An apostle without praying saints will be hindered, or limited, in what can be achieved. And on the other hand, churches going it alone without relating to an apostle will often lack freedom, vision, and power. John Alley

But many don’t really choose sonship. They pay lip service to it without sonship being of the heart. John Alley

Such genuine sonship always alleviates the necessity for suffering and opens the way for greater successes. Why? Because the heart of the follower has been well-positioned already in submission, obedience, and honour. True sonship always brings greater liberties. John Alley

An important rule of life, then, for proven apostles is: no unforgiveness, no self-pity, and no bitterness. John Alley

Those with the right heart do not become bitter; rather, full of understanding, they hold to love and forgiveness, which is Christ within. The apostle seeks never to carry hidden bitterness or minister out of bitterness. John Alley

No one becomes an apostle without experiencing betrayal. John Alley

An apostle, therefore, must be established thoroughly in grace, made unlikely to fall, clean and holy in the Lord’s eyes, with every form of vested interest and party spirit cleaned away. Then might they be given a trust, an imbuement of the personal authority of Christ in caring for the church. John Alley

Amongst claims to be an apostle, then, we have two categories – the real, and the interloper. The Lord builds up the one; the church is supposed to weed out the other. John Alley

If the life of the church is to go to another level of grace altogether, then it makes perfect sense to say that the leadership of the church will be brought to another level of grace and maturity as well! John Alley

Some individuals may seem gentle, but it may emanate from weakness of character or personality. Significant about apostles is that (like Christ) gentleness of spirit is the formed, mature character of someone who has strength, authority, and power. John Alley