The Subject of Suffering within the Christian Context is a Basic Aspect of the Total Package of Salvation and the Christian Maturity Process that every single Christian believer is expected to go through. The Holy Scriptures make it abundantly clear to every Genuine seeker of Truth that suffering for the Sake of the Kingdom is beyond any shadow of doubt one of the Greatest Privileges ever: "And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING THAT THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER SHAME FOR HIS NAME" (Acts 5:41 KJV). The Depth and Wealth of our Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can never be really known until it has been tested therefore suffering for His Sake and for His Kingdom is always such a Thing of Great Joy for every True Christian believer (Jam. 1:2). In other words, you can never become an Authentic Testimony until you've first of all passed the test.
In his Epistle to the Church in Colossae, Apostle Paul made a remarkable yet often misunderstood remark concerning the Sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ: "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and FILL UP IN MY FLESH WHAT IS LACKING IN THE AFFLICTIONS OF CHRIST, for the Sake of His Body which is the Church" (Col. 1:24). A mere glance at the surface of this statement often makes the rather overzealous Christians accuse Paul of blasphemy: How could anyone dare to insinuate that the Sufferings or Afflictions of Christ needed completion by a mortal man as if they were inadequate? Before we get tempted to stone Apostle Paul, we must understand that there is a huge yet subtle difference between the SUBSTITUTION of Christ in Suffering and the EXAMPLE of Christ in Suffering. Apostle Peter expatiated this by stating: "For to this you were called, because CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS" (1 Pet. 2:21 NKJV). What is the implication here? On the one hand, the Lord Jesus Christ took our place as our Substitute when He suffered during His Passion Week so that we wouldn't have to. On the other hand, He also suffered persecution, mockery and slander, modelling an Example for us on how to conduct ourselves whenever we are found in a similar situation (1 Pet. 2:22-23).
A Comprehensive Understanding of "the Fellowship of His Sufferings..." (Phil. 3:10c) enables us to discern exactly what Dr Kenneth E. Hagin of blessed memory referred to as "The Way of the Spirit..." (Ecc. 11:5a), which refers to the DNA of God concealed right in the midst of our daily circumstances. There are Four Basic Types of Suffering we are expected to experience as Genuine Christian believers in order to attain Maturity:
TRIALS
This speaks about those tests that are orchestrated directly by the Lord God Almighty Himself (1 Pet. 5:10). God never uses sickness or infirmities to afflict His children. This is why the English Term "afflictions" is translated from the Greek Word "thlipsis," which is literally translated "tests or trials."
TEMPTATIONS
This refers to those tests that are directly organized by satan himself (Jam. 1:13-15). The Reality is that the devil tempts Christian believers in order to compromise our Faith and produce the virus known as sin consciousness within (Lk. 22:31-32), thereby diminishing their confidence in the Lord's Willingness and Ability to preserve them.
PERSECUTIONS
This speaks about those tests that are the result of the direct workings of individuals or people who hinder the Move of God in the life of the Christian believer, whether knowingly or unknowingly (Matt. 5:11-12).
Persecution is part and parcel of the Christian Experience hence every Authentic Christian believer must be willing to embrace it (2 Tim. 3:12). Always remember that one of the Tests of the man approved of God is the Separation Test.
TRIBULATIONS
This refers to those tests that are directly caused by various environmental factors including hostile administrations, restrictive economic policies, so-called "Acts of God" etc (Jn. 16:33). The Lord Jesus Christ is still directly involved in the Business of building up His Church upon the Rock Foundation. As a result of this, the gates of hell can never ever prevail against us (Matt. 16:18). We remain absolutely steadfast as we rest assured that every form of Suffering always turns out for our good, whatever the adversary's plans may be (Gen. 50:20).