There are two parts to prophecy: preaching the Word and public prayer. For the prophet (that is, the minister of the Word) has only two duties. One is preaching the Word, and the other is praying to God in the name of the people: ‘Having … prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith’ (Rom. 12:6); ‘Restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live’ (Gen. 20:7). Notice that in Scripture the word ‘prophecy’ is used of prayer as well as of preaching: ‘The sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals’ (1 Chron. 25:1); ‘The prophets of Baal called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon … And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. . .’ (1 Kings 18:26, 29). Thus, every prophet’s [ask is to speak partly as the voice of God (in preaching), and partly as the voice of the people (in praying): ‘If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth’ (Jer. 15:19); ‘And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!”‘ (Neh. 8:6).

Preaching the Word is prophesying in the name and on behalf of Christ. Through preaching those who hear are called into the state of grace and preserved in it. God has ‘given us the ministry of reconciliation … Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18, 20); ‘God from the beginning chose you for salvation, through sanctification by the Spirit, and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel’ (2 Thess. 2:13, 14); ‘The gospel is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16); ‘Where there is no revelation the people cast off restraint (Prov. 29:18); ‘How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’ (Rom. 10:14).