First, we would look to the Tanakh (Tanakh = Torah or the prophets = Old Testament = OT) to answer why prayer does not work for the Many (see bottom of the page on the Many and the Few).

God only hears the righteous. It is written.
(Ps 34:17 [KJV])
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

Again, the God we serve only hears the prayers of the righteous.
(Prov 15:29 [KJV])
The LORD is FAR from the wicked: but he HEARETH the prayer of the righteous.

When we have iniquity in our lives God does not hear us. It is written.
(Isa 59:2 [KJV])
But your iniquities (sin) have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Regarding or allowing iniquity in our hearts God will not hear us. It is written.
(Ps 66:18 [KJV])
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Iniquity in our lives goes further. We will be cast out of God’s kingdom because of it. We will be told to depart if we are workers of iniquity. It is written.
(Matt 7:23 [KJV])
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Now let us define what is wicked, Iniquity, and what is righteous.

Wicked = unrighteous = evil = work iniquity = practice sin (starts from the heart) = PEOPLE THAT DO NOT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

Righteous = holy = good = does not practice sin = PEOPLE THAT KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD.

You may say we serve Christ so we do not have to keep the commandments of God (His commandments are contained in the Torah).

But look at what our Lord said. Our Lord told us to keep His commandments. It is written.
(John 14:15 [KJV])
If ye love me, keep my commandments (Torah).

He was quoting from scripture (OT = Tanakh) when He spoke. It is written.
(Exod 20:6 [KJV])
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (Torah).

The Many are not told that Christ usually quoted from the Old Testament. When He said commandments, it meant the commandments in the Torah. Let us look at how much He quoted from the Torah. The Word quoted from His word.

When we do not keep His commandments we work iniquity. The Many that say (pray) Lord Lord, and cast out demons; they do not obey His word (they do not Keep His Commandments/Torah).

The result of their (Many) life at the end of days. It is written.
(Matt 7:23 [KJV])
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Again, Yeshua was quoting from scripture. It is written.
(Ps 6:8 [KJV])
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

This man confirms it in the NT. It is written.
(John 9:31 [KJV])
Now we know that God heareth NOT sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

What is sin that makes a man a sinner? Sin is the transgression of God’s Law/Commandments/Torah.
(1John 3:4 [KJV])
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law (Torah): for sin is the transgression of the law (Torah).
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IMPORTANT
We are commanded to do and teach the commandments in the Torah. It is written.
(Exod 24:12 [KJV])
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Our Lord commanded us to teach (and do) the same commandments in the NT. It is written.
(Matt 5:19 [KJV])
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them (commandments), the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

We are commanded to teach them to the nations.
(Matt 28:19 [KJV])
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Why must we do and teach the commandments?
God wants us to live in obedience to Him (and not sin). We are commanded to repent; meaning? turn from our sins. You can only know what sin is if you know the commandments. The Many do not read the law/commandments (specifics), so they do not know what true repentance is. They say to God they repent but go on to continue with pig eating, adultery, the celebration of pagan days, ignorance of the feast days, working on the sabbath, backbiting one another, women with uncovered heads, women having authority over men, marriage according to the pope’s decree of 1563, speaking in tongues with no interpreter, more than three persons speaking in tongues at a time, they tell people they are robbing God by not paying tithes, praying to Jesus when He told us to pray to the Father etc. There is much iniquity in the land.
A short study on what true repentance is. 
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Remember this, God only hears the righteous.

Be blessed in understanding. 

—-  —-  —-^

MORE TOPICS OF INTEREST:

Understanding how to gain the gift of ETERNAL LIFE (SALVATION)

Read about the Many (to Hell) and the Few (to God’s Kingdom)

Understanding the Old and New Covenant – Explaining the Gospel

Understanding what is Iniquity (not keeping the commandments of God/Torah)

Why the FEW keep the commandments as written in the Torah (videos – watch the first).

A historical account that explains why the modern church moved away from the Way (the commandments of God) – watch the first video