And Afterwards I will Pour Out My Spirit Large Print

Prophecy provides the connection between hearing God's voice and understanding what is heard. We can listen to someone speak in a foreign language, but if we don't understand, the message won't get into our consciousness. By prophecy, the messages can surface to be understood by the one who needs to hear it. God is speaking through creation all the time. Why don't we hear Him? The answer is that we can't hear Him because we are missing the chip. It's like our computer will not open a program if it does not have the capability. We are missing the capability to open the messages for today from God without the gift of prophecy.
In the Old Testament, God chose specific people to be prophets. They became His mouthpiece to give messages to people. Kings that wanted to know how God felt about going to war would go to the prophet and ask. Then, the prophet would ask God, and give the answer back to the king. The King came to the prophet because he could not ask God a question and get an answer. The prophets of the Old Testament were 100% reliable. If they weren't, they were killed because God is 100% reliable and if the prophet wasn't, then his messages must not be from God.
I don't believe Paul would exhort us to all ask for the gift of prophecy, if he did not feel that it was an option. Also, God says that we don't have many things because we don't ask. I think it is a matter of asking, believing God at His word, and waiting for the answer.
There are levels of prophecy, just as there are levels of all things with God. Each level moves us closer to Him. If we receive the gift of prophecy, and can hear His voice, then, as we draw closer to Him, we should hear the whispers. At first, we can only hear His voice as He yells. Like someone with wax in our ears, the other person needs to yell to get their message across. But, then, as our ears become attuned to His voice, He doesn't need to speak as loudly to us. It's about becoming attentive to His voice.
I believe that the Holy Spirit was given to us to help us understand the things of God, including His voice. So, all of us who have been born into the family of God have the ability to hear His voice. We can ask Him a question, and He will answer. Think; what father would not answer his child when he asks a question?