We can never study the apostolic anointing without looking at Christ's relationship with His church. The apostolic anointing is driven by a great love that the Lord has for His church. Ephesian 5:25-27 - ......just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Jesus is passionate about the church and paid the highest price by shedding His own blood for the church. Song of Solomon 4:7 - You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you. Throughout the ages, Jesus has been building His church. That has been His main purpose since the 1st century inception of the church. It has always been an apostolic function and the Lord has built His church by means of the apostolic anointing. Psalm 127:1 - A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. Matthew 16:18 - I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Before we can study the function of apostles in the church, we must understand that Jesus is the source of the anointing and anyone who wishes to operate with an apostolic anointing must be connected with Jesus Himself. The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is "The Apostle" because He was sent by God the Father.