I believe the healthiest way to view prophecy given in the general sense is to handle it as we do any other gift—it should be joyfully embraced by the Church, pastored, trained, developed and held to the same standard of accountability. A helpful comparison might be made to the gift of hospitality, which most Christian circles don’t find intimidating or overwhelming. In the same way that everyone is admonished to practice hospitality, but some are noted as having the particular gift of hospitality, so it is with other gifts like prophecy. In 1 Corinthians 14: 1 (ISV), Paul says we should eagerly desire this gift in particular, implying that asking for it is a prayer request God loves to answer: “Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.”
Robby Dawkins
From the book “Do What Jesus Did”