Section 8
in the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 156) Marvin Vincent says this about prophecy: "In the New Testament, as in the Old, the prominent idea is not prediction, but the inspired delivery of warning, exhortation, instruction, judging, and making manifest the secrets of the heart. See 1 Corinthi ans 14:3, 24, and 25. The New Testament proph ets are distinguished from teachers by speaking under direct inspiration." Thus, the main idea of prophecy in the Bible is not prediction, but speak ing for God under His direct inspiration.
Service
The word "service" in verse 7 denotes the service of the deacons and the deaconesses in the local churches (See Rom. 16:1; 1 Tim. 3:8-13; and Phil. 1:1). The deacons and deaconesses are the serving ones in a local church. They must have a serving spirit and a serving attitude. They have to keep themselves always in service. The prac tice of the Body life needs this kind of service.
Teaching
What is the difference between teaching and prophesying? As we have seen, prophesying is speaking for the Lord under His direct inspira tion, that is, to speak according to the revelation