Whose prayer does God hear/not hear?

His Principles:

1) He hears —> “worshippers who do His Will” (not sinners)

“and we have known that God doth not hear sinners, but, if any one may be a worshipper of God, and may do His will, him He doth hear;” (John 9:31)

2) He does not hear —> those who have “sin in their hearts” (especially ‘secret sins’ and evil plans/intents against others to hurt/harm them, for example):

“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;” (Psalm 66:18)

3) He does not hear —> those who “ignore/did not listen” to Him, His Words/Commands /His Will when He called

”When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 7:13)

4) He does not hear —> when we “live in sin” or “keep sinning” (have a “sinning lifestyle”)

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

5) He does not hear —> your music/songs too!

“Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps.” (Amos 5:23)

Neither does He regard your “religious festivals” nor your “assemblies” (religious gatherings) – In fact, He “hates” them:

“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;

your assemblies are a stench to Me.” (Amos 5:21)

He does “not regard” even your best “sacrifices” for Him:

“Even though you bring Me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them.

Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,

I will have no regard for them.” (Amos 5:22)

Why? Why? Why?

Because you “oppress the innocent”, take “bribes” and have “no justice” for the “poor” in your “courts”:

“For I know how many are your offenses

and how great your sins.

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes

and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.” (Amos 5:12)

Yes, they “loved evil, hated good”.

“Seek good, not evil,

that you may live.

Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,

just as you say He is.

Hate evil, love good;

maintain justice in the courts.

Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy

on the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:14 – 15)

When will God take vengeance against all evil?
On the awesome yet terrifying “Day of the Lord”

“Will not the Day of the Lord be darkness, not light—

pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?” (Amos 5:20)

6) Fasting/Praying/Crying/Burnt Offerings (gifts) etc is to “no” effect (intent in their hearts is “not” right):

“Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.” (Jeremiah 14:11 – 12)

Why?
He remembers their awful “wickedness and sin” (God is “not” mocked).

“This is what the Lord says about this people:

“They greatly love to wander;

they do not restrain their feet.

So the Lord does not accept them;

He will now remember their wickedness

and punish them for their sins.” (Jeremiah 14:10)

Their “false prophets” will continue to “preach prosperity” in His Name but it will be to “no avail” when the time of “punishment begins”:

“But I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! The prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ ”

Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in My Name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore this is what the Lord says about the prophets who are prophesying in My Name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.” (Jeremiah 14:13 – 15)