers 11:29).

"The operation of the gift of prophecy is encouraged by Peter (I Peter 4:11), and Paul says that it is within the potential of every believer (I Corinthians 14:31). It is intended as a means of broad participation among the congregation, mutually benefiting each other with anointed, loving words of upbuilding, insight, and affirmation. Such prophecy may provide such insight that hearts are humbled in worship of God, suddenly made aware of His Spirit’s knowledge of their need and readiness to answer it (I Corinthians 14:24, 25). Prophecy of this order is also a means by which vision and expectation are prompted and provided, and without which people may become passive or neglectful (I Samuel 3:1; Proverbs 29:18; Acts 2:17). There are specific guidelines for the operation of this gift, as with all gifts of the Holy Spirit, to insure that one gift not supplant the exercise of others or usurp the authority of spiritual leadership. Further, all such prophecy is subordinated to the plumbline of God’s Eternal Word, the Bible--the standard by which all prophetic utterance in the church is to be judged (I Corinthians 14:26-33)."