words of God. If the Bible is the staple food of all Christians throughout the whole age, then prophecy is the day-to-day conversation of the Spirit to any individual or Church to which He wishes to speak. As Our Lord said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My Name there am I in the midst."

The Uses of Prophecy

It may then be helpful here to look at some of the uses of prophecy given in the New Testament after Pentecost.

1. For evangelization (1 Cor. 14:24, 25). The Holy Spirit can use a prophet to enter the secrets of the heart and convince a man that God is speaking to him. What limitless possibilities lie here for the local Assembly! There is no need to ask an Evangelist to come; he will be better employed amongst those for whom no Church is available. But every Church in which there are prophets can expect The Spirit to speak directly to the sinner in a way that cannot be mistaken.

2. For building up, exhorting and comforting the Assembly (1 Cor. 14:3). There will from time to time come into any Assembly members with hidden conflicts, fears and needs, which not even the best Pastor can, or ought, to know. But again through a prophet, the Holy Spirit can reach where man cannot, and can say the very thing that needs saying. The letters to the seven Churches supply many examples of this use of prophecy. The messengers of the seven Churches, sent no doubt to convey the love of the Churches to John in his prison—for there was no public postal system in those days—took back with them